Fairchild-Hiller FH-227

Shortly after takeoff from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport runway 17, while climbing by night, the crew reported technical problems. ATC cleared the crew for an immediate return and land. On final approach, the situation worsened and the crew apparently attempted an emergency landing on the Esperanza Golf Course when the aircraft struck a tree and crashed 5 km short of runway 35, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.

The twin engine aircraft departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 1038LT on a charter flight to Nueva Loja-Lago Agrio Airport, carrying 21 oil workers and and five crew members on behalf of the Texaco Oil Company. While cruising under VFR mode at an altitude of 15,500 feet, the crew was instructed by ATC to change heading to 094° in order to descent to Nueva Loja for a landing on runway 23. But the crew failed to comply with this instruction and continued straight ahead. Few minutes later, the crew started the descent in foggy conditions when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Tigre located in the south part of Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. The wreckage was found three days later at an altitude of 4,500 metres. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 26 occupants were killed.

On final approach, when the landing gears were extended, the crew heard loud cracking noise. The landing was aborted and the aircraft passed the tower for visual inspection and one of the crew went to the cabin for visual check of the landing gears where he observed that the right landing gear lock strut rear member had broken loose from the side member assembly and was hanging down. Upon touchdown the gear folded up and the aircraft right propeller, wing tip and bottom of the fuselage touched ground and the aircraft went off the runway in a gentle right turn. The fuselage bottom skin and frame structure sustained extensive damage and the right wing tip, propeller blades, lock strut assembly and drag strut were destroyed. The aircraft operated on a ferry flight from Billund, Denmark to Miami-Opa Locka, Florida, with en route stops at among others Aberdeen and Keflavík.

Following an uneventful flight from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew started the descent to Ambato Airport in good weather conditions but was stressed by the presence of another aircraft in the approach area. On approach, the aircraft was too high on the glide and its speed was 100 knots, about 12 knots above the reference speed. This caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway 19, about 900 metres past the runway threshold (Ambato's runway 19 is 2,000 metres long). After touchdown, the crew decided to initiate a go-around procedure and increased engine power. The aircraft adopted a high angle of attack, causing the base of the empennage to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the aircraft continued, overran and came to rest in a ravine located 60 metres past the runway end. All seven occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While on a night approach to Santarém Airport, the crew decided to initiate a go-around procedure. During the second attempt to land, the crew descended below the MDA when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 1,600 metres short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed. It was reported that a passenger was occupying the copilot seat at the time of the accident. Also, the crew descended below MDA for unknown reasons.

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Belém, the crew lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a jungle. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed. It was reported that several elements of the airplane were not found at the point of impact and that the aircraft may have suffered a in-flight break up following possible multiple structural failures.

Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 14 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The approach to Altamira Airport was completed by night and marginal weather conditions. Despite the visibility was limited with the presence of fog bank on final, the crew decided to continue under VFR mode. On short final, the aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed 850 meters short of runway 07. Both pilots and 20 passengers were killed while 22 other occupants were injured.

During the takeoff roll on runway 19L, at a speed of about 100 knots, the aircraft deviated from the centerline to the right. The pilot-in-command corrected with rudder but finally, the aircraft struck the right shoulder of the runway then veered off runway. It rolled in a grassy area and came to rest few dozen meters further. All 52 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to structural damages to the fuselage.

Following an uneventful flight from Paris-Orly, the crew was cleared to descend to FL070 at 2049LT then to FL060 at 2055LT. Then the crew was instructed to turn right to 178° to the VOR of Vienne but after passing VNE VOR, he followed a wrong track off 155°. At 2058LT, the crew was transferred from Lyon-Satolas Approach to Valence Approach with whom the radio contact was established 30 seconds later. The crew was cleared to descend to 3,500 feet for a specified arrival route Vienne - Valence. A right turn to 200° was initiated when, at a speed of 187 knots, the aircraft struck the vertical cliff of 'Pierre Chauve' (1,260 meters high) located near Léoncel. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 22 occupants were killed.