| Date/Time |
Person |
Location |
Aircraft |
Details |
Notes |
Jan 11, 1980
01:23 |
Robert "Bo" Rein
34, Louisiana State University football coach |
Over the Atlantic Ocean |
Cessna 441 Conquest
N441NC |
The plane veered off course and flew out over the Atlantic running out of fuel and crashing into the sea. Cause unknown. |
details in database |
Mar 14, 1980
c 11:00 |
U.S. Olympic boxing team
Anna Jantar
polish singer |
Near Warsaw, Poland |
Polskie Linie Lotnicze
Flight 007
Ilyushin-62
SP-LAA cn:11044 |
An engine disintegrated after power was applied during a go-around severing the rudder and elevator controls. All 87 aboard were killed including 22 members of the team. |
details in
database |
| Jun 23, 1980 |
Sanjay Gandhi
34, son of Indira Gandhi |
Delhi, India |
Pitt Special stunt plane |
Killed while flying a stunt plane that was not properly tested and which he was not familiar with. 2 killed. |
|
| Dec 4, 1980 |
Francisco Sá Carneiro
45, Portuguese prime minister |
Lisbon, Portugal |
Cessna 421 |
A parliamentary inquiry in 1995 concluded the crash was the result of sinister elements. |
|
May 22, 1981
15:30
|
Boris Sagal
58, film director |
Near Portland, Oregon |
Bell 206B
N58004 |
Segal was decapitated, when he accidentally walked into the tail rotor of a helicopter while on location filming a movie. Father of actress Katey Sagal (Married with Children). |
|
May 24, 1981
15:00 |
Jaime Roldos Aguilera
President of Ecuador |
Guanchanama,
Ecuador |
Beech Super King Air 200
FAE-723 |
Crashed in poor weather. Rumored to not been an accident but deliberately engineered. All 9 aboard killed. |
|
Jul 31, 1981
11:15 |
General Omar Torrijos
52, leader of Panama
|
Coclecito, Panama |
Panamanian Air Force |
The plane crashed under suspicious circumstances. Possible sabotage. 7 killed. |
|
| Oct 5, 1981 |
Jud Strunk
45, country western song writer, singer, comedian |
Carabasset, Maine |
Fairchild M-62A
N60542
WW II vintage open cockpit airplane |
The plane, piloted by Strunk, crashed while attempting to take off with full flaps. 2 killed. |
|
Mar 19,1982
10:30 |
Randy Rhoads
25,lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne |
Leesburg, Florida
|
Beech Bonanza F35
N567LT
cn:D-4144 |
The plane crashed into a house after a wing clipped Ozzy Osbourne's tour bus. The pilot was fooling around and attempting to to buzz the bus. All 3 aboard killed including the pilot and Rachel Youngblood, the band's hairdresser. |
details in
database |
| Apr 7, 1982 |
Harald Ertl
33, formula one race car driver |
Giessen, Germany
|
Light aircraft |
He was killed while flying his family to their holiday home in northern Germany. His wife and son survived. 1 killed. |
|
| May 17, 1982 |
John Felten
48, singer, sang with the Diamonds
|
Mount Shasta, California
|
Beech A24R
N9715L |
Crashed into Mt. Shasta en route from Reno, Nevada to Grants Pass, VFR flight into IFR conditions. Oregon. Felten's wife Linda and the pilot were also killed. 3 killed. |
|
Jul 23, 1982
02:30 |
Vic Morrow
57, movie actor |
Valencia, California |
Bell UH-1B Huey helicopter
N87701
cn: 6414038 |
The helicopter crashed while filming the movie "Twilight Zone", decapitating Vic Morrow and killing 2 child actors, Myca Dinh Le and Rene Chen. Special effect explosion hit the tail rotor causing the helicpoter to crash. |
details in
database |
| Jul 28, 1982 |
Keith Green
28, Christian singer and minister |
Lindale, Texas |
Cessna 414
N110VM
|
Shortly after taking off, the plane nose dived into the ground. Overloaded by 200 lbs. Green, along with his two children and 9 others aboard killed. |
|
| Nov 23, 1982 |
Grady Nutt
47, Christian humorist, comedian |
Vinemont, Alabama |
Beech 95-B55
N18411 |
The plane crashed while attempting to take off. All 3 aboard killed. |
|
Jun 2, 1983
19:20 |
Stan Rogers
33, Canadian folk singer |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Air Canada
Flight 797
Douglas DC-9-32
C-FTLU cn:47196 |
In-flight lavatory fire of unknown origin. Landed safely but passengers died of flash fire and smoke inhalation. 23 of 46 aboard killed. |
details in
database |
Jun 27, 1983
|
Maxie Anderson
48
Don Ida
Balloonists |
Bavarian Alps |
Balloon |
During a balloon race, explosive bolts misfired, causing the gondola of their helium balloon to plunge to the ground. 3 killed. |
|
Sep 1, 1983
c 06:30 |
Lawrence McDonald
48, Georgia U.S. Rep.
|
Near Sakhalin Island, Russia |
Korean Airlines
Flight 007
Boeing 747-230B
HL-7442 cn:20599 |
Shot down by a Soviet Air Force fighter after the plane drifted into Soviet airspace. Crashed into international waters in the Sea of Japan. All 269 aboard killed. |
details in database |
Nov 27, 1983
10:06 |
Jorge Ibarguengoita
55, Mexican novelist
Angel Rama
57, Uruguayan novelist
Marta Traba
53, Argentinean art critic
Manuel Scorza
55, Peruvian poet |
Madrid-Barajas, Spain |
AVIANCA
Flight 11
Boeing 747-283B
HK2910 cn:21382 |
While attempting to land the plane impacted a series of hills. Procedural error by crew. 181 of 192 aboard killed. |
details in database |
Dec 07, 1983
09:40 |
María "Fanny Cano" Damián
39, Mexican actress |
Madrid, Spain |
Iberia Airlines
B-737-200
EC-CFJ
cn: 20820/47645 |
The Boeing 727 struck a DC-9 while taking off in fog, snow and poor visibility. The DC-9 wandered on the runway by accident. 93 of 135 aboard both planes killed. |
details in
database |
Dec 12, 1983 17:30
|
Rex Dockery
41, head coach, Memphis State University |
Lawrenceberg, Tennessee |
Pipper
PA34-200T
N66MZ
|
On a dark, rainy night, the plane took a nose dive into the ground while attempting to land. Spatial disorientation. A staff and team member were also killed. 4 killed. |
|
Feb 11, 1985
18:56 |
Ben Abruzzo
54, Balloonist |
Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Cessna 421C
N6866K |
Collided with tops of trees after a baggage door opened, diverting the attention of Abruzzo,who was piloting the plane. All 6 aboard killed including Abruzzo's wife. |
details in
database |
Aug 12, 1985
18:56 |
Kyu Sakamoto
43, Japanese singer |
Ueno Village, Japan |
Japan Air Lines
Flight 123
Boeing 747-SR46
JA8119 cn:20783 |
Pressure bulkhead failure, improperly repaired 7 years earlier. Worst single aviation accident. 520 of 524 aboard killed. Sakamoto was famous for his hit song “Sukiyaki.” |
details in
database |
Aug 25, 1985
22:05 |
Samantha Smith
13 |
Auburn, Maine |
Bar Harbor AL
Flight 1808
Beechcraft 99
N300WP cn:U-22 |
Famous for writing to Soviet leader Andropov about nuclear war. Crashed short of runway while landing. Pilot error. All 8 aboard killed. |
details in database |
| Sept 1, 1985 |
Richie Panch
30, race car driver |
Rion, South Carolina |
Piper PA-28-235-B
N9340W |
Flew into heavy rain and squall line and came apart in mid-air. Pilot error. Poor judgment and planning. 4 killed. |
|
| Sep 16, 1985 |
Art Scholl
53, professional stunt pilot |
Off Carlsbad, California |
Aerotec Pitts S-2A
N13AS |
Crashed into the Pacific Ocean while performing an inverted flat spin while filming for the movie "Top Gun." |
|
| Sep 23, 1985 |
Larry Shue
39, playwright |
Grottoes Grove, Virginia |
Henson Airlines
Flight 1517
Beechcraft 99
N339HA cn:155 |
The commuter plane he was flying in hit a 2,400 ft. mountain while attempting to land. Improper IFR procedure and lack of radio equipment. |
details in
database |
Nov 25, 1985
|
Iowa State University women's cross-country team
|
Des Moines, Iowa |
Rockwell International 500-S
N81589 |
The aircraft crashed into tree tops and a power pole while attempting to land. Icing of wings.
All 7 aboard including 3 team members and 2 coaches killed. |
|
Dec 31, 1985
17:16 |
Ricky Nelson
45, singer
|
De Kalb, Texas |
Douglas DC-3
N711Y
cn:13658 |
Crashed into a field after smoke filled the cockpit and cabin. Possible faulty heater. Nelson's fiancé Helen Blair, soundman Clark Russell and members of his back-up group The Stone Canyon Band, Andy Chapin, Rick Intveld, Bobby Neal, and Patrick Woodward also killed. Both pilots survived. |
details in
database |
Jan 14, 1986
19:30 |
Daniel Balavoine
34, French singer and songwriter
Thierry Sabine
36, French motorcycle racer
|
Mali |
AS 350 Eucreuil
helicopter |
The helicopter crashed into a dune during a sand storm. All 5 aboard killed. |
|
Jan 28, 1986
11:39 |
Ronald McNair, 35 Ellison Onizuka, 39 Judith Resnik, 36 Michael Smith, 40 Gregory Jarvis, 41 Francis Scobee, 46
Sharon Christa McAuliffe, 37
Crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger |
Cape Canaveral, Florida |
Space Shuttle Challenger |
The craft broke up in flight, 73 seconds after launch, due to damage from an exhaust flame, leaking through a defective O ring in the solid fuel rocket. Six astronauts and civilian teacher, Christa McAuliffe, 37, killed. |
|
May 24, 1986
|
Stephen D. Thorne
33, U.S. astronaut |
Near Santa Fe, Texas |
Aerotec Pitts S-2A
N80004 |
Thorne was killed when the stunt plane he was a passenger in spun into the ground. Short in electrical system distracted the pilot. 2 killed. |
|
| Jun 4, 1986 |
Bruce Wayne (Talbert)
53, Los Angeles radio station KFI traffic reporter |
Fullerton, California |
Cessna 177B
N35252 |
Taking off to report traffic, the plane's engine misfired and the aircraft nosed into the ground. The pilot had an elevated blood alcohol. One killed. |
|
Oct 19, 1986
c 19:21 |
Samora Machel
Mozambique president
|
Lembombo Mts., South Africa |
Mozambique Air
Tupolev 134A
C9-CAA
cn:63457 |
Crashed in a storm into high ground while trying to land at Maputo. Pilot error. Navigation error. GPWS ignored. Possible pirate signal disoriented pilot. 34 of 43 aboard killed. |
details in
database
|
| Oct 22, 1986 |
Jane Dornacker
WNBC traffic reporter |
Manhattan, New York |
Enstrom F-28F helicopter
N8617B |
While on the air conducting a traffic report, Dornacker's helicopter crashed from a height of 75 feet into a fence and fell into the Hudson River. She died on the way to the hospital. This was her second crash that year. Maintenance error. The clutch that was installed in the helicopter was a military surplus part which was not intended for use in a civil aircraft. 1 of 2 aboard killed. |
|
| Nov 25, 1986 |
Nancy McCormick
WKRC traffic reporter |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
Bell 206B
helicopter
N59610 |
The helicopter crashed after the non-instrument rated pilot entered an area of fog and crashed into rising terrain. 2 killed. |
|
Mar 5, 1987
13:33 |
Don Yenko
59, race car builder, designer |
Charleston, West Virginia |
Cessna 210M
N1230M |
The plane landed hard, bounced, veered off the runway and hit a dirt bank dove into a ravine and crashed. Pilot error. All 4 aboard killed. |
|
| Mar 21, 1987 |
Dino Martin
35, son of entertainer Dean Martin |
Mount San Gorgonio, California |
F-4C Phantom jet fighter |
While performing a maximum takeoff climb, the Air National Guard aircraft, entered clouds and crashed into a wall of granite while inverted at a speed of 560 mph. 2 killed. |
details in
database |
Aug 16, 1987
20:45 |
Nick Vanos
24, basketball player, Phoenix Suns center |
Romulus, Michigan |
Northwest Airlines
Flight 255
MD-82
N312RC cn:48090 |
Crashed into underpass shortly after takeoff. Stalled and crashed on takeoff. Slats and flaps not properly set. 154 of 155 killed. |
details in database |
| Dec 8, 1987 |
Alianza Lima soccer team |
Near Lima, Peru |
Fokker F-27
AE-560 cn:10548 |
Crashed into the sea after a fly-by to see if landing gear was down. 42 of 43 aboard killed. |
|
May 29, 1988
|
Salem bin Laden
42, brother of Osama bin Laden |
Near San Antonio, Texas |
Spirit Ultralight |
Took off and crashed into high power lines and fell 115 feet to the ground. 1 killed. |
|
Aug 17, 1988
c 16:30 |
Arnold Raphel
45, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan
Mohammed Zia ul-Hag
64, President of Pakistan |
Near Bahawalpur, Pakistan |
Pakistan Air Force
Lockheed C-130B
cn:23494
|
Crashed 10 minutes after taking off from Bahawalpur. Act of sabotage. Detonation of a low-explosive device. All 30 aboard killed. |
details in database |
| Sep 30, 1988 |
Al Holbert
41, race car driver |
Columbus, Ohio |
Piper PA-60-601P
N14HR |
Piloted by Hobert, the plane flew in an erratic manner and crashed into terrain shortly after taking off. Clamshell door not closed. |
|
Dec 21, 1988
18:56 |
Paul Jeffreys
33, Musician, bass player with Cockney Rebel |
Lockerbie, Scotland |
Pan American
Flight 103
B-747
N739PA cn:19646 |
Terrorist bombing. Jeffreys was killed along with his newlywed wife Rachel. All 259 aboard killed. |
details in database |
Jun 7, 1989
04:27 |
Colorful 11
Dutch soccer team |
Paramaribo, Suriname |
Surinam Airways
Flight 764
DC-8-62
N1809E cn:46107/498 |
Hit a tree after 3 landing attempts in fog. Running out of fuel the crew could not get an ILS signal and ignored GPS warnings. Of the 187 aboard, 176 killed. |
details in database |
| Jun 17, 1989 |
S. David Griggs
49, U.S. astronaut |
Earle, Arkansas |
North American AT-6D
N3931S |
Killed when the single-engine stunt plane he was flying crashed Pilot error Improper planning, over confidence. 1 killed. |
|
Jul 19, 1989
16:00 |
Jay Ramsdell
25, CBA commissioner |
Sioux City, Iowa |
United Airlines
Flight 232
DC-10-10
N1819U cn:46618 |
Catastrophic failure of the No. 2 engine which lead to loss of all hydraulics. Crash landed while attempting an emergency landing. 111 of 298 killed. |
details in database |
Aug 7, 1989
|
George Thomas "Mickey" Leland
45, Texas U.S. Rep. |
Near Gambela, Ethiopia
|
de Havilland Twin Otter
ET-AIL cn:699
|
Crashed into a mountain in thunderstorms and poor weather conditions during a refugee relief inspection flight. Pilot flew into an area of bad weather at low altitude and failed to maintain visual contact with the ground. All 16 aboard killed. |
details in
database |
Aug 13, 1989
21:25 |
Larkin Smith
45, Mississippi U.S. Rep. |
Janice, Mississippi |
Cessna 177RG
N1976Q
cn:177RG-0376 |
Spiraled into the ground. Pilot error. His non-instrument rated pilot flew into IFR conditions and lost control in hazy weather conditions. 2 killed. |
details in
database |