Crash of a Boeing 727-247 in the Atlantic Ocean: 16 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1990 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1303
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Valetta – London – Reykjavik – Gander – Miami – Lima
MSN:
20266
YOM:
1969
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
After being leased to Air Malta for few months, the aircraft was repatriated to Peru via London, Reykjavik, Gander and Miami. On the leg from Reykjavik to Gander, while at cruising altitude, the crew declared an emergency and elected to ditch the aircraft when contact was lost. Apparently, the aircraft crashed in the Atlantic Ocean about 290 km southeast from the Newfoundland coast. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the crew reported a low fuel warning.

Crash of a Boeing 727-200 in Tegucigalpa: 127 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1989 at 0753 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
N88705
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José - Managua - Tegucigalpa - Houston
MSN:
19514
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
SH414
Location:
Tegucigalpa-Toncontin
Francisco Morazán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
138
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
131
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Managua, the crew started a night descent to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport. The standard approach to runway 01 consisted of a three-steps descent from the initial approach fix altitude of 7,500 feet. For unknown reasons, the crew failed to follow this procedure and started the descent prematurely and with a constant descent profile from a distance of 11 nm from the airport. This caused the aircraft to descend below the glide when, at an altitude of 4,000 feet, it struck the slope of Cerro de Hula (4,800 feet high) located 7,7 km short of runway 01. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and 15 people, including four crew members, were rescued while 131 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the approach procedures and initiated a premature descent, causing the aircraft to follow a wrong approach profile.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew experience was insufficient,
- Negligences on part of the crew,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The crew failed to take appropriate actions when the GPWS alarm sounded,
- Lack of visibility caused by night and marginal weather conditions,
- Absence of visual reference points on the ground.

Crash of a Boeing 727-247 in Ankara

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
TC-AJV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ankara - Maastricht
MSN:
20265
YOM:
1969
Location:
Ankara-Esenboğa
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
157
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Ankara-Esenboga Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height and struck the ILS antenna located 300 meters past the runway end. The crew informed ATC about the situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. All 165 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 727-232 in Dallas: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1988 at 0901 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
N473DA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jackson - Dallas - Salt Lake City
MSN:
20750
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
DL1141
Location:
Dallas-Fort Worth
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
101
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
17000
Captain / Total hours on type:
7000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4000
Aircraft flight hours:
43023
Circumstances:
Flight DL1141 (Jackson - Dallas - Salt Lake City) left Gate 15 at 08:30 and was instructed to taxi to runway 18L. When first in line for takeoff (at 08:59) the flight was cleared for takeoff. The takeoff was uneventful until the airplane reached the rotation phase (at 154 knots, 6017 feet down the runway). As the main gear wheels left the ground, the airplane began to roll violently, causing the right wingtip to contact the runway (1033 feet after lift-off), followed by compressor surges. The plane continued and struck the ILS localizer antenna array 1000 feet past the end of runway 18L. After impacting the antenna installation, the airplane remained airborne for an additional 400 feet, then struck the ground, traversed a ground depression and slid sideways until it came to rest near the airport perimeter fence, 3200 feet from the runway end. Parts of the aircraft had separated in the slide and a fire had erupted in the right wing area, quickly engulfing the rear, right side of the airplane after it came to rest. Twelve passengers and two crew members were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The board determines that the accident was caused mainly by the captain and first officer's inadequate cockpit discipline which resulted in the flight crew's attempt to takeoff without the wing flaps and slats properly configured; and the failure of the takeoff configuration warning system to alert the crew that the airplane was not properly configured for the takeoff. Contributing to the accident was Delta's slow implementation of necessary modifications to its operating procedures, manuals, checklists, training and crew checking programs which were necessitated by significant changes in the airline following rapid growth and merger. Also contributing to the accident was the lack of sufficiently aggressive action by the FAA to have known deficiencies corrected by Delta and the lack of sufficient accountability within the FAA's air carrier inspection process.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (c) preflight planning/preparation - improper - pilot in command
2. (c) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command
3. (c) procedures/directives - not followed - copilot/second pilot
4. (c) procedures/directives - not followed - pilot in command
5. (f) procedure inadequate - company/operator management
6. (f) insufficient standards/requirements, operation/operator - FAA (organization)
7. (f) inadequate method of compliance determination record keeping - FAA (organization)
8. (c) lowering of flaps - not performed
9. (c) lowering of slats - not performed
10. (c) safety system (other) - inoperative
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-2H9A near Arapköy: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1988 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Talia Airways
Registration:
TC-AKD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Istanbul - Ercan
MSN:
20930
YOM:
1974
Location:
Arapköy
Kyrenia
Country:
Cyprus
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Ercan Airport in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions. After being cleared for a VOR approach, the captain cancelled the IFR flight plan and descended prematurely at an altitude of 2,000 feet. He elected to make a turn to avoid the mountain when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (954 meters high) located about 16 km north of Ercan Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 15 occupants were killed. The flight was completed on behalf of JAT Yugoslav Airlines. On board were six Turkish citizen (crew), seven Yugoslav citizens and two British.
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