Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-2 Islander in Kanabea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2-MIB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
217
YOM:
1970
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff for unknown reasons. A passenger was killed and three other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander on Mt Waddington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GOMC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bella Coola – Campbell River
MSN:
10
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bella Coola on a scheduled service to Campbell River but failed to arrive at destination. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. The wreckage was never localized but it is believed the aircraft may have crashed in the Mt Waddington (4,016 meters high) area.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander near Desert Center: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1987 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N25MR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
El Paso - Santa Paula
MSN:
881
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1119
Circumstances:
The pilot was hired to ferry an Islander from El Paso, TX to Santa Paula, CA. He represented himself to the ferry company as being an experienced Islander pilot. No previous Islander flight time was found in the pilot's logbook. It was the pilot's 40th birthday and he was anxious to complete the flight. He neither filed flight plans nor had current charts. Approaching the Chiriaco summit area along I-10 the terrain rose and a ground-based witness reported clouds were low. The pilot continued the westbound flight. Evidence indicated an overstressed aircraft and an in-flight breakup. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: maneuvering
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
2. Terrain condition - rising
3. (f) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
4. (f) self-induced pressure - pilot in command
5. Lack of total experience in type of aircraft - pilot in command
6. (c) design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - pilot in command
7. Wing - separation
8. Flight control surfaces/attachments - separation
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Mali

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TZ-ADN
Flight Type:
MSN:
2161
YOM:
1985
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Mali while completing a special flight on behalf of the Service de la Protection des Végétaux au Mali. Occupant's fate unknown. The accident occurred somewhere in October 1987, exact date unknown.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander in Horn Lake

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GTPB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
223
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander in Ainsdale

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1987 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-BLDX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manchester – Douglas
MSN:
2181
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11792
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Circumstances:
A Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander sustained substantial damage in a forced landing on a Merseyside beach. The airplane was to carry mail on an early morning service from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man. The commander arrived at the aircraft at about 03:45 hrs in the morning. As it was dark, the internal checks were done in normal cockpit lighting and, having completed the usual preflight administration, he was ready to start engines at about 04:50 hrs. The aircraft took off at 05:09 hrs, on a Special Visual Flight Rules Clearance, turned right onto a northwesterly heading, and climbed to an initial cruising altitude of 1000 feet. Just prior to crossing the coast, as conditions were conducive to the formation of carburettor icing, the commander selected HOT air on both engines for 30 seconds. At this stage the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 2000 feet at between 120 and 130 knots with both engines set at 24 inches manifold pressure and 2300 revolutions per minute. When the aircraft was about 2 nautical miles out to sea, the port engine appeared to surge and then stopped. Shortly afterwards, the starboard engine did the same thing. At 05:28 hrs the commander informed Liverpool Approach that he had a problem and was going to attempt a forced landing at Woodvale Airfield. Having turned back towards the shore, the commander selected the TIP/MAIN switch to TIP and reduced the indicated airspeed to about 65 kt in the descent. The aircraft did not reach Woodvale and a forced landing was carried out on the beach. It was while the commander was making the aircraft safe that he noticed that the main fuel cock selectors were positioned such that both engines had been feeding from the right fuel tank. Both fuel cocks were then selected to OFF and, when the shutdown had been completed, the commander vacated the aircraft uninjured. The aircraft had landed on flat sand, but had struck a soft patch; this had resulted in the collapse of the nose and right main undercarriage, and damage to the nose and the wing centre section. Recovery attempts by local services had severely damaged the tailplane and had probably caused the sideway failure of the left undercarriage. The aircraft was totally submerged during the subsequent high tide. Examination of the aircraft, before it was recovered from the beach, showed no evidence of any pre-impact failure in the engine or flying controls. The fuel state was approximately 289 litres with the right main tank empty.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion as the fuel selector was positioned on an empty tank. 289 liters of fuel remained in other tanks at the time of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in Brookfield Farm

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP-FBG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2126
YOM:
1982
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, one of the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed. All six occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander near Lae: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
P2-KAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ogeranang – Lae
MSN:
800
YOM:
1977
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a cargo flight from Ogeranang to Lae, carrying two pilots and a load of coffee. While cruising at an altitude of 8,700 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Rawlinson Mountain Range. The wreckage was found 32 km from Lae. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-22 Islander near Canaima: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-230C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
19
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Canaima. All 10 occupants were killed, among them nine tourists.