SKYMASTER SAFETY RECORD 1983-May 2002(*)
Contributed by Jose Luis Ichaso

I made this record from the NTSB Web site at the Internet, after buying my Skymaster in 1997, because I was concerned that there there was such a bad safety record in this marvelous airplane reported in "Used Aircraft Guide".
At the botton of this report, there is a comparision with other single and twins airplanes safety record in the same period of time and you can see a big difference with our Skymasters.

This analysis shows only the main cause of accidents and incidents in the U.S., including Alaska, some had remarks or other information that may have contributed to the main cause.

I divided the accidents records in two categories, Fatal and Non Fatal, and by date, which I have deleted for this report. ( That´s why there are many repeated accidents in the same category ).

J.L. Ichaso

FATAL ACCIDENTS: 43

STALL/SPIN:

1. Stall/Spin at takeoff after steep climbing

2. Stall/Spin while slow flying at low altitude

FUEL RELATED:

3. Fuel Starvation due Fuel mismanagement-Stall/Spin

4. Loss of power on both engines/Fuel related accident

5. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanegement

LOW FLYING:

6. Wing impacted water during low flying over Ocean.

7. Airplane struck a hill with landing gear after takeoff

8. Loss of control during balked landing.

OTHER CAUSES:

9. PIC faile to remove control locks

10. Sudden dead pilot in command (PIC).

11. PIC died for Hypoxia during high altitude flying.

12. Midair collision during airshow.

13. Loss of control during day VFR on final approach-Unknown reasons

ENGINE/AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FAILURE:

14. Rear engine feathered-Clearence not maintained.

15. PIC reported a "major problem" after takeoff-airplane crashed in a steep angle few minutes after initial call.

16. Single engine go around-thunderstorms-downdrafts.

17. Stall/Spin due loss of power front engine-Flying with known problem rear engine.-Water contamination in the fuel.

18. Unknown causes-still missing at Atlantic Ocean.

TAKEOFF WITH KNOWN / INADVERTENT REAR ENGINE LOSS OF POWER:

19. PIC tookoff with loss of power on rear engine.

20. PIC initiate takeoff with known innoperative rear engine

21. PIC initiate takeoff with known innoperative rear engine/Inadvertment stall

LOSS OF CONTROL DURING IFR FLIGHT/NIGHT FLYING

22. PIC misjudge clearence during ILS night aproach.

23. Loss of control while flying IFR at night-Lost instruments panel lights, flashlight had
dead batteries.

24. Loss of control during maneuvering to land at night.

25. PIC continue flight into adverse weather-Icing, loss of control-Break-up of the airplane.

26. PIC could not avoid thunderstorm-Airplane brokeup in flight.

27. Loss of control for undetermined reason while flying IFR at night

28. Clearence not maintained during a night ILS aproach

29. Loss of control during night aproach in IMC-PIC not Instrument rated

30. Loss of control during circle to land aproach at night.

31. Loss of control during a night ILS aproach.

32. PIC loss of control for undetermined reason at night.

33. Loss of control during night IFR flying-unknown reasons

CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT IN IMC:

34. Continue VFR flight in IMC.

35. Continue VFR flight in known IMC.

36. Continue VFR flight in IMC -PIC lack of IFR experience.

37. Continue VFR flight in IMC -PIC non Instruments rated.

38. Continue VFR flight in IMC at night-PIC not current for IFR.

39. Continue VFR flight in IMC- Pilot not qualified as PIC for aircraft type.

40. Continue VFR flight in IMC- Unliscensed Teen Ager Pilot.

41. Continue VFR in IMC in adverse weather

42. Continue VFR flight into IMC

43. Continue VFR flight in IMC-Non instrument rated pilot flying low at night in adverse weather, airplane impacted mountanous terrain

NON FATAL ACCIDENTS: 91

FUEL REALATED ACCIDENTS:

1. Fuel starvation during go-around-PIC not certified on the aircraft-airplane just acquired

2. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement

3. Fuel starvation-Fuel Supply misjudge.

4. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement

5. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement

6. Fuel starvation

7. Fuel starvation during a ferri flight permit.

8. Fuel starvation due the pilot´s improper fuel tank selection.

9. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement

10. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement

11. Fuel starvation

12. Fuel starvation

13. Fuel starvation-Forced Landing.

14. Fuel starvation-Aux. Tanks still had enough fuel.

15. Fuel starvation

16. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement.

17. Fuel starvation during final appoach

18. Fuel starvation due fuel mismanagement/single engine go around/ stall

19. Fuel exaustion-Fuel mismanegement.

20. Fuel exaustion-Nose gear collapse due hard landing.

21. Fuel exaustion during a night instrument approach.

22. Fuel exaustion.

23. Fuel exaustion during a night cross country.

24. Fuel exaustion.-Forced landing.

25. Fuel exaustion.-Forced landing.

26. Fuel exaustion-Fuel mismanegement.

LANDING WITH INADVERTENTLY GEAR UP:

27. Landing with gear up

28. Landing with gear up

29. Landing with gear up

30. Landing with gear up

31. Landing with gear up

32. Landing with gear up

ACCIDENTS DURING TAKEOFF OR LANDING:

33. Aircraft went off departure end runway-PIC stated brakes failed during landing.

34. Aircraft overrun runway while attempting a go-around.

35. Aircraft rolled and crashed during go-around after a hard landing-Low hour PIC.

36. Aircraft overrun runway-Airspeed not attained during approach.

37. Loss of control while takeoff in crosswinds.

38. Loss of control due autopilot activated in short final.

39. Hard touchdown and a series of porpoises-Nose gear collapse.

40. Loss of directional control during landing roll.

41. Aircraft overran grass strip after PIC aborted takeoff with tail wind.

42. Loss of control due uncontrolled left bank for undetermine reasons.

43. Nose gear collapse after recovery from a bounced landing.

44. Loss of control during a circle to land maneuvre in reduced visibility.

45. PIC overran grass runway during landing.

46. Aircraft stall after takeoff- PIC not certified on airplane type.

47. Loss of control due PIC´s seat slipped back during takeoff.

48. PIC loss directional control during landing roll.

49. Aircraft collided with trees after abort landing during a go around.

50. Nose gear collapse after a bounced hard landing.

51. Loss of control after a hard landing.

52. Loss of control during takeoff in unfavored winds.

53. PIC overran runway during landing.

54. PIC loss of control during takeoff in crosswinds.

55. PIC overran runway during landing.

56. Loss of control due fail of pilot´s seat locking pin, that caused sudden aft. Position of the seat.

57. Loss of control after a hard landing.

58. Airplane contacted hard runway during go-around procedure

59. Hard Landing

60. Hard landing/loss of control during landing

61. Aircraft overrun runway while attempting a go-around.

OTHER CAUSES:

62. Aircraft tookoff with towbar attached-Forced landing

63. Aircraft collided with trees alone ( with no pilot), after been hand popping for start.

64. Aircraft cought fire from a gosoline can burned by a passenger´s burning cigar.

65. Passenger exited and walked into the front turning prop.

66. Person walked into turning operational prop.

67. Loss of control in takeoff due interference to the PIC by a passenger pilot under alcohl effects.

ENGINE/AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FAILURE:

68. Rear engine quit while a low approach, for undetermined reasons.

69. Rear engine quit-Failure in a connecting rod.

70. Engine quit for undetermined reason-Forced landing.

71. Engine quit for undetermined reason-Forced landing.-Erratic fuel levers positions.

72. Engines loss of power due fuel contamination-Fuel system blocked.

73. Loss of power rear engine during initial climb.

74. Loss of Power rear engine-Forced Landing.

75. Total loss of power front engine.

76. Engines shut down after 10 and 11 hours respective, after a long ferry flight due high cylender temperature.

77. Engine failure due improper instalation after overhaul.

78. Aircraft over ran departure end of runway after aborted takeoff due loss of power front engine by incomplete and improper installation after overhaul.

TAKEOFF WITH KNOWN / INADVERTENT REAR ENGINE LOSS OF POWER:

79. PIC tookoff with rear engine innoperative

80. PIC did not verify rear engine stoppage of the rear engine prior to takeoff.

81. Aircraft initiate takeoff run and aborted due rear engine did not developed full power-Nose gear separate during aborted takeoff.

LANDING GEAR/HYDRAULIC SYSTEM RELATED ACCIDENTS:

82. Emergency gear up landing-Service letter to change landing gear solenoid had been not accomplished.

83. Gear did not lock-forced landing-Contamination in hydraulic fluid was found ( Metal Shavings)

84. Gear did not extend-gearup landing.

85. Gear did not extend -Lack of hydraulic oil due leak in broken seal in actuator.

86. Gear did not extend due an unauthorized swith to control the operation of the landing gear-New owner and pilot were unaware of it.

87. Gear partial extend due depletion of hydraulic fluid by a leaking hose.

88. Gear did not extend due loss of hydraulic fluid in leaking nose gear door actuator.

LOSS OF CONTROL DURING IFR FLIGHT/NIGHT FLYING:

89. Substantial damage to the wings due severe turbulence in cummulus clouds.

CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT IN IMC:

90. VFR into adverse weather/low flying/impact with power transmission wires

91. PIC continue flight in adverse weather and collided with ice ridge.

OTHER TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANES

AIRCRAFT TOTAL ACCIDENTS FATAL ACCIDENTS NON FATAL ACCIDENTS
1983-1999 (% FROM TOTAL)

CESSNA 337 134 41 (24%) 91

CESSNA 310 395 112 (28%) 283

APACHE/AZTEC 387 110 (28%) 277

SENECA 290 74 (26%) 216

BEECH BARON 55 273 102 (37%) 171

SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANES

AIRCRAFT TOTAL ACCIDENTS FATAL ACCIDENTS NON FATAL ACCIDENTS
1983-1999 (% FROM TOTAL)

CESSNA 210 1351 267 (20%) 1084

BEECH BONANZA 1270 408 (32%) 862

PIPER LANCE/SARATOGA 937 263 (28%) 674

(*) This report is based solely on the Natinal Transportation Safety Board´s reports of accidents and is intended to bring the issues raised to the readers . It is not intended to judge or to reach any definitive conclusions about the ability or capacity of any person, living or dead, or any aircraft or accessory.