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Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Houston

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
E. W. Brown
Registration:
N99H
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Houston - Houston
MSN:
15840/32588
YOM:
1945
Location:
Houston-C.R.C. Crose
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3550.00
Circumstances:
Both crew members were involved in a local test flight. During the takeoff roll, right main gear brake dragged. To avoid a collision with trees located past the runway end, the pilot made a ground loop. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Aborted takeoff due to landing gear problems. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear, braking system,
- Improper clearance/tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Intentional ground loop,
- Right brake dragged on takeoff,
- Assembly changed and adjusted 2 days prior to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99A Airliner in Killeen

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1971 at 1820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 99 Airliner
Operator:
Registration:
N12RA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dallas – Killeen
MSN:
U-131
YOM:
1969
Location:
Killeen
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4200
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Killeen Airport, the crew encountered marginale weather conditions with fog and ceiling. He was informed from ATC about a visibility below minima but the captain decided to continue the descent until the aircraft struck the ground short of runway and came to rest. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 15 occupants were injured, nine of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of crew. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- The pilot knew that weather was below VOR minimums from ATC and another pilot who had to divert to alternate airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air off Galveston: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1969 at 1355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
N500X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Galveston - Galveston
MSN:
LJ-199
YOM:
1967
Location:
Galveston
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
11367
Captain / Total hours on type:
253.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Galveston-Scholes Airport, Texas. Following several approached, the twin engine aircraft was again approaching the airport when it stalled and crashed into the Galveston Bay, about a mile from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach as the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Houston

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1969 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 60 Duke
Operator:
United States Leasing Corporation
Registration:
N812JR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Alief - Alief
MSN:
P-44
YOM:
1969
Location:
Alief-Andrau Airpark (Houston)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1762
Captain / Total hours on type:
439.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Houston Airport, the pilot started the braking procedure when he inadvertently raised the landing gear. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. The pilot escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot inadvertently retracted the landing gear after touchdown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760A Paris II in Evadale: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1969 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris
Operator:
C. L. Hall
Registration:
N760M
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Evadale - Slidell
MSN:
49
YOM:
1959
Location:
Evadale
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
590
Captain / Total hours on type:
79.00
Circumstances:
After rotation at Evadale Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane struck 50 feet tall trees and crashed 1,000 feet past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew who misjudged clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Jasper: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1969 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Visador Company
Registration:
N440VC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31-416
YOM:
1968
Location:
Jasper
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
19320
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck trees, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located near Jasper. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees in normal cruise after the pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Pilot of aircraft in the vicinity diverted to Beaumont Airport because of low ceiling and poor visibility conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Houston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1968 at 1117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Registration:
N7392U
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
411-0092
YOM:
1965
Location:
Houston-William P. Hobby
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Failure of the left engine during initial climb,
- Failure of the fuel system, loose parts/fitting, leak/leakage,
- Lack of lubrication on specific part,
- Powerplant scored,
- Fuel starvation,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Complete engine failure,
- Leaking fitting in engine driven fuel pump,
- Bearing dry, armature scored in auxiliary fuel pump on left engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Nederland: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1968 at 1702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
London Properties
Registration:
N9174Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nederland - Nederland
MSN:
31-231
YOM:
1968
Location:
Nederland
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
932
Captain / Total hours on type:
232.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and his four passengers were engaged in a local post maintenance test flight. Following a local circuit, the pilot initiated an approach to Nederland-Jefferson County Airport when on final, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled on final approach during a steep bank at low altitude probably due to an error on part of the pilot who failed to maintain flying speed. A mechanical discrepancy is also suspected.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Paris: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1968 at 1036 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Continental Services
Registration:
N224W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
680-1561-109
YOM:
1965
Location:
Paris-Cox Field
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8700
Captain / Total hours on type:
63.00
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed near Paris, Texas. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent after the aircraft encountered thunderstorm activity and turbulences. Overload failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27T at Paisano Ranch: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1968 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Eastex Inc.
Registration:
N27W
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
123
YOM:
1967
Location:
Paisano Ranch
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
540.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to the Paisano Ranch private airstrip, the captain decided to make a go-around for unknown reason. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway, killing both pilots who were conducting a positioning flight.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper flight decisions or planning,
- The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- The crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- The crew attempted a go-around with propellers in ground fine position.
Final Report:
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