Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King near Azusa: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1989 at 1430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N39YV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Monica - Farmington
MSN:
BB-39
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11500
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10267
Circumstances:
Before the flight, the pilots of 2 Beech 200 aircraft evaluated weather reports at a fixed base operation and made a computer weather inquiry. They departed Santa Monica, CA, on a positioning flight to Farmington, NM, without filing a flight plan. While en route, the lead aircraft was about 1 to 3 minutes ahead of the 2nd aircraft. The 2nd pilot reported they were at about 4,500 feet msl as they neared mountains and the clouds were about 1,000 feet above. As they continued eastward in a valley, the 2nd pilot heard the lead pilot report he was 'going up.' This was the last known transmission from the lead aircraft. The 2nd pilot continued his flight in VMC. Two days later, the lead aircraft was found, where it had crashed about 100 feet below the top of a 7,400 feet mountain ridge. Impact occurred on a heading of about 030°. The mountain ridge was oriented on headings of 060° 240°.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in has inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and subsequent collision with mountainous terrain. The weather and terrain conditions were considered to be related factors.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Columbia: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1989 at 0144 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N95PB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Memphis - Columbia
MSN:
110-330
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11020
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11387
Circumstances:
After conducting ground training all day, the instructor/director of operations and his trainee flew an EMB-110P1 to Memphis to exchange airplanes. Ground fog had started to form prior to departure. After exchanging airplanes, they made the return flight to Columbia. They obtained radar vectors to the final approach course for the SDF at Columbia. The thick fog resulted in a missed approach. During the missed approach, the runway was visible from above and the crew indicated that they would try for a VFR approach and landing. The airplane collided with trees 2,350 feet from the runway in a wings level attitude. The tops of the trees were broken 41 feet above the runway threshold altitude. The trainee had been without rest for at least 30 hours prior to the accident. One pilot was killed while the second was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Pilot attempted to make a VFR landing in instrument conditions that were below minimums for the published instrument approach and collided with trees and the ground after allowing the airplane to descend below the proper altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Tatarsk

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70080
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tatarsk - Tatarsk
MSN:
1G136-06
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a positioning flight for crop-spraying operations to the airstrip of the sovkhoz (state farm) "Tatarski" when the pilot tried to make a pancake landing as he assumed the ground to be drenched. The aircraft lost speed on short final, causing the left wing to stall and to struck the ground. The aircraft cartwheeled and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who failed to maintain a sufficient speed during the last segment.

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) off Wollongong: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1989 at 1030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-NOE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sydney - Wollongong
MSN:
61-0849-8162154
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was to conduct a charter with passengers from Sydney to Wollongong, Nowra, Canberra and return to Sydney, departing Sydney at about 10.00am. Earlier that morning he positioned the aircraft at Sydney and had it refuelled. When the passengers arrived he explained that the weather in the various destinations was very poor and that there was a possibility they may not be able to land. However, he was prepared to give it a try. As the passengers were pressed for time, they could not afford to take a chance with the weather and so they decided to drive. They told the pilot that if he could land at Wollongong later that day they would continue the flight with him. However, they impressed on him that there was no pressure for him to depart immediately as they would not be in Wollongong for several hours. After driving for a short time, the passengers decided that the weather did not appear as if it would improve, and believed that it would be better to complete the journey by car. They contacted the charter company by phone to cancel the charter, but the pilot had already departed. The flight to Wollongong appears to have proceeded normally where the pilot reported commencing an NDB approach, and would call again at a specified time. This was the last message received from the pilot. Witnesses on the ground at Wollongong, and on a yacht 20 nautical miles to the east of Wollongong reported hearing an aircraft flying at approximately 1000 to 2000 feet in the low cloud and rain. There were no other known aircraft in the area. Later that day a helicopter discovered wreckage debris in the sea, which was confirmed as being from the aircraft. The search was discontinued due to very poor weather and visibility, and cancelled two weeks later when further efforts failed to locate any trace of the aircraft.
Probable cause:
The reason why the aircraft flew into the sea could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna S550 Citation II in Poughkeepsie

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1989 at 0808 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N29X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
White Plains - Poughkeepsie
MSN:
550-0096
YOM:
1986
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6135
Captain / Total hours on type:
635.00
Aircraft flight hours:
703
Circumstances:
Witnesses reported aircraft was high during approach and landed nosewheel 1st about 1,600 feet beyond threshold, then became airborne and bounced 2 times. Pilot stated that before touchdown, he started to 'spool up' engines, but noted lack of response, then retarded throttles and landed. He said he applied brakes and selected 'full reverse' and noted no response. Reportedly, nosewheel 'skipped into air' while aircraft still had flying speed. With insufficient runway remaining to stop, he elected to stow reversers and began go-around. He noted no response from engines, tho aircraft had became airborne. Aircraft then settled beyond departure end of runway and crashed on rough terrain. Examination revealed engines had ingested twigs, grass and dirt. Reverse load limiters (l/l) on both engines were found in tripped position. Flight man stated that to avoid actuation of l/l, do not advance primary throttle after returning reverse thrust lever to stow until unlock light is out; maint required to reset actuated l/l. L/l was incorporated on thrust reverser to reduce engine power to idle, if inadvertently deployed in flight. During post-accident check, both engines were operated to 85% after l/l reset.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper use of the powerplant controls, which resulted in actuation (tripping) of the reverse load limiters on the thrust reversers and subsequent reduction of available power in both engines. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's misjudgement of distance, excessive airspeed, and improper flare during the landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Oxford

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1989 at 1108 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJHO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oxford - Shoreham
MSN:
6835
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3136
Captain / Total hours on type:
68.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 20 at Oxford-Kidlington Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,500 feet, the pilot reduced engine power when the right engine failed. He informed ATC at Oxford Airport and was cleared to return. Shortly later, the right engine caught fire and the pilot attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a soft ground about 8 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine following the failure of the 4th cylinder in flight.

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Lisbon

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GDAV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Lisbon
MSN:
23-017
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the twin engine aircraft belly landed at Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport and slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF near Bir Moghreïn: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N284
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Dakar - Agadir
MSN:
45203
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Dakar to Agadir, while cruising at the altitude of 11,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile. An engine detached and out of control, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a desert area near Bir Moghreïn. All five occupants were killed. They were on their way to Agadir on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile fired by soldiers of the Front Polisario.

Crash of a Cessna 425 Conquest in Lake Larouche: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GBMI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
425-0031
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Lake Larouche. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Niedernberg

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1988 at 1355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N750BR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rotterdam - Thessaloniki
MSN:
99
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in cruising level over Germany on a positioning flight from Rotterdam to Thessaloniki, the right engine failed and its propeller feathered automatically. The crew informed ATC and started a descent in an order to divert to the nearest airport. While descending, the power was restored on the right engine but it failed again. Once the altitude of 6,000 feet was reached on descent, the left engine failed as well. The crew reduced his altitude and completed a belly landing in an open field located near Niedernberg. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the double engine failure was the consequence of a contaminated fuel.