Crash of a Boeing 707-328C in Bratislava

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1999 at 2344 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9G-ROX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bratislava – N’Djamena
MSN:
19521
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was leased to a Belgian charter broker around June 1998 to operate fish charter flights between Mwanza and Vienna. The aircraft was in fact seen on many other airports, Bratislava, Ostrava and Lubumbashi. At the time of the accident, the plane is understood to have had a long list of 32 faults that needed urgent repair. Problems included a limited EGT of n°1 & 4 engines; n°3 engine constant speed drive (CSD) gearbox was consuming a 'massive amount of oil'; n°1 engine CSD generator missing; n°2 engine required bleed on takeoff and above FL330; left wing leading edge cracked and leaking; n°4 fuel tank and reserve tank gauge not working. Decision to ferry the aircraft to N'Djamena was taken on February 7. During the takeoff roll the n°2 & 3 engines failed. The takeoff was aborted but the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest 200 metres past the runway end. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 707-355C in Ostend

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1998 at 0544 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-VRG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ostend - Lagos
MSN:
19664
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
VGO302
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
67790
Aircraft flight cycles:
15984
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ostend Airport at 0328LT on a cargo flight to Lagos, carrying five crew members and a load of 35 tons of electronics. About 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 24,000 feet over the border between Brussels and Paris ARTCC, the crew informed ATC about severe turbulences. Few seconds later, he reported the loss of the engine n°3 that separated and elected to return to Ostend. After being cleared, the crew started a circuit and while descending to Ostend Airport, the hydraulic systems failed. The crew completed a holding pattern to burn fuel and was later cleared to land on runway 26. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage, slid for few dozen metres and eventually came to rest near the localizer antenna. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Laboratory analyses revealed the presence of a fatigue crack on the inner mid spar fitting of the engine n°3. The crack has been present for a reasonable time. The Airworthiness Directive 93-11-02 asks the replacement of the fittings by improved model at least for July 97. The fittings of engine n°3 were from the old design. Due to the non application of AD 93-11-02, the aircraft was in a non-airworthy condition.

Crash of a Boeing 707-336C in Mombasa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1998 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-PBA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mwanza – Mombasa – Cairo – Ostend
MSN:
19843
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
60171
Aircraft flight cycles:
17417
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Mwanza to Ostend with intermediate stops in Mombasa and Cairo, carrying six crew members and a load of 34 tons of fish. After takeoff from runway 03, the aircraft collided with approach lights and an earth mound then crashed few hundred metres past the runway end, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the first portion of 2,600 feet of runway 03 which is 10,991 feet long were not available due to work in progress. It was reported that the total weight of the aircraft was 135 tons.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323C in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CKK
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19577
YOM:
1968
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the crew informed ATC that the nose gear was stuck in its wheel well and could not be lowered, even manually. The aircraft landed on its nose and slid on the runway before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 707-331C in Kananga

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
P4-OOO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ostende – Kinshasa – Kananga
MSN:
19435
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Kananga Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 707-372C in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1996 at 1422 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-LGP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago de Chile - Buenos Aires
MSN:
20077
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
LD5025
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires, carrying eight crew members and a load of 30 tons of fish. On final approach to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport runway 11, at a speed of 151 knots, the crew quickly extended flaps to 14°, 25°, 40° and finally 50°, causing the aircraft to nose down and enter a rapid descent until it struck the ground 750 metres short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the aircraft broke in three and caught fire. Both pilots were killed while six other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Erroneous setting of the air brakes at the same time as the flaps were fully extended during the short final approach,
- Erroneous planning during the descent and approach,
- Failure to use the experience of a similar previous event,
- Insufficient attention to the critical situation in the aircraft operating documentation,
- Failure to conduct a briefing prior to the approach and descent,
- Non-use of the LCP during the entire approach maneuver,
- Insufficient training in CRM.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323C in Manta: 34 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1996 at 2244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N751MA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Manta - Miami
MSN:
19582
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
OX406
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Manta-Eloy Alfaro Airport on a cargo flight to Miami, carrying one passenger, three crew members and a load of frozen fish and flowers. Seven seconds after liftoff, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC that the engine n°3 caught fire. The captain elected to maintain control but the aircraft lost altitude, struck the bell tower of the church La Dolorosa and crashed in a populated area located about 4 km west of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and several houses and building were destroyed. All four occupants as well as 30 people on the ground were killed. Fifty other people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the engine n°3 suffered an uncontained failure during the takeoff roll as debris were found on runway 23.

Crash of a Boeing 707-366C in Istanbul

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1996 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AVX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo - Istanbul
MSN:
20760
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
MS837
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
120
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Istanbul-Atatürk Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with rain falls. The visibility was estimated to be 8 km but on short final, the crew lost visual contact with the runway for few seconds while the aircraft encountered local strong showers. After touchdown on a wet runway 24, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. It lost its undercarriage, went through a fence, crossed a road and collided with various obstacles before coming to rest, broken in two. All 131 occupants were evacuated, among them 19 passengers were slightly injured.

Crash of a Boeing 707-369C in Bamako

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-JON
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Marseille – Niamey – Bamako
MSN:
20546
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Bamako-Senou Airport, the crew was informed about the poor weather conditions at destination with thunderstorm activity and strong crosswinds. As the visibility was estimated to be above 10 km, the crew decided to continue the approach. After landing on runway 06, the aircraft was caught by strong crosswinds and started to roll left and right, causing the right wing to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway to the right and collided with a bunker. The right wing was torn off and the aircraft came to rest. All four crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after landing due to strong crosswinds in thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323C in Baku: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1995 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4K-401
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ürümqi - Baku
MSN:
19584
YOM:
1967
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Ürümqi Airport, while on a cargo flight to Baku, the crew encountered technical problems with the left main gear that remained down. The crew decided to continue to Baku in such configuration. On approach to Baku-Bina Airport by night, the captain contacted ATC and was cleared to proceed to a low pass to check the undercarriage. Following the low pass, the crew initiated a turn to the left and followed a circuit for a second approach. While flying at a relative low altitude, all four engines suffered a loss of power. The aircraft lost height, collided with light poles on a bridge and crashed in a field located 9 km from the airport. Four crew members were seriously injured and two others were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all four engines lost power due to low fuel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- A malfunction of the landing gear retraction system, which led to fly with a landing gear extended and caused an excessive fuel consumption. The subsequent failure to lock the left landing gear in the extended position made it necessary to do a second approach with a limited amount of fuel.
- The fuel gauge indicator readings were inaccurate and prevented the crew from having correct info about the amount of fuel available and applying the flight manual's recommendations for low-fuel flights.
- The lack of an airline bulletin on the features of the fuel system prevented the crew in the emergency situation from selecting the optimum mode for flying with a limited amount of fuel.
- Inadequate operational and maintenance organization on the part of the companies Baku Air and ALG Inc.