Crash of an Antonov AN-12BK in Tamanrasset: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2014 at 0244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-DWF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Glasgow – Ghardaïa – Tamanrasset – Malabo
MSN:
8 3 458 02
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
UKL4061
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Glasgow-Prestwick to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, with intermediate stops in Ghardaïa and Tamanrasset. On board were seven crew members and a load consisting of oil equipment. About three minutes after takeoff from Tamanrasset-Aguenar-Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport, radio contact was lost when the aircraft crashed in a mountainous terrain located some 15 km south of the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven crew members (six Ukrainians and one Russian) were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP near Mulume Munene: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2014 at 1355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CXB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bukavu - Kama
MSN:
82 09 25
YOM:
1982
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 1342LT on a cargo flight to Kama, carrying two pilots, two passengers and a load of 1,500 kilos of books. Some 10 minutes later, the crew changed his frequency and no further contact was established. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Kama, Maniema Province, SAR operations were initiated. The crew of two helicopters from the same operator spotted the burnt wreckage two days later, in the region of Mulume Munene, some 30 km southwest of Bukavu. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I Near Lydenburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 2014 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
3006
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Sabi Sabi - Lydenburg
MSN:
208-00136
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was completing a training flight from Sabi Sabi to Lydenburg on behalf of the 41st Squadron. While descending to Lydenburg, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area near the Long Tom Pass. Two passengers were seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C near San Vincente del Caguán: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 2014 at 1202 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4700
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Florencia
MSN:
9700
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
10233
Captain / Total hours on type:
9950.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4417
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3812
Aircraft flight hours:
27771
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Villavicencio on a cargo flight to Florencia, carrying three passengers, two pilots and a load consisting of 2,540 kg of various goods. While cruising under VFR mode at an altitude of 6,500 feet, weather conditions worsened and the crew attempted to modify his route when the aircraft impacted ground and crashed in a wooded and mountainous area located some 45 km north of San Vincente del Caguán, near Uribe. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain. The crew failed to evaluate properly the risks and the danger of poor weather conditions and decided to perform the flight in VFR mode. While cruising in IMC and failing to check the minimum prescribed altitude, the crew suffered a loss of situational awareness, causing the aircraft to hit he mountainous terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Coromoro: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 2014 at 1023 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GSVM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bucaramanga - Bucaramanga
MSN:
31-109
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1400.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11000
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport at 0804LT on a geophysical mission over the Coromoro Region, Santander. At 1000LT, the last radio contact was recorded with the pilot. While flying in marginal weather conditions (low clouds), the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Coromoro. The wreckage was found two days later at an altitude of 4,500 metres, some 98 km south of Bucaramanga. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both occupants were killed, among them Peter Moore, co-founder of Oracle Geoscience International and Neville Ribeiro, the pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions. It was determined that the accident occurred after the pilot suffered a loss of situational awareness while flying under VFR mode in low clouds conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Dihidanda: 18 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 2014 at 1330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pokhara – Jumla
MSN:
302
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
RNA183
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
8373
Captain / Total hours on type:
8131.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
365
Aircraft flight hours:
43947
Aircraft flight cycles:
74217
Circumstances:
On 16 February 2014, the Twin Otter (DHC6/300) aircraft with registration number 9N-ABB, owned and operated by Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), departed Kathmandu at 0610 UTC (1155 LT) on its schedule flight to Jumla carrying 18 persons on board including 3 crews. Detailed sectors to be covered by the flight No. RA 183/718 was Kathmandu–Pokhara–Jumla-Nepālganj (Night stop). Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara completed in normal condition. After 17 minutes on ground at Pokhara airport and refueling 9N-ABB departed Pokhara at 0658 for Jumla. After Jumla flight, the aircraft was scheduled to Night stop at Nepālganj. Next day it was to do a series of shuttle flights from Nepālganj. Prevailing westerly weather had a severe impact on most of the domestic flights since last two days. A.M.E. of Engineering Department of NAC who had performed D.I. of 9N ABB had mentioned in his written report to the Commission that he had reminded the diversion of Bhojpur flight of NAC due weather and asked the Captain whether he had weather briefing of the Western Nepal or not. In response to the AME's query the Captain had replied casually that- "weather is moving from west to east and now west is improving". Pilots behavior was reported normal by the ground staffs of Kathmandu and Pokhara airports prior to the commencement of flight on that day. All the pre and post departure procedure of the flight were completed in normal manner. Before departure to Jumla from Pokhara, Pilots obtained Jumla and Bhairahawa weather and seems to be encouraged with VFR Weather at both stations. However, they were unable to make proper assessment of en route weather. PIC decided to remain south of track to avoid the terrain and weather. CVR read out revealed that pilots were aware and concerned about the icing conditions due to low outside air temperature. After around 25 minutes, probably maneuvering to avoid weather, the PIC instructed the co-pilot to plan a route further south of their position, to fly through the Dang valley. The copilot selected Dang in the GPS, on a bearing of 283°, and determined the required altitude was 8500ft. He then raised concerns that the aircraft may not have enough fuel to reach the planned destination. Approximately two and a half minutes before the accident, the PIC initiated a descent, and the copilot advised against this. As per CVR read out, last heading recorded by copilot, approximately one minute before the crash, was 280. The last one minute was a very critical phase of the flight during which PIC said I am entering (perhaps inside the cloud). At that time copilot called Bhairahawa Tower on his own and got latest Bhairahawa weather. While copilot was transmitting its last position report to Bhairahawa Control Tower (approximately 25 miles from Bhairahawa), PIC interrupted and declared to divert Bhairahawa. Bhairahawa Control Tower wanted the pilots to confirm their present position. But crews were very much occupied and copilot said STANDBY. Just few seconds before crash copilot had told PIC not to descend. Copilot also suggested PIC in two occasions - sir don't turn. Very unfortunately aircraft was crashed. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot-in-command lost situation awareness while cruising in IMC.
The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Deteriorated weather associated with western disturbance, unstable in nature and embedded CB,
- Inappropriate and insufficient crew coordination while changing course of action.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules in Aïn Kercha: 76 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 2014 at 1138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-WHM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Tamanrasset – Constantine
MSN:
4919
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
76
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Tamanrasset on a flight to Constantine, carrying soldiers and their family members. The crew initiated the descent to Constantine-Mohamed Boudiaf Airport Runway 34 in poor weather conditions with wind gusting to 28 knots and light snow. The crew descended too low when the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Djebel Ta Fertas located near Aïn Kercha, some 30 km south of Constantine Airport. A passenger was injured while 76 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander in Petreasa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 2014 at 1547 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YR-BNP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bucharest - Oradea
MSN:
822
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
111
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
15261
Captain / Total hours on type:
42.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
886
Copilot / Total hours on type:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
3335
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bucharest-Baneasa Airport on an ambulance flight to Oradea, carrying a medical team, one patient and two pilots. Doctors should go to Oradea to obtain transplant organs from a patient who just passed away. While cruising at an altitude of 6,300 feet vertical to the Apuseni Mountain Range, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with icing conditions but continued when both engines lost power and failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a snowy and wooded hillside at an altitude of 1,400 metres. A pilot and a passenger were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight due to carburetor icing. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Erroneous assessment of the risk factors specific to the conduct of this flight,
- Lack of crew experience on this type of aircraft,
- Erroneous decision of the captain to continue the flight in meteorological conditions that caused the carburetor icing,
- Erroneous decision of the captain to continue to fly for a long period of time in icing conditions,
- Erroneous decision of the captain to continue the mission under the AMA, under conditions of BMI flight according to IFR flight rules,
- Erroneous decision of the crew to initiate the flight while the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW and the CofG was outside the prescribed limits.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft MC-12W Liberty in Afghanistan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 2014
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N195AE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
FA-195
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a special mission with a crew of two and a member of the ISAF on board. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances somewhere in the east part of Afghanistan. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. There are no indications that the aircraft was brought down by enemy fire, said a Defense official. It was later reported that the airplane involved was completing an Air Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (MARSS) mission.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II on Vargas Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 2013 at 1425 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GFMX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Tofino
MSN:
421B-0939
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
8500
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Abbotsford to Tofino with two people on board (a father aged 51 and his son aged 25). On approach to Tofino Airport, on Vancouver Island, the aircraft impacted ground and crashed on Vargas Island, off Tofino. The burnt wreckage was found the following day and both occupants were killed.