Crash of a Boeing 707-324C off Taipei: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-1834
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taipei - Taipei
MSN:
18887/431
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Taipei-Chiang Kai-shek Airport for a local training mission. During initial climb, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred meters offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 707-123B in Bahrain

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5B-DAM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Larnaca - Bahrain
MSN:
17628/7
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
CY402
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
93.00
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane landed hard on runway 30 at Bahrain-Muharraq Airport. It bounced then landed on its nose gear first. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid on its nose for few hundred meters then veered to the right and came to rest. All 81 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It appears the aircraft was unstable during the last segment.

Crash of a Boeing 707-330C near Rio de Janeiro: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1979 at 1832 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ABUY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Dakar – Frankfurt
MSN:
20395/848
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
LH527
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
7969
Captain / Total hours on type:
996.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3537
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2631
Circumstances:
Flight 527 was cleared for a No.16 departure by ground control and was instructed to make a right turn after takeoff, heading the Caxias VOR, climbing to and maintaining 2000 feet. The aircraft took off from runway 27 at 21:27. Approach control then asked the crew to increase their speed. The speed increased progressively to 304 knots, exceeding the 250 knots maximum speed inside the terminal control area below 10000 feet. While Flight 527 was flying towards mountainous terrain and increasing its speed (in the north sector of the radar scope), the controller was busy vectoring an excessive amount of traffic in the south sector. The assistant departure controller failed to monitor the traffic. When the controller turned his attention to LH527 again, he was surprised by the position of the aircraft and instructed 'LH, turn right heading 140, just now, over'. The controller repeated his instructions and instructed the crew to increase their rate of climb. At that time the GPWS sounded in the cockpit. The aircraft struck trees on the slope of a mountain in a nose-up, left wing down attitude and continued 800 m while breaking up.
Probable cause:
It is clear that there was a breakdown in teamwork of the personnel on duty in Rio approach control at that time. The departure controller, through incomplete instructions, caused LH527 to fly for a period of time on a heading and at an altitude that led the aircraft to collision. The assistant controller, the co-ordinator and the supervisor on duty did not support the departure controller as they should have done. A contributing factor was that the crew accepted the incomplete ATC instructions (no clearance limit or alternate procedure) and flew during 1 min 41s without bilateral communications and in potential danger inherent in these incomplete instructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-327C in Beirut: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OD-AFX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Beirut - Beirut
MSN:
19107/507
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Beirut International Airport on a local training mission consisting of the final check of a copilot to be promoted as captain. Following two successful touch-and-go manoeuvres, the crew initiated an approach when the airplane banked left and right then adopted an excessive nose-up attitude. Due to a high angle of attack and a low speed, the airplane lost height and the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the aircraft crashed and was totally destroyed. All six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot-in-command (pilot under supervision) failed to react properly to an engine power reduction on final approach. Lack of crew coordination was also reported.

Crash of a Boeing 707-123B in Hewanorra

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GQBH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Toronto - Hewanorra
MSN:
17650/67
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
QB714
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
162
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Hewanorra Airport on a charter flight from Toronto, the crew encountered windshear conditions. The airplane remained stable and while passing over the runway threshold, the copilot retarded the throttles when, at a height of six meters, the airplane stalled and struck the runway surface. The nose gear was torn off and the airplane slid for about 700 meters before coming to rest. All 171 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following windshear conditions on final approach.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323C in the Pacific Ocean: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1979 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VLU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tokyo – Los Angeles – Lima – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
19235
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
RG967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
23000
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Tokyo-Narita Airport at 2023LT on a cargo flight to Rio de Janeiro with intermediate stops in Los Angeles and Lima. There were six crew members on board as well as 53 paintings by Manabu Mabe, returning from a Tokyo exhibition, valued at US$1.24 million. At 2045LT, the last radio transmission was recorded with ATC and about 15 minutes later, while in cruising altitude, the airplane disappeared from the radar screens. SAR operations were immediately initiated by Japanese and American Authorities but eventually suspended after several days as no trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found. The captain, Gilberto Araújo da Silva, was flying the Varig Boeing 707 that crashed while approaching Paris-Orly Airport on July 11, 1973.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it was reported that the crew did not send any distress call and it is believed that the accident may have been caused by a sudden and accidental decompression of the cabin.

Crash of a Boeing 707-351B in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1978 at 2258 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CCX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – Miami – Panama City – Lima – Santiago – Buenos Aires
MSN:
18584
YOM:
1963
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
47740
Circumstances:
On final approach to Buenos Aires by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog. The pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low when the four engine airplane struck trees located 2,5 km short of runway 11 threshold. The airplane lost height and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 300 meters to the right of the extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire, 22 occupants were injured and 42 others were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below the glide in reduced visibility. The crew failed to follow the approach checklist and to check instruments. Lack of visibility was a factor.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321B near Kem: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1978 at 2217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HL7429
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Anchorage - Seoul
MSN:
19363
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
KE902
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
97
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Flight KE902 departed Paris-Orly Airport at 1339LT on a flight to Seoul with an intermediate stop in Anchorage. After passing the North Magnetic Pole, while approaching Ellesmere Island, Canada, the airplane initiated a turn to the right by 150° instead continuing straight-in to North Canada and Alaska. This caused the airplane to fly to the southeast, over the Barents Sea and then into Soviet airspace, reaching the Soviet coast approximately three hours and 2,400 km after its right turn. The aircraft was intercepted by a Soviet Air Force Sukhoi SU-15TM and was forced to land. For reasons undetermined, the Korean crew did not respond to multiple requests and initiated a turn when the Soviet pilot was instructed to shoot down the Boeing 707. One of the air/air missile struck the left wing and four meters were torn off. The missile also punctured the fuselage, causing rapid decompression and jamming one of the plane's four turbines. From an altitude of 30,000 feet, the crew initiated a rapid descent and eventually completed an emergency landing on the frozen Korpijärvi Lake located in the region of Kem, Republic of Karelia. Two passengers were killed during the attack while all other occupants were evacuated, 13 were injured. Both pilots and the navigator were arrested but released on April 29.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan directly after it passed over the North Magnetic Pole, causing major disturbance of the aircraft's magnetic compass-based navigation systems. For the Soviet Authorities, the deviation was the consequence of a navigation error on part of the flying crew.

Crash of a Boeing 707-329 in Tenerife

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1978 at 1313 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-SJE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels - Tenerife
MSN:
17627
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
189
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
56787
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a charter flight from Brussels to Tenerife, carrying 189 passengers and a crew of nine on behalf of Sebelair. On approach to Tenerife-Norte-Los Rodeos Airport, the crew informed ATC about technical problems as he was unable to lower the nose gear. The landing was completed on runway 12/30 with the nose gear retracted and the airplane slid for a distance of 1,200 meters before coming to rest in flames. All 198 occupants were evacuated, four passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing 707-360C in Rome: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1977 at 0412 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ACD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rome – Asmara – Addis Ababa
MSN:
19736/696
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Rome to Addis Ababa with an intermediate stop in Asmara. After a night takeoff from runway 25 at Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to climb. At a height of about 7-8 meters, it struck tree tops then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 280 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants (three crew members and two security agents) were killed.
Probable cause:
It is possible that the accident may be the consequence of a mistake in the mass and balance calculation.