Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Newnan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1999 at 0522 LT
Registration:
N27343
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Charlotte - Newnan
MSN:
31-7752163
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8340
Circumstances:
The flight was cleared for a localizer approach to runway 32 at Newnan-Coweta County Airport during dark night conditions. About 8 minutes later the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had missed approach and would like to try another approach. The flight was radar vectored to the final approach course and again cleared for the localizer runway 32 approach. The flight was observed on radar to continue the approach until a point about 4 nautical miles from the airport, at which time radar contact was lost. The last observed altitude was 1,600 feet msl. The aircraft collided with 80-foot tall trees, while established on the localizer for runway 32, about 1.3 nautical miles from the runway. About the time of the accident the weather at the airport was reported as a cloud ceiling 200 feet agl, and visibility .75 statute miles. Post crash examination of the aircraft structure, flight controls, engines, propellers, and systems showed no evidence of pre-crash failure or malfunction.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude while executing a localizer approach. Contributing factors were low ceilings and dark night conditions as well as the trees.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-600 Challenger in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1999 at 2347 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N63HJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pueblo – Columbia
MSN:
1021
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10162
Captain / Total hours on type:
540.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9503
Circumstances:
While enroute from Pueblo, Colorado, to Columbia, South Carolina, the captain's windshield delaminated, and the flight diverted to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for repairs. The flight crew stated the first officer was flying the airplane and had been instructed by the captain to make a firm landing at Fort Lauderdale to get the airplanes weight on the wheels, due to the airplane being light. The landing was firm and the first officer activated the engine thrust reversers. As the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane began veering to the left. Attempts to control the veer to the left were unsuccessful and the airplane ran off the left side of the runway. The airplane then ran over a taxiway and collided with a taxiway sign and the concrete base for the sign. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest. Examination of the runway showed alternating dark and light marks from the left main landing gear tire were present on the runway about 160 feet before marks from the right main landing gear tire are present. Post accident examination of the airplanes landing gear, tires, wheels, bakes, spoilers, and engine thrust reversers, showed no evidence of pre-accident failure or malfunction. At the time of the accident the flight crew had been on duty for about 17 hours 45 minutes.
Probable cause:
The failure of the flight crew to main directional control of the airplane after landing, resulting in the airplane going off the side of the runway and colliding with a taxiway sign, collapsing the nose landing gear, and causing substantial damage to the airplane. A factor in the accident was flight crew fatigue due to being on duty for about 17 hours 45 minutes.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Ilaga

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1999
Operator:
Registration:
PK-NUU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
478
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight to Ilaga Airport. After touchdown, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E9 in Olkiombo: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1999 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5Y-LET
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Olkiombo - Mara Shika
MSN:
91 26 20
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Olkiombo Airstrip, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed. They were completing a positioning flight to the Mara Shika Airfield, in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, to pick up passengers.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the aircraft stalled because the crew forgot to select flaps in an appropriate angle for takeoff.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Monterey

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1999 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N141CM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honolulu – Long Beach
MSN:
31-234
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
427
Captain / Total hours on type:
42.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4882
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that about 150 miles southwest of Monterey, the right engine made unusual noises, began to run rough, and exhibited high cylinder head temperature at the limits of the gauge. He advised Oakland Center of his position and situation, but did not declare an emergency. The pilot attempted to open the right engine cowl flap; however, it malfunctioned. He then increased fuel flow to the right engine in order to cool it and eventually had to reduce power on that side to keep it running. To compensate for the power loss in the right engine, he had to add power to the left engine. The combination of remedial actions increased the fuel consumption beyond his planned fuel burn rate. The flight attitude required by the asymmetric power also induced a periodic unporting condition in the outboard fuel tank pickups. The pilot said he was forced to switch to the inboard tanks until that supply was exhausted and then attempted to feed from the outboard tanks. The pilot said he was unsuccessful in maintaining consistent engine power output and was forced to ditch 20 miles short of the coastline. The pilot's VFR flight plan indicated that the total time en route would be 13 hours 10 minutes and total fuel onboard was 14 hours. The lapsed time from departure until the aircraft ditching was approximately 13 hours 12 minutes.
Probable cause:
An undetermined system malfunction in the right engine, which led to an increase in fuel usage beyond the pilot's planned fuel consumption rate and eventual fuel supply exhaustion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-4Q8 in Ceyhan: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1999 at 0045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-JEP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Adana - Jeddah
MSN:
25378
YOM:
1995
Flight number:
TK5904
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
11600
Aircraft flight cycles:
6360
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Adana Airport runway 05 at 0036LT on a positioning flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to pick up Turkish pilgrims. Nine minutes after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 4,000 metres in poor weather conditions, the aircraft nosed down, entered a dive and crashed in a near vertical attitude in an open field located near Ceyhan, about 30 km east of Adana Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, causing a large crater. Debris were found at a depth of 10 metres. The accident was not survivable.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The severe weather conditions probably contributed to the cause of the accident,
- The Pitot static anti-ice system was probably not activated during preparations for flight because the crew failed to follow the pre takeoff checklist,
- The crew failed to recognize the cause of an erratic airspeed indication,
- The crew failed to use other cockpit indications for control and recovery of the airplane,
- The presence of cabin crew in the cockpit probably distracted the attention of the cockpit crew.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Detroit: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1999 at 0051 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N234L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Detroit - Detroit
MSN:
AF-447
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1305
Aircraft flight hours:
7073
Circumstances:
The aircraft declared an emergency following departure from runway 03R at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Romulus, Michigan. The aircraft was resting on a magnetic heading of 055 degrees located approximately 3,400 feet from and 1,900 feet to the left of the departure end and centerline of runway 03R at DTW. Inspection of the forward section of the fuselage door and surrounding fuselage, a circular impression with no exposure of the underlying metal was noted approximately 2 feet 6-1/2 inches from the door hinge line. The door was opened to a point nearly flush with the aircraft's fuselage. The door handle was found to match the circular impression in position and shape. There was no tearing or fracturing of the forward fuselage door pin tips or its door pin holes. Inspection of the door's latching mechanism revealed a brown colored nail connecting the handle and vertical latches. Both engine supercharger turbine wheels displayed scoring and deformation of the impeller blades in the plane of rotation. Aileron, elevator and rudder flight control continuity was established. The elevator trim was in the neutral position. The trailing edge flaps were in the retracted positions. Both engine oil screens showed no evidence of metal contamination.
Probable cause:
The aircraft control not maintained and the inadvertent stall by the pilot while maneuvering to the landing area. The open door was a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Technoavia SM-92 Turbo Finist in Droskovo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1999
Operator:
Registration:
RA-44483
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Smolensk - Voronezh
MSN:
00-002
YOM:
1994
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying in poor weather conditions, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near Droskovo en route from Smolensk to Voronezh. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Icing suspected.

Crash of a Beechcraft C99 Airliner near Bishop: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1999 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N205RA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tonopah - Bishop
MSN:
U-205
YOM:
1983
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2958
Captain / Total hours on type:
692.00
Aircraft flight hours:
20522
Circumstances:
The airline transport pilot was repositioning the Beech C99 turboprop cargo hauler on a 73-mile trip without cargo. The pilot had been flying this route for some time and this was his last trip before upgrading to a larger aircraft and route. He told friends that he would take pictures of the scenic parts of the route on his last trip. Three witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying west at low altitude. Two of the witnesses were local ranchers who saw the airplane enter the White Mountains near Trace Plumas Canyon about 7,000 to 8,000 feet msl. White Mountain is 14,246 feet, tapering off north to 13,559 feet and south to 11,285 feet msl. The airplane was reported missing and 2 days later located on White Mountain about 9,400 feet msl. The company flight planned route is 15 miles south of the accident site through Westgard Pass, about 7,291 feet msl. Examination of the low energy impact and the subsequent recovery inspection failed to reveal any mechanical issues.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives and his failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-328C in Bratislava

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1999 at 2344 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9G-ROX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bratislava – N’Djamena
MSN:
19521
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was leased to a Belgian charter broker around June 1998 to operate fish charter flights between Mwanza and Vienna. The aircraft was in fact seen on many other airports, Bratislava, Ostrava and Lubumbashi. At the time of the accident, the plane is understood to have had a long list of 32 faults that needed urgent repair. Problems included a limited EGT of n°1 & 4 engines; n°3 engine constant speed drive (CSD) gearbox was consuming a 'massive amount of oil'; n°1 engine CSD generator missing; n°2 engine required bleed on takeoff and above FL330; left wing leading edge cracked and leaking; n°4 fuel tank and reserve tank gauge not working. Decision to ferry the aircraft to N'Djamena was taken on February 7. During the takeoff roll the n°2 & 3 engines failed. The takeoff was aborted but the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest 200 metres past the runway end. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.