Crash of a Transall C-160D near Lohr am Main: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
50+39
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wunstorf – Kaufbeuren
MSN:
D61
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Wunstorf AFB to Kaufbeuren AFB, carrying five technicians and five crew members. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in the Spessart Mountain Range near Lohr am Main. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Spafaryev Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
52 blue
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Magadan-56 Airport on a mission for the KGB and Border Guards. It crashed in unknown circumstances near the Spafaryev Island. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton near Tarbert: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1990 at 1137 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WR965
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lossiemouth - Benbecula
YOM:
1954
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On the morning of 30 April 1990, the crew of Shackleton AEW2 WR965 took off from RAF Lossiemouth to participate in a maritime exercise in the Benbecula area to the west of mainland Scotland. The exercise was to be in two parts with a time interval between. To make most economical use of the Shackleton's flying time it was intended to utilise the time interval to undertake some continuation training for which the crew had appropriate authorisation. Although the weather was forecast to be generally clear in the aircraft's operating area there were areas of low cloud and poor visibility over Scottish coastal areas. The first part of the sortie was completed without incident and at 09:45 UTC the crew took the opportunity to participate with a Tornado F3 in mutual training which required the Shackleton's radar to be set to standby/off. After completing this training, the crew commenced their own continuation training which was to include a visual approach to Benbecula airfield. The crew contacted Benbecula Air Traffic Control (ATC) at 10:25 UTC requesting permission for an approach, stating that they were about 20 miles west of the airfield; permission was given and Benbecula ATC passed their actual weather to the crew. Subsequent investigation determined, however, that the aircraft was actually 15 miles north of the position which it had reported at this time. At 10:30 two RAF personnel saw the Shackleton orbiting an island some 12 miles to the north of Benbecula airfield, and at 10:34 the Shackleton crew called Benbecula ATC stating that the weather was not sufficiently good for an approach and that they were turning right and climbing. At around 10:37 it struck the ground about 30 ft below the summit of an 823 ft hill on the Isle of Harris. Reliable evidence indicates that at that time and in that vicinity the cloudbase was 200 ft above mean sea level, with cloud tops at 3000 ft. At impact, the aircraft was in controlled flight with all four engines developing cruise power.
Crew (28th Squadron):
W/Cdr Stephen Roncoroni,
W/Cdr Chas Wrighton,
F/O Colin Burns,
S/L Jerry Lane,
F/Lt Al Campbell,
F/Lt Keith Forbes,
M/O Roger Scutt,
F/Sgt Rick Ricketts,
Sgt Graham Miller,
Cpl Stuart Bolton.
Probable cause:
The Board of Inquiry concluded that the accident was caused because the aircraft was flown below a safe altitude in unsuitable weather conditions; the Board were unable to determine the reason for this.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Kinkole: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9T-TCG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Gbadolite
MSN:
4736
YOM:
1977
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport, while climbing, a propeller blade on the engine n°3 detached and struck the engine n°4. Following severe vibrations, the aircraft became unstable, lost speed and height and crashed in Kinkole, about 8 km northeast of the airport. Four passengers, among them a young girl aged 4 were injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of a propeller blade and subsequent loss of control during initial climb.

Crash of a Casa 212M Aviocar 300 near Kuito: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-410
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kuito - Huambo
MSN:
384
YOM:
1988
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kuito Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed 30 km from the airport. All 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile by UNITA rebels.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Trelew

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
0690/6-G-84
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LD-453
YOM:
1972
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 at La Carlota AFB

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1990 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
GN-7960
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Carlota AFB - Los Roques
MSN:
64
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from La Carlota-General Francisco de Miranda, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the wires of a cable car and crashed on a hilly and wooded terrain. All four occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Lusaka: 29 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1990 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AF-316
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
M’Bala – Lusaka
MSN:
66
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
While approaching Lusaka, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located 10 km from the airport. All 29 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Mitsubishi LR-1 Marquise in Japan

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
22012
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
812
YOM:
1980
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Japan. Crew fate unknown. Operated by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF).