Country
United Kingdom

Ground fire of an Avro 748-259-2A in Moosonee

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1979 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
C-GPAA
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1675
YOM:
1970
Location:
Moosonee
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was loaded with two rubber cargo bladders, filled with 1600 Imp gallons of aviation gasoline. The aircraft was parked overnight, until at 05:40 the 2 crew members arrived to perform the pre-departure checks. A smell of Avgas fumes was detectable, but not stronger than on similar trips. The engines were started, and when the no. 1 engine reached idle rpm, the crew proceeded with after-start checks. When both alternators and the left generator were turned on, a violent explosion occurred in the cabin. The nose gear collapsed and the rear airstair was blown off. Both pilots managed to escape before a fierce fire consumed the aircraft.
Probable cause:
The reason for the accumulation and ignition of the vapours could no longer be definitely determined because of the complete destruction of the aircraft. However, the fact that the explosion occurred during the after-start check as electrical equipment was being turned on suggests equipment in the underfloor electrical bay as a probable source of ignition. Although such equipment is designed to be flameproof, the aircraft had an extensive repair history during which this protection may have been lost.

Ground explosion of an Avro 748-212-2 in Colombo

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
4R-ACJ
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Colomb - Colombo
MSN:
1571
YOM:
1964
Location:
Colombo-Ratmalana
Western Province (மேல் மாகாணம்)
Country:
Sri Lanka
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked on apron at Colombo-Ratmalana Airport, the airplane was prepared by a crew of two for a positioning flight to Colombo-Katunayake Airport when an explosion occurred in the middle section. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots escaped uninjured. Liberation Tigers claimed responsibility for explosion but the real author of the terrorist act was not found.
Probable cause:
Bomb explosion.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A+-283 off Macuto: 47 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
YV-45C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Caracas – Cumaná
MSN:
1744
YOM:
1976
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
47
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed into the sea few km off Macuto. All 47 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an artificial horizon failure during climb out.

Crash of an Avro 748-2-232 in Manila: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
PK-RHS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Manila - Manila
MSN:
1610
YOM:
1967
Location:
Manila-Ninoy Aquino
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was involved in a local training flight at Manila-Intl Airport, carrying two passengers and a crew of three. While completing a go-around maneuver with one engine out, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed into several houses located near the airport. Both pilots and three people on the ground were killed while three other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew overestimated aircraft performances and showed overconfidence. At the time of the accident, the aircraft's speed was too low, causing it to stall.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-235 in Ujung Pandang

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
PK-IHK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1633
YOM:
1968
Location:
Makassar (Ujung Pandang)
South Sulawesi
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed very hard 985 metres past the runway 13 threshold. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several metres before coming to rest. All 51 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the approach was completed at an excessive speed and with a sink rate of 720 feet per minute.

Crash of an Avro 748-105-1 near Cutral Có: 34 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1976 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
LV-HHB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rincón de Los Sauces – Cutral Có
MSN:
1540
YOM:
1962
Location:
Cutral Có
Neuquén
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Captain / Total flying hours:
4576
Captain / Total hours on type:
1762.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7268
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1280
Aircraft flight hours:
25753
Aircraft flight cycles:
24130
Circumstances:
At 1555LT, the airplane departed Rincón de Los Sauces Airport bound for Cutral Có, carrying 31 employees of the Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Company. While descending to Cutral Có, the crew informed ATC about its ETA at 1633LT and requested the last weather briefing for destination Airport. Less than two minutes later, while flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the right wing detached and separated. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed 35 km north of Cutral Có. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 34 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of detachment of the right hand wing in normal flight, through structural failure of the wing in the area between stringers 3 and 12 and in the area of the engine outer rib. Within the area indicated, one may identify among the origins of the fatigue the reinforcing plate, and especially, the holes in it for rivets. The cause of these fatigue cracks, since the material of which they were made was satisfactory, must be attributed to stress concentration in the area concerned due to geometry of the design, these cracks becoming critical sooner than had been estimated. The cracks remained undetected and became critical because the manufacturer's inspection programme for the area concerned was insufficiently precise and made it possible for the operator not to detect and correct them in time.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 748-216-2A in Palu

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
PK-IHD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Balikpapan – Palu – Manado
MSN:
1700
YOM:
1971
Location:
Palu-Mutiara SIS Al-Jufri
Central Sulawesi
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Palu-Mutiara Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with construction equipments. All 32 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 748-246-22A near Loja: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1976 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
FAE683
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Loja - Guayaquil
MSN:
1683
YOM:
1970
Location:
Loja
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Loja Airport, while cruising over mountains terrain at an altitude of 10,000 feet in good weather conditions, the airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed on the mountain. Eight passengers were seriously injured while 34 other occupants were killed. The airplane had a dual registration FAE683 and HC-AUE.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of altitude and the subsequent collision with ground was the consequence of orographic currents encountered over the mountainous area.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-235 in Pedro Afonso: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VDN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
São Paulo – Porto Nacional – Pedro Afonso – Belém
MSN:
1625
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
RG236
Location:
Pedro Afonso
Tocantins
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Pedro Afonso, the crew encountered technical problems and decided to return. The approach was completed at a too high speed and the airplane landed too far down the runway, approximately 300 meters from the runway end. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, crossed a street and crashed into a house. A woman and her two children were killed in the house as well as the copilot. A second crew member was injured while 13 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 748-2-222 in Manila

Date & Time: May 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1029
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manila - Puerto Princesa
MSN:
1586
YOM:
1965
Location:
Manila-Ninoy Aquino
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Manila Intl Airport, while in initial climb, the crew declared an emergency and informed ATC that an engine caught fire and exploded. The crew was cleared to return but as the captain realized he could not make it, he decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located few km from the airport. The aircraft crash landed and slid for dozen metres before coming to rest. All 43 occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft and only two passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a tire burst during the takeoff run and ignited shortly prior to rotation. After the pilots retracted the landing gear, the molten tire fired various equipment located in the wheel well and later to the engine that caught fire.
Subscribe to Avro 748