Canadair CL-44

Shortly after takeoff from Mbuji-Mayi Airport, while climbing, the engine n°1 caught fire. The flight engineer elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The aircraft lost height then rolled to the left to an angle of 85°. The crew extended the flaps to 45° to maintain a rate of descent of 700 feet per minute but due to an asymmetric flap condition, the rate of descent increased to 1,500 feet per minute. After the aircraft rolled to the left to an angle of 110°, at a speed of 98 knots, the captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a prairie. All 23 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

On approach to Aguadilla-Rafael Hernández, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and thunderstorm activity. On final, the aircraft was struck by lightning. The crew was able to continue the descent but the aircraft landed hard, bounced and came to a halt on the main runway. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Two minutes after takeoff from Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the engine n°4 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After completing a turn, the captain continued the approach when the aircraft banked right and crashed few hundred meters short of runway 04. Five occupants were injured while three others were killed.

After takeoff from Miami-Intl Airport, outbound to Managua on a cargo flight, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage due to a hydraulic pressure fault. Decision was taken to return for a safe landing and the landing gears were lowered. The nose gear was down and locked but not both main gears which remained partially deployed and not locked. Upon touchdown, both main gear partially retracted and the airplane came to rest on the runway. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

After completing two round-flights from Tel Aviv to Tehran via Larnaca (Cyprus), the aircraft was returning to Cyprus after having delivered the third tranche of cargo to Iran (a load of tank spare parts and ammunition). On its return flight from Tehran to Cyprus on its third trip, while on a 300° heading to the Turkish border, the crew was instructed to turn left heading 240° direct to Cyprus. For unknown reasons, the plane went off course to the north and crossed the Azerbaijan border without any clearance. Few minutes later, a Soviet Sukhoi Su-15 fighter was dispatched to intercept the CL-44. According to Soviet accounts at that time the crew failed to respond to radio calls as well as signals from the fighter pilot flying close to the CL-44's nose. The cargo plane, while probably making the procedure turn to the left, tried to get away. In unclear circumstances, both aircraft collided. They went out of control and entered a dive before crashing about 50 km from Yerevan. All four crew people on board the CL-44 were killed while the fighter pilot was able to bail out and was found alive. It is unclear whether the collision was intentional, the Soviet pilot said it was a deliberate attempt to down the enemy aircraft, while Western aviation experts examining his account believed he misjudged a turn and subsequently invented a story of self-sacrifice.

Following an uneventful cargo flight (service CY205) from Dubai, the crew started the descent to Larnaca Airport when the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left main gear that remained stuck in its wheel well. The crew was instructed to divert to RAF Akrotiri where the emergency services have been dispatched and the runway covered with foam. The crew completed a belly landing and after touchdown, the airplane slid for few hundred meters before coming to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On approach to Montevideo-Carrasco Airport, the crew encountered technical difficulties with the right main gear that would not deploy. The gear was recycled manually and all three green lights came on in the cockpit, indicating that all three landing gears were down and locked. Upon touchdown, the right main gear collapsed, causing the right wing to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After takeoff from Mombasa-Moi Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the right main gear that would not lock up. The captain decided to divert to Nairobi to complete an emergency landing. Upon touchdown at Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest. All four crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was carrying 17 tons of cement from Mombasa to Kigali.

After takeoff from Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport runway 13, while climbing, smoke was seen from the rear of number 4 engine. The propeller was feathered and the crew contacted ATC. About a minute after takeoff, the crew requested the permission to return for an emergency landing on runway 31. After being cleared to descend to 2,000 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Waglan Island. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants were killed. They were completing a cargo flight from Hong Kong to UK with an intermediate stop in Bangkok.