Crash of a Boeing B-52G-130-BW Stratofortress off Diego Garcia AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
59-2593
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Diego Garcia - Diego Garcia
MSN:
464356
YOM:
1959
Location:
Diego Garcia AFB
Diego Garcia Atoll
Country:
Chagos Archipelago
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in the operation 'Desert Storm' when the crew encountered electrical and engine problems in flight. Three crew members were able to bail out while three others were killed as they ejected too late.
Crew:
Cpt Kevin Kent, pilot,
Cpt Jeffrey Love, copilot,
Sgt Steven Ellard, gunner,
Cpt Jon Jeffrey Olson, radar navigator, †
1st Lt Jorge I. Arteaga, navigator, †
1st Lt Eric D. Hedeen, EWO. †
Probable cause:
The problems started with an electrical malfunction on preflight with a main tank fuel gauge. The decision to take the aircraft with the initial fuel gauge problem was compounded by failures in crew coordination, crew management, and failure to follow procedures when further malfunctions occurred, and a cascade of errors compounding initial minor errors in judgment and procedures. The aircraft crashed because multiple engines ceased operating as a result of fuel starvation with over 30,000 lbs of fuel still on board the aircraft.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130H Hercules near Ras al-Khafji: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
69-6567
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
4341
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
Spirit 03
Location:
Ras al-Khafji
ash-Sharqīyah (الشرقية‎)
Country:
Saudi Arabia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Engaged in the operation 'Desert Storm', the aircraft was completing a flight to Kuwait City under call sign 'Spirit 03' with 14 people on board from the 16th Squadron of Special Operations. En route, the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed about 110 km south of Kuwait City. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 near Mérida: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1991 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Registration:
ARV-0209
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Caracas - Santa Barbara
MSN:
264
YOM:
1982
Location:
Mérida
Mérida
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
A twin engine training plane operated by the Venezuelan Navy crashed few days ago. One pilot was killed while the second escaped with minor injuries. Funerals were organized by the Armada Venezolana and a Casa 212 was chartered to carry the coffin to Santa Barbara. On board were soldiers, officers, friends and family members of the deceased pilot. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was cleared by ATC to divert to Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport. Few minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 55 km from Mérida Airport. A passenger was injured while 22 other occupants were killed. The passenger who survived was the second pilot on the first accident few days ago. He survived two crashes in a week.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew got lost in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Chalate: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAS124
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Chalate
Chalatenango
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the aircraft was hit by a SAM-14 missile. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a SAM-14 missile.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Almaty: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tashkent - Almaty
Location:
Almaty
Almaty Province
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Almaty Airport, the crew decided to initiate a go-around for unknown reasons when the aircraft lost height and crashed. All eight occupants were killed. There were low clouds and rain falls at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Iquitos

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1170
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
739
YOM:
1975
Location:
Iquitos
Loreto
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The float equipped aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Iquitos. There were no casualties. Dual registration OB-1170 (civil) and 338 (military).

Crash of a De Havilland CC-115 Buffalo in Rio de Janeiro: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1990 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
2350
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Campo de Marte – Anápolis – Brasília
MSN:
15
YOM:
1968
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right and crashed about 300 meters from the apron, bursting into flames. A crew member was injured while nine other occupants were killed.
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