Mountains | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Sam Neua Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. Approaching in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 12 km from the airport. Eight passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended too low in poor visibility. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated from the approach path from 4 to 6 km.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A-6-LM Hercules in Burzet: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 2000 at 0903 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

N116TG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Marseille - Aubenas - Marseille

MSN:

3086

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

Tanker 82

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

In the early morning, the four engine aircraft departed Marseille-Marignane on a positioning flight to Aubenas-Vals-Lanas Airport, Ardeche, where the crew was briefed about a forest fire in the region of Burzet, some 15 km northwest of Aubenas. The aircraft departed Aubenas with two Canadair CL-415 and was dispatched to the area on fire under callsign 'Tanker 82'. A first drop was completed successfully and while completing a second low pass, the aircraft struck trees and crashed on hilly terrain. Two crew members were seriously injured while two others were killed.
Crew:
Ted Hobard, pilot,
Paul Trinque, copilot, †
Jo WILLIAMS, navigator, †
Ted MEYER, mechanic.

Crash of a Basler BT-67 near Pueblo Rico: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 2000

Type of aircraft:

Basler BT-67

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-1659

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Apiay - Pereira

MSN:

16236/32984

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Apiay AFB on a flight to Pereira, carrying seven crew members who were taking part to a supply mission to ground troops fighting FARC soldiers who attacked communications relays. While cruising at an altitude of 11,200 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Montezuma located about 5 km northwest of Pueblo Rico. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Mt Arenal: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 2000 at 1210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

HP-1357APP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Juan – La Fortuna – Tamarindo

MSN:

208-0709

YOM:

1998

Flight number:

RZ1644

Location:

Mt Arenal

Alajuela (Center-North)

Country:

Costa Rica

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2354

Copilot / Total flying hours:

350

Aircraft flight hours:

792

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed San Juan Airport at 1138LT on a flight to Tamarindo with an intermediate stop in La Fortuna on behalf of SANSA - Servicios Aéreos Nacionales. At La Fortuna Airport, a Japanese tourist was drop off and the aircraft took off at 1205LT. About five minutes after takeoff, while cruising in IMC conditions at an altitude of 5,380 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of the Arenal Volcano. The wreckage was found about 200 metres below the summit and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Karl Acevedo Neverman, pilot,
William Badilla Salazar, copilot.
Passengers:
Terry Pratt,
Silvia Rhissiner,
Catherine Shoep,
Steven Bohmer,
Helena Gutierrez-Bohmer,
Frank Consolazio,
Yudi Consolazio,
Cristopher Damia.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued under VFR mode in IMC conditions. The following findings were identified:
- The pilot's unsafe flying and failure to maintain adequate separation (vertical and horizontal) with mountainous terrain and not remain in VMC. Moreover, lack of timely corrective action by the crew allowed the aircraft to fly in a controlled manner and unnoticed into the ground.
- Loss of situational awareness and attention from the crew.
- Inadequate monitoring and enforcement by the pilot not flying.
- Lack of application or adherence to standard operating procedures established by SANSA.
- Using flight procedures not written or approved.
- Lack of culture regarding operational safety.

Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air in Ensenada: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 2000 at 0245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 300 Super King Air

Operator:

Registration:

XC-AA72

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hermosillo – Ensenada

MSN:

FA-87

YOM:

1986

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8260

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1529

Aircraft flight hours:

3125

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Hermosillo Airport at 0121LT on a flight to Ensenada, carrying one passenger and two pilots. On approach by night, the crew initiated a last turn to join the runway 11 approach path when the aircraft struck the slope of mountain and crashed about 14 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain while completing a turn on final approach, in night conditions, towards an airport of daytime operations only, as mentioned in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340A near Klöntal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 2000 at 2246 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Registration:

D-ICEN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Albenga – Stuttgart

MSN:

340A-0555

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3500

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Albenga Airport on a private flight to Stuttgart, carrying four passengers and one pilot. En route, while cruising over the Swiss Alps, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Klöntal. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five occupants were killed. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,800 metres.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- Poor flight preparation and planning,
- The pilot took the decision to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions without appropriate training,
- Loss of control by the pilot in IMC conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Casa 212-AB10 Aviocar 300 near Puerto Montt: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 2000

Type of aircraft:

Casa 212 Aviocar

Operator:

Registration:

230

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago - Coyhaique

MSN:

454

YOM:

1997

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Santiago to Coyhaique, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and was cleared to divert to Puerto Montt Airport. Few minutes later, the aircraft lost height and crashed on the slope of Mt Michimahuida. The wreckage was found on August 21. All 14 occupants were killed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Baykit

Date & Time: Aug 2, 2000 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

RA-32718

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Yeniseysk - Yeniseysk

MSN:

1G212-23

YOM:

1985

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft departed Yeniseysk in good weather conditions on a local geophysical mission over the region of Baykit, carrying two passengers and three crew members. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was limited due to low clouds. The crew reduced his altitude to 65 metres to maintain a visual contact with the ground. When facing trees, the pilot-in-command elected to gain height. At a speed of 115 km/h, the aircraft contacted tree tops and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain. All five occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The crew continued the flight at an unsafe altitude until the aircraft contacted trees and crashed.

Crash of a Beechcraft B200C Super King near Kulu-Bhuntar: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 2000 at 1332 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

Operator:

Aerial Services India

Registration:

VT-EIE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

New Delhi – Kulu-Bhuntar

MSN:

BL-63

YOM:

1983

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8340

Captain / Total hours on type:

776.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

526

Aircraft flight hours:

6243

Aircraft flight cycles:

5646

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport on an ambulance flight to Kulu-Bhuntar, carrying three doctors and two pilots. While descending to Kulu-Bhuntar Airport in IMC conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 20 km from the destination airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot descended below minimum sector altitude in Instrument Meteorological Condition in hilly area.
Contributing factors were:
1. ATC Chandigarh contributed to the accident by permitting IFR flight to descend below minimum sector altitude.
2. Inadequate Supervision, Lack of Safety culture and poor pre-flight planning. Factor: Pilot: Non-adherence to standard operating procedure.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Dhangadhi: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 2000 at 1035 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

9N-ABP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bajhang - Dhangadhi

MSN:

654

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Dhangadhi Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and limited visibility due to low clouds. At an altitude of 4,300 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Jarayakhali located 29 km from Dhangadhi Airport runway 09. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 25 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

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