1972 — Nov 17, Metro Air System Plane Crash (with Richmond KY group), Elkton, KY–11

–11 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive. “Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Elkton: 11 Killed.”
–11 NTSC Identification: DCA73A0002 (Metro Air Syst…Beech G18S).
–11 Richmond Register. “45th anniversary of plane crash: A city that never forgot.” 11-16-2017.

Narrative Information
NTSB:
“Departure Point Hopkinsville, KY
“Intended Destination Lexington, KY
“Type of Accident Collision with ground/water; uncontrolled inflight descent
“Probable Cause (s) Pilot in command – inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning
“Miscellaneous Acts, Conditions: Improperly loaded aircraft – weight-and/or C.G. [ctr of gravity]
“Factor(s) Personnel – Operational Supervisory Personnel: Failure to provide
adeq. directives, manual, equipment
“Weather Icing conditions-includes sleet, freezing rain, etc.
“Weather Briefing Briefed by flight service personnel, by phone
“Weather Forecast Forecast substantially correct
“Sky Condition Broken
“Ceiling at accident site 2800
“Visibility at accident site 4 miles or less
“Precipitation at accident site None
“Obstructions to vision Haze
“Temperature-F 37
….
“Type of weather conditions VFR [Visual Flight Rules]
“Type of flight plan IFR [Instrument Flight Rules]

Newspaper

Nov 16, 2017: “Forty-five years ago Friday, the City of Richmond was shaken by the tragic loss of 10 local men in a devastating plane crash as they returned home from a Madison High School football game in Hopkinsville. Though they were lost that fateful night in an Elkton, Ky., field, community members will forever remember their deaths and celebrate their lives as a commemorative, interpretive marker has been placed at Irvine-McDowell Park.

“Those remembered are: Charles C. Shackelford, assistant Madison County attorney; Ben Robinson, a part owner in beer distribution and ice companies; Roy Watson Jr., assistant advertising manager for The Register; James (Jimmy) A. House, news editor of The Register; David K. Gooslin, a Central Vending Company employee; Joe Hunter, liquor store owner; Hugh Robbins, an attorney; James Dale (J.D.) Frankenberger, a liquor store owner; Maurice Mundy, a car wash owner; and George L. Vernon, an employee of IBM Corporation; along with their pilot Lawrence McDermott.

“….The interpretive marker displays not only the history of the 1972 crash, but also photographs of the Richmond men who were taken from their families and community all too soon.

“….The men boarded a chartered twin-engine Beechcraft airplane; the destination Lexington, where they would drive home in time to see Eastern Kentucky University’s football team play Morehead State the next day, according to Karl Park, a close friend of several on board, and the university’s sports information director at the time.

“However, it was a game the men would never see. The plane went down in an Elkton, Ky., field. A National Transportation Safety Board report lists sleet and freezing rain and improperly loaded aircraft as possible causes for the crash….” (Richmond Register, KY. “45th anniversary of plane crash: A city that never forgot.” 11-16-2017.)

Sources

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive. “Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Elkton: 11 Killed.” Accessed 1-20-2022 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-beechcraft-g18s-elkton-11-killed

NTSC Identification: DCA73A0002 (Metro Air Syst…Beech G18S). Washington, DC: National Transportation Safety Board. Accessed 1-20-2022 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/sites/default/files/2018-12/N2700S.pdf

Richmond Register, KY. “45th anniversary of plane crash: A city that never forgot.” 11-16-2017. Accessed 1-20-2022 at: https://www.richmondregister.com/news/45th-anniversary-of-plane-crash-a-city-that-never-forgot/article_f517904c-cb39-11e7-ac7c-bb96fef24fcb.html