Crash of an Antonov AN-22A in Moscow: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09311
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Damascus - Moscow
MSN:
043481251
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Moscow, a fault accumulator caused a fire in the well of the main right gear, while the aircraft was 28 km from Vnukovo on a flight to Sheremetievo. When the fire was detected, the crew decided to divert to Vnukovo Airport (VKO). Electric power was switched from the main system to the emergency one when the aircraft was flying at a height of 3,400 meters some 8 km from VKO. But the emergency system failed also at an altitude of 2,500 meters on approach, leaving the aircraft without any electric power. The crew attempted a emergency belly landing in a field when the aircraft collided with obstacles and a drainage ditch before coming to rest in flames. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Probable cause:
Fire in the right main wheel well.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Las Palmas: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1980 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T.10-1
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid – Tenerife – Las Palmas
MSN:
4520
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Tenerife to Las Palmas where 70 soldiers should embark. The descent to Gando Airport was initiated from the west in marginal weather conditions. In limited visibility due to clouds, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Hoya del Gamonal located about 17 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed. For unknown reasons, the crew initiated the approach from the west over the island instead of flying along the northern coast of the island.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed EC-130E Hercules at Posht-e Bādām AFB AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-1809
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3770
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After landing at Posht-e Bādām AFB, the four engine airplane collided with a USMC Douglas RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter registered 158761. The collision occurred in unknown circumstances and both aircraft were taking part to an evacuation of US citizens. All eight occupants on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Guatemala City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAS001
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Salvador – Guatemala City
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to heavy rain falls when the twin engine airplane crashed near Santa Catarina Pinula, few km from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, three officers of the Salvadoran Air Force, among them Gilberto Balmore Escamilla, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Crew:
Maj Fernando Salazar Mena,
Cpt Fredy Roberto Asencio.
Passenger:
Gilberto Balmore Escamilla.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Namibia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1980
Operator:
Registration:
6851
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
27645/15300
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Namibia, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Poptún: 31 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1980
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Guatemala City - Poptún
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Guatemala City Airport, carrying 27 passengers and four crew members, essentially army officers and family members who were flying to Poptún to visit Maya ruins. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed in a mountainous area located about 65 km south of Poptún. All 31 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10MER at Toul-Rosières AFB

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
039
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
2659
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an accident at Toul-Rosières AFB. There were no casualties but the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Mandalay: 43 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1980 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5003
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Mandalay - Yangon
MSN:
545
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
43
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mandalay-Chianmyathazi (Annisaton) Airport, while in initial climb, the crew reported an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Following a circuit, on final, the airplane lost height and crashed on a tobacco factory. The airplane and the factory were totally destroyed. A passenger was seriously injured while 43 other occupants were killed. There were no casualties on the ground.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff for undetermined reasons.