Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Punta Pájaros

Date & Time: Oct 30, 2006 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-UBL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cancún – Punta Pájaros
MSN:
208B-1042
YOM:
2004
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Punta Pájaros Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (stormy weather). He initiated a go-around and was trying to gain height when the single engine aircraft collided with bushes and crashed in a lagoon. All 14 occupants evacuated with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Weather conditions were marginal at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Vilanculos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2006 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-POG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Polokwane – Vilanculos
MSN:
208B-0396
YOM:
1994
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Polokwane on a charter flight to Madagascar with an intermediate stop in Vilanculos, carrying one passenger and two pilots. On final approach to Vilanculos Airport by night, the airplane collided with two palms and crashed 2 km short of runway. All three occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Few hours after the crash, one of the pilots died from his injuries.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Mt Margherita: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2006 at 0647 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ADL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Goma - Bunia
MSN:
208B-0381
YOM:
1994
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Goma on a humanitarian flight to Bunia, carrying one passenger, two pilots and a load consisting of 300 kilos of various goods on behalf of the World Food Programme. En route, the crew decided to follow a direct route via GPS instead of the one mentioned on the flight plan. While cruising at an altitude of 12,500 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Margherita (5,109 metres high) located in the Ruwenzori Mountain Range, western Uganda. The wreckage was found two days later and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to follow the prescribed route and executed a direct route over the mountains at an unsafe altitude in poor visibility due to weather.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Oak Glen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 2006 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N208WE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Thermal - Ontario
MSN:
208B-1171
YOM:
2006
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2300
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1792
Copilot / Total hours on type:
740
Aircraft flight hours:
52
Circumstances:
The airplane was operated by the manufacturer and was on a sales demonstration itinerary. On the accident flight the airplane was being repositioned following a demonstration and the two pilots included a commercially licensed manufacturer's sales pilot and a private licensed regional sales distributor. One of the two pilots onboard requested, and received, an abbreviated weather briefing prior to departure, the details of which included an airman's meteorological information notice (AIRMET) for occasional moderate rime ice. He then filed an instrument flight rules flight plan for a route passing over mountainous terrain, with a published Minimum En route Altitude (MEA) for the airway that was above the predicted icing level. The flight plan was not activated and the pilots told a TRACON controller who was providing VFR advisories that they intended to continue under visual flight rules through a mountain pass and open their IFR flight plan after reaching the other side of the pass where the MEA was lower. A review of the mode C reported altitudes flown by the pilots and an analysis of the cloud bases and tops revealed that the flight was likely in at least intermittent, if not mostly solid, instrument meteorological conditions as it flew through the pass. As the flight approached the other end of the pass, the controller advised the pilots that the radar showed they were heading into rising terrain. The controller asked, "Do you have the terrain in sight?" One of the pilots responded, "we're maneuvering away from the terrain right now." After that, radar contact was lost. Recorded radar data showed that the airplane made a righthand turn toward rising terrain while continuing to climb to an approximate altitude of 8,800 feet mean sea level (msl). The last minute of radar data showed the airplane at altitudes of 8,000 feet msl, 8,800 feet msl, and 8,600 feet msl. The last radar return was at an altitude of 7,300 feet msl. An aircraft performance study was accomplished using recorded radar data and aerodynamic data provided by Cessna. Based on the radar data and other relevant information, as the aircraft turned toward the rising terrain, the bank angle steadily increased, until a very abrupt change in pitch consistent with a stall occurred, and the airplane departed controlled flight and descended at a very steep nose down attitude into the mountainous terrain. The airplane wreckage was subsequently located at an elevation of 6,073 feet. Nearby ground witnesses first noticed the sound of the airplane, that then suddenly changed to a high pitched increasing rpm. Witnesses then saw the accident airplane coming out of the clouds almost straight nose down. The witnesses described the weather as cold with drizzling rain and reduced visibility due to the clouds. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure.
Probable cause:
The pilot's continued flight into instrument meteorological weather conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering, that led to a stall/spin.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Cuenca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 2006 at 1102 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BXD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Cuenca – Macas
MSN:
208B-0591
YOM:
1997
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
11250
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8007
Aircraft flight hours:
5736
Aircraft flight cycles:
10332
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 05 at Cuenca-Mariscal La Mar Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the engine failed. The airplane lost height, causing the nose wheel to struck the roof of a building. Out of control, the aircraft crashed onto a building occupied by a rubber company. Five passengers were killed while nine other occupants were seriously injured. There were no injuries on the ground. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Investigations revealed that one or more blades located on the turbine compressor failed as a result of deformation due to excessive high temperatures. It was also reported that the company's maintenance failed to follow the engine maintenance program that had not been inspected in accordance with the procedures published by the engine manufacturer. The Hot Section Inspection (HSI) should be performed at 3,600 flight hours but the airplane accumulated 200 additional hours since without the required checks.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Arecuna

Date & Time: Mar 5, 2006 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-1149C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porlamar – Canaima
MSN:
208B-0669
YOM:
1998
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Porlamar on a charter flight to Canaima with two crew and 11 passengers on board, all from the Czech Republic. While in cruising altitude, the engine failed. The aircraft continued to fly for 12 minutes when the crew attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft struck the ground and came to rest upside down. Both pilots were slightly injured while all passengers escaped unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Port Alberni: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 2006 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GRXZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tofino – Vancouver
MSN:
208B-0469
YOM:
1995
Flight number:
RXX604
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2480
Captain / Total hours on type:
750.00
Circumstances:
The Cessna 208B aircraft (registration C-GRXZ, serial number 208B0469) was en route at 9000 feet above sea level, from Tofino, British Columbia, to Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, when the engine failed. The pilot began a glide in the direction of the Port Alberni Regional Airport before attempting an emergency landing on a logging road. The aircraft struck trees during a steep right-hand turn and crashed. The accident occurred at about 1420 Pacific standard time, approximately 11 nm south-southeast of the Port Alberni Regional Airport. Five passengers survived with serious injuries; the pilot and the other two passengers were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The engine lost power when a compressor turbine blade failed as a result of the overstress extension of a fatigue-generated crack. The fracture initiated at a metallurgical anomaly in the parent blade material and progressed, eventually resulting in blade failure due to overstress rupture.
2. The combination of aircraft position at the time of the engine failure, the lack of equipment enabling the pilot to locate and identify high terrain, and the resultant manoeuvring required to avoid entering instrument flight conditions likely prevented the pilot from attempting to glide to the nearest airfield.
Findings as to Risk:
1. Single-engine instrument flight rules (SEIFR) operations in designated mountainous regions have unique obstacle risks in the event of an engine failure. Canadian equipment requirements for such operations do not currently include independent terrain mapping, such as terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS).
2. Airline operators are not currently required to conduct any additional route evaluation or structuring to ensure that the risk of an off-field landing is minimized during SEIFR operations.
3. Pilots involved in commercial SEIFR operations do not receive training in how to conduct a forced landing under instrument flight conditions; such training would likely improve a pilotís ability to respond to an engine failure when operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
4. Mean time between failure (MTBF) calculations do not take into account In Flight Shut Downs (IFSDs) not directly attributable to the engine itself; it may be more appropriate to monitor all IFSD events.
5. The design of the Cessna 208B Caravan fuel shutoff valves increases the risk that the valves will open on impact, allowing fuel spillage and increasing the potential for fire.
Other Finding:
1. Sonicblue Airways was not providing downloaded engine parameter data for engine condition trend monitoring (ECTM) evaluation at appropriate intervals.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Portland

Date & Time: Dec 24, 2005 at 0743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N753FE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Portland - Medford
MSN:
208B-0248
YOM:
1991
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4625
Captain / Total hours on type:
2450.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7375
Circumstances:
The pilot stated that during takeoff, "after becoming airborne, the airplane quit accelerating and a positive climb rate was not established." He pushed the power lever all the way forward, but did not feel a response from the airplane. Witnesses reported that the airplane became airborne, but failed to gain altitude and struck an antenna array and a fence off the departure end of the runway. The airplane continued across a slough, struck an embankment and came to rest about 900 feet from the departure end of the runway on a golf course located adjacent to the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed no pre-mishap airframe anomalies. Examination of the engine revealed that the compressor and power turbines displayed moderate circular rubbing damage to the blades suggesting engine operation at impact, likely in the low to mid power range. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented the engine from producing power prior to impact. The reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.
Probable cause:
A partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during the initial takeoff climb resulting in an in-flight collision with objects.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Staroye: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 2005 at 2233 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4-OIN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Voronezh - Moscow
MSN:
208B-1052
YOM:
2004
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Voronezh at 2117LT on a special flight to Moscow-Domodedovo Airport with 6 pax and 2 pilots on board, ETA Moscow 2240LT. While approaching Stupino and descending to Domodedovo Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls, poor visibility, icing conditions and turbulences. Passing Stupino at an altitude of 1,500 metres, the aircraft pitched up in an angle of 9° and at a speed of 102 knots, it nosed down 40° then entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed at a speed of 226 knots in a wooded area located in Staroye, about 10 km from Stupino. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 8 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in icing conditions.