Crash of a Beechcraft F90 King Air in Nashville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 2001 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N17AE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nashville – Waukesha
MSN:
LA-80
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1100
Aircraft flight hours:
5480
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff at less than 200 feet above ground level the pilot reported an engine failure, and requested to return to the airport. The controller saw the airplane in a right turn, descending, and observed the airplane level its wings just prior to impact with the tips of trees. The airplane collided with terrain approximately 2,000 feet east of the approach end of runway 20L. A post crash fire ensued and consumed a majority of the airplane. Examination of both engines displayed contact signatures to their internal components characteristic of the engines being powered, with the propellers out of feather at the time of impact, and a low power range. Examination of the propellers found the left propeller blades showed more damage then the blades from the right propeller. Both propellers were rotating with considerable rotational energy. However, examination showed that the left propeller had more power then the right.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to follow loss of engine power emergency procedures by not feathering the propeller following the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, resulting in a descent and collision with trees and the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air in Tooele Valley: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 2001 at 1729 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N616F
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mesquite – Tooele Valley
MSN:
LJ-165
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
5149
Captain / Total hours on type:
321.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9725
Circumstances:
The pilot and eight parachutists were returning from a skydive meet. The pilot had obtained a weather briefing, which advised of instrument meteorological conditions at the destination, and filed a VFR flight plan, but it was never activated. Witnesses heard, but could not see, a twin engine turboprop pass over the airport, heading north out over the Great Salt Lake. They described the weather conditions as being a low ceiling with 1/4-mile visibility, light snow, haze, and fog. They said it was almost dark. The airplane impacted the water approximately 1/2-mile off shore. It had been stripped of all avionics except for one transceiver and a handheld GPS receiver. One member of the skydive club, who had flown with the pilot, said he had previously encountered poor weather conditions and descended over the Great Salt Lake until he could see the ground, then proceeded to the airport. Another member related a similar experience, but said they descended over the Great Salt Lake in the vicinity of the accident site. The pilot was able to navigate in deteriorating weather conditions to Tooele Airport, using various landmarks. Examination of the airframe, engines, and propellers did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause:
The pilot's exercise of poor judgment and his failure to maintain a safe altitude/clearance above the water. Contributing factors were the weather conditions that included low ceiling and visibility obscured by snow and mist, an inadequately equipped airplane for flying in instrument meteorological conditions, and the pilot's overconfidence in his personal ability in that he had reportedly done this on two previous occasions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft F90 King Air in Lynchburg

Date & Time: Nov 24, 2000 at 1151 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N94U
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lynchburg - Lynchburg
MSN:
LA-124
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6788
Circumstances:
The pilot was conducting a post-maintenance test flight. An overhauled engine had been installed on the right side of the airplane, and both propeller assemblies had been subsequently re-rigged. Ground checks were satisfactory, although the right engine propeller idled 90-100 rpm higher than the left engine propeller. Test flight engine start and run-up were conducted per the checklist, with no anomalies noted. Takeoff ground roll and initial climb were normal; however, when the airplane reached about 100 feet, it stopped climbing and lost airspeed. The pilot could not identify the malfunction, and performed a forced landing to rough, hilly terrain. Upon landing, the landing gear collapsed and the engine nacelles were compromised. The airplane subsequently burned. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller beta valves of both engines were improperly rigged, and that activation of the landing gear squat switch at takeoff resulted in both propellers going into feather. The maintenance personnel did not have rigging experience in airplane make and model. As a result of the investigation, the manufacturer clarified maintenance manual and pilot handbook procedures.
Probable cause:
Improper rigging of both propeller assemblies by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the inadvertent feathering of both propellers after takeoff. Factors included a lack of rigging experience in airplane make and model by maintenance personnel, unclear maintenance manual information, and unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air in Reims: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 2000 at 1338 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GIML
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris - Reims
MSN:
LW-180
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
CPH030
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6568
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1006
Copilot / Total hours on type:
670
Aircraft flight hours:
8772
Aircraft flight cycles:
8441
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1309LT on a flight to Reims-Champagne with two pilots on board, one instructor and one pilot that should complete a transition program. While descending at an altitude of 2,000 to Reims-Prunay Airport, the crew informed ATC that he would perform an exercise consisting of a go-around procedure with the simulation of an engine failure. On a left downwind approach to runway 25, the crew started the exercise when the aircraft rolled to the left, lost height and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found 425 metres short of runway 25 and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from the performance of a single-engine go-around exercise at low height, in an unfavorable configuration.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air near Goiânia

Date & Time: May 30, 2000 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-EFC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Itapuranga - Goiânia
MSN:
LW-15
YOM:
1972
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5756
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
13000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
500
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed a private strip in Itapuranga on a flight to Goiânia, carrying seven passengers and two pilots. About 10 minutes after takeoff, while in cruising altitude, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the right engine. Because the flight was short (25 minutes in total), he decided to continue to Goiânia. Twelve minutes later, the left engine failed as well. The crew declared an emergency and as he was unable to reach Goiânia Airport, he attempted an emergency landing in a pasture. The aircraft crash landed 13 km short of runway 14 threshold. All nine occupants were rescued, among them seven were injured, three seriously.
Probable cause:
Both engines failed 12 minutes apart due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Fuel tanks were empty,
- The fuel quantity was insufficient to cover the requested flying distance,
- Poor flight preparation and planning,
- Complacency on part of the copilot,
- Wrong decisions on part of the captain,
- Failures in the organization of flights within the operations of the Government of the State of Goiás,
- Miscalculations in fuel consumption.
- Operating an airplane with faulty fuel gauges,
- Failures in monitoring related to flight safety culture,
- Poor crew resources management,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Lack of crew interactions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Bursa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-LMK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ankara - Bursa
MSN:
LJ-1080
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bursa-Yenisehir Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. Due to low visibility, he was unable to establish a visual contact with the approach and runway lights and initiated a go-around procedure. While completing a circuit, the twin engine aircraft struck the top of a hill located near the airport and crashed. A passenger was killed while four other occupants were injured.