Crash of a Pilatus AU-23A Turbo Porter in Phanom Thuan

Date & Time: Mar 23, 2012 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
74-2082
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prachuap Khiri Khan - Prachuap Khiri Khan
MSN:
2082
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Prachuap Khiri Khan for a local training flight, carrying two pilots and one engineer. En route, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in the Phanom Thuan District. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while both pilots were uninjured. The engineer was slightly injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Welshpool: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2012 at 1117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-BWHF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Welshpool - Welshpool
MSN:
31-7612076
YOM:
1976
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11164
Captain / Total hours on type:
375.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17590
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2177
Circumstances:
The commander had retired from flying Commercial Air Transport operations with an airline in August 2011. He had recently renewed his single pilot Instrument Rating and Multi Engine Piston (Land) planes rating and his intention was to continue flying part-time. He had been invited to fly G‑BWHF, which was privately operated for business purposes, but his last flight in this aircraft was on 10 November 1998. Accordingly, he planned to conduct a re-familiarisation flight. The commander was accompanied by another pilot who was not a flight instructor but had recent experience of flying the aircraft and was familiar with the aerodrome. A webcam recorded the pilots towing the aircraft to the refuelling point, refuelling it and carrying out pre‑flight preparations. There were no witnesses to any briefings which may have taken place. The commander first started the right engine, which initially ran roughly and backfired before running smoothly. The left engine started normally. The second pilot took his place in the front right seat. The aircraft taxied to the holding point of Runway 22, and was heard by witnesses to be running normally. A witness who lived adjacent to the airfield but could not see the aircraft heard the power and propeller checks being carried out, three or four times instead of once per engine as was usual. The engines were heard to increase power and the witness observed the aircraft accelerate along the runway and takeoff at 1105 hrs. It climbed straight ahead and through a small patch of thin stratus cloud, the base of which the witness estimated was approximately 1,000 ft aal. The aircraft remained visible as it passed through the cloud and continued climbing. The witness turned away from the aircraft to continue working but stated that apart from the unusual number of run-up checks, the aircraft appeared and sounded normal. The pilot of a Robinson R22 helicopter which departed Welshpool at 1015 hrs described weather to the south of the aerodrome as drizzle with patches of broken stratus at 600-700 ft aal. He was able to climb the helicopter between the patches of stratus until, at 1,500 ft, he was above the tops of the cloud. Visibility below the cloud was approximately 5-6 km but, above the cloud, it was in excess of 10 km. He noted that the top of Long Mountain was in cloud and his passenger took a photograph of the Long Mountain area The R22 returned to the airfield and joined left hand downwind for Runway 22. As it did so, its pilot heard a transmission from the pilot of the PA-31 stating that he was rejoining for circuits. The R22 pilot transmitted his position in order to alert the PA-31, then continued around the circuit and called final before making his approach to the runway, landing at about 1115 hrs. After passing overhead Welshpool, it made a descending left circuit, becoming established on a left hand, downwind leg for Runway 22. A witness approximately 3.5 nm northeast of the accident site saw the aircraft coming towards him with both propellers turning. It made a turn to the left with the engines apparently at a high power setting and, as it passed over Long Mountain, commenced a descent. He could not recall whether he could still hear the engines as the aircraft descended. He then lost sight of it behind the rising ground of Long Mountain. A search was initiated when the aircraft failed to return to Welshpool. Its wreckage was located in an open field on the west slope of Long Mountain. There were no witnesses to the actual impact with the trees or surface of the field but the sound was heard by a witness in the wood who stated that the engines were audible immediately prior to impact. The accident, which was not survivable, occurred at 1117 hrs. Both pilots were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The aircraft struck the tops of the trees located on the upper slope of Long Mountain, while descending for a visual approach to land on Runway 22 at Welshpool Airport. The trees were probably not visible to the pilots because of cloud covering the upper slopes.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 310 in the Maadhiggaru Falhu lagoon

Date & Time: Jul 11, 2011 at 0910 LT
Operator:
Registration:
8Q-TMD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Male - Male
MSN:
530
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
TMW201A
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5732
Captain / Total hours on type:
3387.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2650
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2650
Aircraft flight hours:
34746
Aircraft flight cycles:
62428
Circumstances:
The 8Q-TMD aircraft took-off from water runway of Male’ International Airport North Bound Left (NL) at 0820 hrs local time on 11 July 2011 for a routine training flight bound to Maadhiggaru Falhu (a lagoon located approximately 15 nautical miles south west of the Male’ International Airport). The sky was clear with good visibility and wind 8-10 knots from west and south west. During the training 5 landings and take-offs were made simulating different conditions of flight. Crew confirmed that all these landings and take-offs were made inside the lagoon except the last landing where the crew decided to land on open water outside the lagoon. Crew were simulating single engine landing with a tail wind. As per the crew, the aircraft initial touch down was smooth. However, they stroke a wave which made the aircraft bounce up for about 20 feet. With the low power the aircraft hit the water again, resulting in multiple float attachments to break. Both front and main spreader bars broke and floats rose up twisted, hitting the engine bottom cowlings. Propeller cut was found on top front of both floats.
Probable cause:
Impact with a high swell during landing followed by a high bounce and hard landing resulting in both float attachments being damaged and detached with a major structural damages. Major contributing factor was higher than normal touch down speed due to abnormal landing configuration.
Contributing factors:
- Selection of inappropriate landing site (channel) and landing direction (tail wind) based on surface conditions present at that time,
- Simulation of multiple emergencies,
- Abnormal landing configuration (flaps at zero) for single engine landing,
- Time pressure to complete the training and return to commercial operations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman S-2T Tracker in Bahía Blanca

Date & Time: Apr 20, 2011
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
0701/2-AS-22
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bahía Blanca - Bahía Blanca
MSN:
298
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight on this Tracker delivered to the Armada Argentina in 1978. While flying in the vicinity of the Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. While both pilots escaped with minor injuries, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Eden Prairie

Date & Time: Apr 8, 2011 at 1730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N51RF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eden Prairie - Eden Prairie
MSN:
500-3298
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
473
Captain / Total hours on type:
217.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4659
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2480
Aircraft flight hours:
11298
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that he performed a stabilized visual approach with a right crosswind. The airplane touched down on the centerline and subsequently drifted to the right. The pilot overcorrected for the drift and the airplane veered hard to the left. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and skidded to a complete stop. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip hit the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no preimpact anomalies. The pilot additionally reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Probable cause:
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind while landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24 in Pachuca de Soto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 2011 at 1104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XB-GHO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pachuca de Soto - Pachuca de Soto
MSN:
24-141
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Pachuca de Soto Airport. After landing, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and eventually collided with a building housing a military canine unit, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 2010 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BVTB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Aix-les-Milles - Aix-les-Milles
MSN:
LJ-579
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9925
Captain / Total hours on type:
2100.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
499
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
9716
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Aix-les-Milles Airport at 1520LT on a local training flight. The crew was cleared to fly between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. The aircraft overflew successively Marseille and Toulon then passed over Le Castellet. While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet and at a speed of 110 knots, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, dove into the ground with a rate of descent of 6,000 feet per minute and crashed in a near vertical position in a rocky zone located in the Sainte-Victoire Mountain Range, near Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed, one instructor and one pilot under supervision.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during an exercise at low speed and certainly in a single engine configuration.
Contributory factors:
- No reference methods to conduct the exercise, for instructors on this type of aircraft,
- Exercise conducted in a height which insufficient margin and lower than the one recommended by the manufacturer,
- Insufficient vigilance on part of the instructor (however with unanimous recognized skills) but whose instruction on Beechcraft King Air 90 could not be established.
Final Report:

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster III at Elmendorf AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 2010 at 1822 LT
Operator:
Registration:
00-0173
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elmendorf AFB - Elmendorf AFB
MSN:
P-73
YOM:
2000
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training exercise in preparation to the 'Thunder Air Show' taking part at Elmendorf-Richardson AFB on 31JUL2010. Shortly after take off from runway 06, the pilot-in-command initiated a first turn to the left then a steep turn to the right when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located some 3 km northwest of the airbase. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The board president found clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the mishap was pilot error. The pilot violated regulatory provisions and multiple flight manual procedures, placing the aircraft outside established flight parameters at an attitude and altitude where recovery was not possible. Furthermore, the copilot and safety observer did not realize the developing dangerous situation and failed to make appropriate inputs. In addition to multiple procedural errors, the board president found sufficient evidence that the crew on the flight deck ignored cautions and warnings and failed to respond to various challenge and reply items. The board also found channelized attention, overconfidence, expectancy, misplaced motivation, procedural guidance, and program oversight substantially contributed to the mishap.

Crash of a Beechcraft RC-12K Guardrail in Wiesbaden

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2010 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
85-0155
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wiesbaden - Wiesbaden
MSN:
FE-9
YOM:
1987
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB on a local training flight. On approach, technical problem forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing in a cornfield 200 metres short of runway. Both pilots were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:

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

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2010 at 1050 LT
Registration:
N430LA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Guatemala City – Rio Dulce
MSN:
31-7405446
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport at 0930LT on a flight to Rio Dulce with two pilots on board. En roue, the crew contacted ATC, modified his flight plan and was cleared to continue direct to Puerto Barrios. Following few touch-and-go manoeuvres at Puerto Barrios Airport, the crew completed a new approach and landing on runway 12. The pilot-in-command increased engine power and took off when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on a road, coming to rest upside down. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an unstabilized approach. The failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report: