1 fatality

1978-11-20: Beechcraft H18 (N204CC) — Larry Johnson Air Services — Brownsville-South Padre Island, United States of America

Brownsville-South Padre Island, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On November 20, 1978, a Beechcraft H18 (registration N204CC) operated by Larry Johnson Air Services was involved in an aviation accident near Brownsville-South Padre Island, United States of America during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Uncontrolled descent and ground collision for undetermined reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781225888Data APIEditorial standards

Minutes after a night takeoff from Brownsville Airport, a twin-engine cargo aircraft crashed in flames three miles away, killing the sole pilot. The accident occurred in marginal weather with low ceiling and fog.

Accident

On a night cargo flight from Brownsville Airport to Springfield, Missouri, a twin-engine airplane departed and began climbing into marginal weather conditions. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames approximately three miles from the airfield. The pilot, who was the only person on board, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

Investigation

The investigation into the accident revealed several weather-related findings. The ceiling was low, fog was present, and visibility was reported to be less than one mile. Despite these observations, the exact sequence of events leading to the loss of control could not be determined.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be an uncontrolled descent and subsequent ground collision for undetermined reasons.