Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Menongue: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-307
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Menongue - Luanda
MSN:
9 34 66 08
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Luanda on a cargo flight to Menongue, carrying four crew members and a load of fuel drums. While in cruising altitude, one of the engine failed but the crew was able to continue and to land normally at Menongue Airport. Later, the crew decided to fly back to Luanda on three engines for maintenance instead of getting a technical crew to the airfield the next day. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, a second engine failed, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 near Kohat: 17 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 2003 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
10254
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Islamabad - Kohat
MSN:
10254
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Islamabad on a flight to Kohat, carrying nine passengers and eight crew members. While descending to Kohat, the crew encountered poor visibility when, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 27 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 17 occupants were killed, among them Mushaf Ali Mir, Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force and his wife. He was flying to Kohat with a delegation to perform the annual inspection of the airbase.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum safe altitude until it impacted ground. Poor weather conditions were considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD near Kerman: 275 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 2003 at 1724 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
15-2280
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Zahedan - Kerman
MSN:
00634 71155
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
18
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
257
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
275
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Zahedan on a flight to Kerman, carrying 257 passengers and a crew of 18, most of them members of the Revolutionary Guards. On board were also several high ranking officers who just conducted a visit of the province of Zahedan, taking part to a narcotic control program. While descending to Kerman Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls and strong winds. On approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Sirach located 32 km from the airport. First rescuers arrived on the scene the next morning. The wreckage was found about 100 metres below the summit and all 275 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent below the MDA in poor visibility due to the night and bad weather conditions. For unknown reasons, the crew started the descent prematurely.

Crash of an Embraer C-95A Bandeirante in Curitiba: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 2002 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2292
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Florianópolis – Porto Alegre
MSN:
110-174
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Campo de Marte AFB near São Paulo on a flight to Porto Alegre with an intermediate stop in Florianópolis, carrying 13 passengers and three crew members. En route to Florianópolis, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered technical problems, declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Curitiba-Afonso Pena Airport. On final approach to runway 33, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a grassy area located 3,600 metres short of runway. Two passengers and one pilot were killed while 13 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the crew did not prepare the flight according to procedures and took off with an insufficient fuel quantity on board.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N.22A off Zamboanga

Date & Time: Dec 17, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sanga-Sanga - Zamboanga
MSN:
053
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Sanga-Sanga Airport (Tawi-Tawi Island), the pilot started the descent to Zamboanga Airport. On final approach, the twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed in the sea 300 metres offshore. All 14 occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank.

Crash of a Learjet 36A in Astoria

Date & Time: Dec 3, 2002 at 0612 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N546PA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Astoria - Astoria
MSN:
36-045
YOM:
1980
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3350
Captain / Total hours on type:
2350.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1170
Copilot / Total hours on type:
920
Aircraft flight hours:
12335
Circumstances:
The pilot (PIC) reported that during acceleration for takeoff (approximately V1 [takeoff decision speed]) the airplane collided with an elk. The PIC reported that after the collision, he applied wheel brakes and deployed the airplane's drag chute, however, the airplane continued off the departure end of the runway. The airplane came to rest in a marshy bog approximately 50 feet beyond the departure threshold. Currently, approximately 15,000 feet of the airport's perimeter is bordered with animal control fence. The airport recently received a FAA Aviation Improvement Program (AIP) Grant that will provide funding for an additional 9,000-feet of fence. Airport officials stated that the fencing project should be completed by summer of 2003. At the completion of the project, game control fencing will encompass the entire airport perimeter. The U.S. Government Airport/Facilities Directory (A/FD) contains the following remarks for the Astoria Regional Airport: "Herds of elk on and in the vicinity of airport..."
Probable cause:
Collision with an elk during the takeoff roll. Factors include dark night VFR conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed MC-130H Hercules in Sardeh Band: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 2002 at 2124 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
84-0475
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5041
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was dispatched at Sardeh Band Airstrip to exfiltrate US Army Special Forces troops. After takeoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed about 4 km from the airfield. Seven people were injured while three others were killed.
Probable cause:
The Accident Investigation Board President found by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the flight mishap was the excessive cargo weight loaded on the mishap aircraft at the Band E Sardeh Dam landing zone. In particular, the weight was substantially more than the crew had planned for, and, as such, the previously planned, and later executed, takeoff speed was insufficient to support a successful takeoff and sustained flight departure by the aircraft. The Board President also found that a substantially contributing factor to the mishap was the current method of cargo weight planning utilized by the deployed ground forces, and accepted by the aircrews, that relies upon the personal estimations of personnel in the field as to the weight of cargo to be loaded on aircraft in a combat environment.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134 at Mozdok AFB

Date & Time: Mar 4, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mozdok AFB, the crew encountered bad weather conditions with heavy snow falls when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 450 metres short of runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD in Mashhad

Date & Time: Feb 24, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
15-2281
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mashhad - Tehran
MSN:
0073475236
YOM:
1987
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
222
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mashhad Airport, while flying at FL230 about 80 km from his departure point, the crew encountered technical problems when the autopilot system disengaged and the engine n°4 caught fire. The crew elected to extinguish the fire but without success and was cleared to return to Mashhad for an emergency landing. The fire spread to the right wing and the engine n°4 detached. Nevertheless, the crew was able to land safely at Mashhad Airport 24 minutes later and stopped the airplane on the runway. All 230 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed after the right wing broke off and fell on the ground.
Probable cause:
Fire on engine n°4 for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 at Lakhta AFB: 17 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 2002 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
07 red
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Safonovo - Lakhta
MSN:
ZR726001
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Safonovo NAS (Severomorsk), the crew started a night descent to Lakhta AFB. Weather conditions were poor with low clouds at 120 metres, a visibility of 1,500 metres and snow squalls. On final, at a distance of 2,700 metres from the runway threshold, the aircraft was 30 metres below the glide. Once the crew reached the decision altitude, he decided to continue despite he did not establish any visual contact with the ground. At a speed of 220-240 km/h and at a height of 16 metres, the right wing collided with trees. The aircraft descended and crashed in a snow covered field located 1,725 metres short of runway and 52 metres to the left of the extended centerline. Three people, among them a pilot, survived, while 17 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew's decision to continue the approach after the decision height without any visual contact with the ground until the aircraft collided with trees and impacted terrain. The crew failed to follow the published procedures and to initiate a go-around manoeuvre.