Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Nov 1, 2015
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CNP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
164
YOM:
1965
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kinshasa-Ndolo Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the undercarriage and was cleared to divert to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. A belly landing was completed on runway 24 and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres then veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area. All 26 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the left main gear was torn off upon takeoff from Kinshasa-Ndolo Airport for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Djolu

Date & Time: Mar 22, 2013 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CTC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Djolu – Kinshasa
MSN:
001
YOM:
1958
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20412
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
795
Copilot / Total hours on type:
311
Aircraft flight hours:
17247
Aircraft flight cycles:
14728
Circumstances:
Last March 12, the aircraft sustained damages upon landing at Djolu Airport. Repairs were carried on and the aircraft was ready for its back trip to Kinshasa on March 22, carrying three crew members, two pilots and one mechanic. After the brakes were released, while accelerating on a dirt runway, the aircraft veered off runway, contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. All three crew members evacuated the burned wreckage and only the mechanic was injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during the takeoff roll due to the poor condition of the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream GI in Pweto

Date & Time: Jun 20, 2012
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CIT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lubumbashi - Pweto
MSN:
193
YOM:
1968
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful charter flight from Lubumbashi-Lueno Airport, the crew made a steep approach followed by a hard landing. The aircraft bounced and climbed to a height of about 20 feet, landed again and went out of control. It veered off runway to the left, collided with a rocky embankment, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in several pieces. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration after the crew made a sharp turn late on final to join the glide. The rate of descent was excessive during the last segment, causing the aircraft to land hard and to bounce. Due to excessive g-loads and aerodynamic forces, the airplane went out of control.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream GI in El Petén: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2006 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV-903CP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Valencia – Barinas
MSN:
173
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Valencia-Arturo Michelana Airport at 2103LT on a flight to Barinas, southwest Venezuela. The flight plan was filed at FL220 and should take 35 minutes. En route, the crew reported all OK on board when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. SAR did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew who was considered as deceased. In august 2008, an unconfirmed report mentioned that the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near El Petén, Guatemala. It seems that aircraft was stolen and the flight was illegal (drug smuggling flight). Due to circumstances, all hypothesis remains still open.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Busia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 2003 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-EMJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Busia – Nairobi
MSN:
158
YOM:
1965
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was returning from Busia to Nairobi, carrying a delegation of the Kenyan Government who made a local visit in Busia following the national elections. Shortly after takeoff from runway 13/31 which is 3,281 feet long, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables and crashed onto a house. Both pilots and a passenger, the Labour Minister Ahmed Mohamed Khalif were killed while nine other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. There were no casualties on the ground.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the crew,
- The total weight of the aircraft was estimated to be over 16 tons, well above the MTOW,
- Aircraft above 5,7 tons are not allowed to land at Busia Airport,
- According to circumstances, a minimum runway length of 3,900 feet was required,
- The captain's licences were not up to date,
- The aircraft documentation was not up to date and failed to comply with Kenyan regulations,
- The aircraft's maintenance was performed by technicians who did not have the proper licence and training,
- The aircraft already had in the past several accidents in Congo and Sudan,
- Following one accident in Sudan in 2000, the aircraft was considered as written off by the insurance and the owner, MIA International Ltd, purchased the hull from the insurers, repaired the aircraft and re-registered it, changing the registration from 5Y-MIA to 5Y-EMJ.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Montreal

Date & Time: Jul 27, 2000 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GPTG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Toronto - Montreal
MSN:
189
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Airwave flight 9806, a G-159 Gulfstream I, was flying IFR from Toronto (YYZ) to Montreal-Dorval (YUL). When it was on final for runway 06R, the pilot reported a problem with the landing gear. The crew recycled the gear and performed the emergency extension procedure unsuccessfully before trying various flight manoeuvres to free the gear. They then circled Montreal until minimum fuel was reached, declared an emergency and landed. On landing, the aircraft veered to the left and came to a halt 60 feet from the runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Preliminary investigation revealed that an apprentice AME moved a line in the landing gear well prior to the flight. The work was neither scheduled nor required. The apprentice left the work unfinished when he went to do something else, then forgot that a fastener was not in place. There was no flag or note to inform the other technicians or the crew that the aircraft was not in an airworthy state. The apprentice has two years experience with this company. The management was satisfied with the quality of his work. Two other licensed AMEs were working in the hangar with the apprentice. He was the only apprentice they had to supervise. The apprentice attended a type training course for this aircraft.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Linneus: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 2000 at 0031 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GNAK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moncton - Montreal
MSN:
154
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
AWV9807
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
300
Aircraft flight hours:
22050
Aircraft flight cycles:
15452
Circumstances:
The airplane was in cruise flight at 16,000 feet, in instrument meteorological conditions. About two minutes after the crew ceased cross-feeding due to a fuel imbalance, the left engine experienced a total loss of power. About one minute later, the co-pilot indicated to the pilot-in-command (PIC) that the airplane was losing airspeed, and about 15 seconds later, the co-pilot remarked "keep it up, keep it up." Shortly thereafter, the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted terrain. The airplane was destroyed by fire and impact forces. Examination of the left engine revealed no evidence of any pre-impact failures that would have accounted for an uncommanded in-flight shut-down. A SIGMET for potential severe clear icing was effective for airplane's flight path; however, the flight crew did not report or discuss any weather related problems around the time of the accident. At the time of the accident, the airplane was above its single-engine service ceiling. The PIC had accumulated approximately 6,000 hours of total flight experience, of which, about 500 hours were as PIC in make and model. The co-pilot had approximately 600 hours of total fight experience, of which, 300 hours were in make and model.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed, which resulted in a loss of control. Factors in this accident were clouds, and a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, while in cruise flight above the airplane's single engine service ceiling.
Final Report: