Pine Bluff - Saint Louis
Flight / Schedule
Pine Bluff - Saint Louis
Aircraft
Beechcraft H18Registration
N58JM
MSN
BA-695
Year of Manufacture
1964
Operator
Astro AirwaysDate
March 25, 1978 at 10:52 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Private
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Saint Louis-Downtown Illinois
Region
North America • United States of America
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On March 25, 1978 at 10:52 AM, Pine Bluff - Saint Louis experienced a crash involving Beechcraft H18, operated by Astro Airways, with the event recorded near Saint Louis-Downtown Illinois.
The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
6 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Saint Louis-Downtown Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility with low ceiling and icing conditions. Too low, the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in Centreville, near the airport. Three passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Aircraft reference details include registration N58JM, MSN BA-695, year of manufacture 1964.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
0
Passengers
3
Other
0
Crash Summary
On approach to Saint Louis-Downtown Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility with low ceiling and icing conditions. Too low, the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in Centreville, near the airport. Three passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
4
Estimated Survivors
3
Fatality Rate
50.0%
Known people on board: 6
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Pine Bluff - Saint Louis
Operator
Astro AirwaysFlight Type
Private
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The single engine airplane departed Dayton-McCook Field for a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Maj Oscar Brindley, Lt Col Henry Damm.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, son and nephew of the co-founders of National Cash Register, is killed in the crash of his DH.4M, AS-32098, at Wilbur Wright Field during a flight test of a new mechanism for synchronizing machine gun and propeller, when a tie rod breaks during a dive from 15,000 feet (4,600 m), causing the wings to separate from the aircraft. Wishing to recognize the contributions of the Patterson family (owners of NCR) the area of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield Air Depot, and the Huffman Prairie) is renamed Patterson Field on 6 July 1931, in honor of Lt. Patterson.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The crew was completing a training mission. At an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field near Everman-Barron Field Airport. A crew was killed and the second occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
U.S. Air Mail Service
De Havilland DH.4
Crashed following an engine failure. Pilot fate unknown.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The accident occurred in unknown circumstances.
