Indiana

The crew departed Gary Airport in the early evening on a local flight. While in normal cruise, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a prairie. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

During the takeoff roll at Richmond Airport, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and collided with trees at full power. The aircraft was destroyed while all eight occupants escaped with minor injuries.

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Indianapolis to South Bend, the pilot contacted ATC and reported a fire in the cabin. He reduced his altitude when few minutes later, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in the region of Argos. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

After a night takeoff at Madison Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height when it struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

On approach to Plymouth Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog. Too low, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on the runway for few dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed. The fire was quickly extinguished.

On approach to Michigan City on a cargo flight from Traverse City, both engines stopped almost simultaneously. The airplane lost height, struck tree tops and crashed few dozen yards short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed.

En route from Cincinnati to Liberal, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in the region of Henryville. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

On approach to Fort Wayne Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions (fog, rain falls and low clouds). He reduced his altitude to minimum and lost control of the airplane while completing a steep turn at low altitude. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

An Allegheny Airlines DC-9 and a Forth Corporation Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee registered N7374J collided in flight approximately 4 miles northwest of Fairland, Indiana, at approximately 1529 e.d.t., September 9, 1969. All 83 occupants, 78 passengers and four crew members, aboard the DC-9 and the pilot of the PA-28 were fatally injured. Both aircraft were destroyed by the collision and ground impact. Allegheny flight AL853 was wider positive radar control of the Federal Aviation Administration's Indianapolis Approach Control, descending from 6,000 feet to an assigned altitude of 2,530 feet at the time of the collision. N7374J has being flown by a student pilot on a solo cross-country flight in accordance with a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan. The collision occurred at an altitude of approximately 3,550 feet. The visibility in the area was at least 15 miles, but there was an intervening cloud condition wbich precluded the crew of either aircraft from sighting the other until a few seconds prior to collision.