1973 — Sep 27, Texas International Air crash using VFR not IFR, Black Fork Mt., AR– 11

–11 Kimura. World Commercial Aircraft Accidents 3rd Ed., 1946-1993, V.1. 4-11-1994, p. 3-19.
–11 NTSB. AAR. Texas International Airlines…Mena, Arkansas, Sep 27, 1973. 11 Apr 1974.
–11 Planecrashinfo.com. “1973. Accident Description…Texan Int. ….Rich Mt. Ark., Sep 27.”

Narrative Information

National Transportation Safety Board: “Synopsis

“At 2052 c.d.t., on September 27, 1973, a Texas International Airlines, Inc., Convair 600, N94230, crashed into the north slope of Black Fork Mountain in the Ouachita Mountain Range in Arkansas. The eight passengers and three crewmembers on board were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.

“The flight was a scheduled air transport round trip flight from Dallas, Texas, to Memphis, Tennessee, with intermediate stops at Texarkana, El Dorado, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The accident occurred during the west bound flight from El Dorado to Texarkana, 80 mi north-northwest of Texarkana, and 8.5 nmi north-northwest of Mena, Arkansas. The flight was conducted at night under visual flight rules. The crew did not activate the computer-stored instrument flight plan before departing El Dorado.

“A cold front with thunderstorms and instrument meteorological conditions existed between El Dorado and Texarkana. The crew deviated about 100 nmi north of the direct course to their destination and attempted to operate the aircraft visually in instrument meteorological conditions.
No radio transmissions were made by the crew after the flight departed El Dorado. At 2225 c.d.t., on September 27, 1973, civilian and military air and ground contingents commenced a search of parts of four States for the missing aircraft; the aircraft was located at 1730 c.d.t., on September 30, 1973.

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the captain’s attempt to operate the flight under visual flight rules in night instrument meteorological conditions without using all the navigational aids and information available to him; and his deviation from the preplanned route, without adequate position information. The carrier did not monitor and control adequately the actions of the flightcrew or the progress of the flight.” (NTSB 1974, 1)

Sources

Kimura, Chris Y. World Commercial Aircraft Accidents 3rd Edition, 1946-1993, Volume 1: Jet and Turboprop Aircrafts. Livermore, CA: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Risk Assessment and Nuclear Engineering Group. 4-11-1994.

National Transportation Safety Board. Aircraft Accident Report. Texas International Airlines, Inc. Convair 600, N94230, Mena, Arkansas, September 27, 1973 (NTSB-AAR-74-4). Washington, DC: NTSB, adopted April 11, 1974, 38 pages. Accessed at: http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR74-04.pdf

Planecrashinfo.com. “1973. Accident Description…Texan Int. ….Rich Mt. Ark., Sep 27, 1973.” Accessed at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1973/1973-64.htm