Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Operator:

Registration:

TG-ACA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

143

YOM:

1954

Location:

Guatemala City-La Aurora

Guatemala

Country:

Guatemala

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to return. Unfortunately, he was unable to feather the left propeller and the airplane became unstable. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located near the airport. The aircraft slid for dozen meters and came to rest. While all 28 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the failure of the left engine was the consequence of an hydraulic leak. Following maintenance, a hydraulic hose was not properly connected and failed after takeoff.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-11 Metropolitan in Lagura

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1977

Type of aircraft:

San Francisco Servicios Aéreos

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1314

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

363

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from San Francisco de Moxos, while cruising at an altitude of 14,500 feet, the right engine failed. The crew increased power on the second engine and was able to maintain altitude for five minutes but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a swampy area located near Lagura. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The total weight of the aircraft was 21,148 kilos at take off, above the MTOW with existing conditions. This probably caused the right engine to failed after being overstrain. The flight engineer had no licence and the passenger was not listed on the manifest.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-86 Metropolitan in La China

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-925

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

424

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at La China Airport, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff and to initiate an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, struck several obstacles and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was above the MTOW taking into consideration the existing conditions such as outside temperature and runway length.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-88 Metropolitan in Cairo

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

OMCO Petroleum Company

Registration:

N985

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

448

YOM:

1957

Location:

Cairo

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Cairo Airport, one of the engine caught fire. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames few dozen metres further. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine fire on takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-12 Metropolitan in Tomonoco: 67 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1975 at 0645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-44

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tomonoco - La Paz

MSN:

328

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After a night takeoff from Tomonoco Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height and struck the slope of Mt Colorado located few km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 67 occupants were killed, among them several Army officers flying back to La Paz with family members.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident. The departure procedure for Tomonoco Airport is requesting a high climb gradient due to close mountains. The present CV-440 has been modified by the army to carry more passengers than the original certification. As it was heavily loaded, the airplane was unable to adopt a sufficient positive rate of climb after takeoff until it struck the mountain.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-86 Metropolitan in Cerdas

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1975

Type of aircraft:

San Francisco Servicios Aéreos

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1078

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

415

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane belly landed at Cerdas Airport for unknown reason. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-59 Metropolitan near San Borja: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-961

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Borja - La Paz

MSN:

467

YOM:

1958

Location:

Beni

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport, the crew informed ATC about a hydraulic leak on the right engine and was cleared to return. While descending, the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude and decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. On touchdown, the tail separated and the airplane came to rest in flames. A passenger was killed while 28 other occupants were evacuated, some of them were injured.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Bishop: 36 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1974 at 2028 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4819C

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bishop - Burbank

MSN:

138

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

SZ802

Location:

Bishop

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9902

Captain / Total hours on type:

1742.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2845

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2500

Aircraft flight hours:

41112

Circumstances:

The aircraft was chartered by Wolper Productions Inc. to fly a movie production crew from Bishop (BIH) to Burbank (BUR). The cast and crew of the television series 'Primal Man' was returning from shooting a prehistoric hunting sequence in the snow-covered Sierra. Amongst the crew were director-writer Dennis Azzarella and actor Janos Prohaska. Flight 802 departed Hollywood-Burbank Airport at 18:14 to pick up the passengers at Bishop. The flight from Burbank to Bishop was conducted under VFR conditions and at 19:10 the crew contacted the Tonopah Flight Service Station (FSS) and cancelled their VFR flight plan. The crew then "air filed" an IFR flight plan for the return trip from Bishop to Burbank. The aircraft landed at Bishop at 19:20. Baggage and equipment were loaded and 32 passengers boarded the flight. The Convair CV-440 departed the gate at about 20:20. The crew then contacted the Tonopah FSS and advised that they were taxiing for departure and requested that their IFR clearance be activated. After takeoff from runway 12 the flight made a climbing right turn, circled back over, or near, the BIH VOR and then proceeded outbound in an east-southeasterly direction. At 20:24 Flight 802 again contacted the Tonopah FSS and reported that they were off Bishop at 20:20 and were, "climbing VFR over Bishop, awaiting clearance." About four minutes later the aircraft struck a foothill in the White Mountain range at an elevation of 6,100 feet. The aircraft was on a heading of about 175° magnetic and in an approximate 25° bank to the right at impact. All 36 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was not possible to determine the probable cause of this accident. The reason why the flight crew did not maintain a safe distance from hazardous terrain during night visual flight conditions could not be established.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440-63 Metropolitan in Talara: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-47

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site: