Positioning

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wichita Falls - Dallas

MSN:

671

YOM:

1985

Location:

Dallas-Fort Worth

Texas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4841

Captain / Total hours on type:

2100.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4475

Circumstances:

The copilot was flying the aircraft as it was being ferried after minor maintenance. As they were in a descent and were approaching the destination airport, the captain noted a left engine torque fluctuation of 20% to 30% and elected to secure the engine, although no yawing was noticed. During shutdown, the left propeller did not feather and drag increased until the aircraft would not sustain level flight. An attempted restart of the left engine was unsuccessful, so the captain tried to feather it again. However, the left propeller still did not feather. Subsequently, the pilots were forced to land in an open field on uneven terrain and the aircraft was damaged. An extensive investigation was made, but no cause could be found for the torque fluctuation, nor could the condition be duplicated, however, the investigation did note that the air and ground procedures for engine shutdown were similar. A variation in the ground shutdown procedures allowed for engagement of the start latches.

Probable cause:

Airplane's encounter with rought terrain during an attempted forced landing. The forced landing was necessitated after the captain used improper procedures to shutdown the left engine in flight following an unexplained torque fluctuation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-2H9A near Arapköy: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1988 at 1025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Talia Airways

Registration:

TC-AKD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Istanbul - Ercan

MSN:

20930

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the descent to Ercan Airport in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions. After being cleared for a VOR approach, the captain cancelled the IFR flight plan and descended prematurely at an altitude of 2,000 feet. He elected to make a turn to avoid the mountain when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (954 meters high) located about 16 km north of Ercan Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 15 occupants were killed. The flight was completed on behalf of JAT Yugoslav Airlines. On board were six Turkish citizen (crew), seven Yugoslav citizens and two British.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20F in Lugano

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1988 at 0924 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 20

Operator:

Segas International

Registration:

VR-BJB

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lugano - Rome

MSN:

244

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7618

Captain / Total hours on type:

1574.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2747

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1456

Aircraft flight hours:

6569

Aircraft flight cycles:

6410

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on runway 21, just before reaching V1 (112 knots), the captain thought that the right engine lost power. He decided to abandon the takeoff maneuver and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran at a speed of about 60-70 knots, rolled in a snow covered field and eventually collided with an embankment, coming to rest, broken in two. Both pilots were injured.

Probable cause:

The accident is attributable to a rejected take-off just before reaching the critical speed of decision (V1), due to an alleged loss of power of the right engine.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- The lack of data for the calculation of the accelerate-stop distance in the operating manual (AOM) of the Dassault aircraft for takeoff on wet or contaminated runways;
- Insufficient consideration of the state of the runway, to determine the maximum take-off mass, in regard to the "accelerate-stop" distance;
- Insufficient preparation for takeoff;
- Lack of coordination between the crew at the time of engine failure;
- Insufficient mental preparation of the crew before takeoff;
- The non-inclusion of de-icing system of the engines, in dangerous meteorological conditions with freezing temperatures;
- Insufficient training of the crew on the flight simulator, especially for what concerns the problems and take-off interruption;
- Aquaplaning;
- No airbrakes extended;
- Failure to use the braking parachute.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Saint-Barthélemy: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Niemeyer Aviation

Registration:

N8209Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Saint-Barthélemy-Rémy de Haenen (Saint-Jean-Gustave III)

MSN:

402B-0389

YOM:

1973

Location:

Saint-Barthélemy

Country:

Saint-Barthélemy

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach, the pilot encountered strong crosswinds when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on rocks located near a beach. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Le Puy

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1987 at 2020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Swearingen SA226 Metro II

Operator:

Registration:

F-GCTE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

Schedule:

Lyon - Le Puy

MSN:

TC-365

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a positioning flight from Lyon-Satolas Airport to Le Puy-Loudes Airport, Haute-Loire. On final approach by night, at an altitude of 500 feet, the crew positioned both propellers to fine pitch when both engines failed simultaneously. The airplane stalled and crash landed in an open field located few hundred meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that weather conditions were considered as marginal at the time of the accident with icing conditions. Both engines failed after the crew positioned both propellers to fine pitch due to an excessive accumulation of ice. The crew failed to activate the engine deicing systems and also failed to restart the engine. It was also reported there was no antifreeze liquid used.

Crash of a Volpar Turboliner 18 in Saint Clair Shores

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1987 at 1725 LT

Type of aircraft:

Volpar Turboliner 18

Operator:

Registration:

N10AS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Newark - Detroit

MSN:

N-467

YOM:

1950

Location:

Detroit

Michigan

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3080

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Aircraft flight hours:

15800

Circumstances:

While enroute to home base after delivery of revenue cargo, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power in both engines due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot performed emergency procedures and set the aircraft up for a forced landing in a grassy field on the edge of a lake. The aircraft initially impacted a tree and the rocky berm of the shoreline. The contact with the berm caused the landing gear to break off, the aircraft swerved around and skidded backwards before coming to a rest about 150 feet from the lakeshore. Post accident investigation revealed less than 2 gallons of fuel in each wing tank.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: descent
Findings
1. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
2. Engine instruments, fuel quantity gage - incorrect
3. Inattentive - pilot in command
4. (c) planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
5. Object - tree(s)
6. Terrain condition - berm
7. Terrain condition - rough/uneven
8. Landing gear - collapsed

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in Leeds: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1987 at 0616 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Artix

Registration:

G-MDJI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Schedule:

Teesside – Leeds

MSN:

BB-1162

YOM:

1983

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Captain / Total hours on type:

350.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a positioning flight from Teesside to Leeds where passengers should embark for Alicante, Spain. On approach, the visibility was poor due to low clouds. After being cleared to descend to 3,000 feet then to land on runway 14, the aircraft descended too low and crashed on the top of a hill located 3,4 km short of runway threshold. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, QNH was 1008 and QFE was 983. Initially the commander did not read this information back to the controller, as is 'required', nor did the controller ask him to do so, as is 'recommended' by the Manual of Air Traffic Services. The laid down descent angle for a Localiser/DME approach to runway 14 at Leeds/Bradford Airport is 3.5°. Whereas a standard 3 degree descent angle can readily be calculated and flown by a pilot using a formula of 300 feet per nautical mile, it is more difficult, particularly in single pilot operations, to calculate and achieve a 3.5° descent. An aircraft on a 3.5° approach angle, on a pressure setting of 998 mb, would pass approximately 100 feet above the accident site but, a 3° approach would result in ground contact in the area of the site.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Aarhus: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

OY-BGK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Copenhagen - Aarhus

MSN:

31-7305019

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Aarhus-Tirstrup Airport on a positioning flight from Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field located 3,5 km east of the airport. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in Gold Beach

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1987 at 1435 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N32RL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: