PAC 750XL - Pacific Aerospace Corporation | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On 03 October 2012, a Pacific Aerospace LTD, PAC 750 XL aircraft registration PK-RWT was being operated by Yayasan Pelayan Penerbangan Tariku on a cargo supply flight from Koropun to Dekai in Papua area. This flight was the 9 th flight of that day. All flights were performed in accordance to the Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The first flight was from Sentani to Langda which was arrived at 2220 UTC (0720 LT). The aircraft arrived Koropun at 0120 UTC (1020 LT) as reported by the pilot through the company flight following system . The aircraft then departed Koropun to Dekai and lost contact during this flight. On board in this flight were one pilot, one passenger and 975 kg of cargo when departure from Sentani. The distance between Koropun to Dekai is about 24.6 Nm and normally takes about 11 minutes. The weather information issued by Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi and Geofisika/BMKG (Indonesia Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency) between 0200 UTC to 0300 UTC, showed the development of cumulus cloud classified as Middle Cloud formation along the route from Koropun to Dekai. According to the company flight following procedure, the pilot should report after the aircraft lands by mentions “aircraft on the ground” which this means that the aircraft had arrived at destination. After aircraft airborne, the pilot should report aircraft airborne time and give the estimate of time arrival at destination. The last contact of the pilot was “the aircraft on the ground Koropun” at 0120 UTC. Normally, the next report would be within 15 up to 20 minutes after arrival. There was no report from the pilot after 20 minutes of the last report. The flight following officer tried to contact the pilot and was unsuccessful. At 0145 UTC, the Operation Manager of the aircraft operator received information from the New Zealand Search and Rescue Agency that informed that Local User Terminal (LUT) has received ELT distress signal from PK-RWT. This information was followed by information through email, which was received at 0150 UTC. Based on this information, the Indonesia Search and Rescue operation was initiated. The aircraft was found on 5 October 2013, in mountainous area with approximate elevation of 7,000 feet, at coordinate 04°28.62’S 139°39’E. The crew and passenger on board were fatally injured and the aircraft substantially damaged.

Probable cause:

The accident was classified as Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), which most likely the aircraft was flown into the weather environment below the VFR margins.

Final Report:

Crash of a PAC 750XL in Abmisibil: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 2011 at 0740 LT

Type of aircraft:

PAC 750XL - Pacific Aerospace Corporation

Operator:

Registration:

PK-RCD

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Jayapura - Abmisibil

MSN:

149

YOM:

2009

Location:

Abmisibil

Special Region of Papua

Country:

Indonesia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing on a wet runway at Abmisibil Airport, the single engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed and a passenger died few hours later. All three other occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Crash of a PAC 750XL in Cascais: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2010 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

PAC 750XL - Pacific Aerospace Corporation

Operator:

Registration:

D-FGOJ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Évora - Cascais

MSN:

139

YOM:

2008

Location:

Cascais

Estremadura - Lisbon District

Country:

Portugal

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Evora Airport in the afternoon for a local flight with two skydivers, one photographer and a pilot on board. Few minutes after take off, the photographer output a weapon and ordered both skydivers to jump. After they left the cabin, the photographer then threatened the pilot and ordered him to divert to Cascais-Tires Airport. After landing, the aircraft veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a grassy area near the apron. The pilot was able to escape while the photographer shot himself and died. Aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both wings being partially sheared off.

Probable cause:

Aircraft and crew hijacked in flight by a 'photographer'.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL in Pont-en-Ogoz: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2008 at 1328 LT

Type of aircraft:

PAC 750XL - Pacific Aerospace Corporation

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-JPP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Colombier – Ecuvillens

MSN:

106

YOM:

2003

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

645

Captain / Total hours on type:

213.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1471

Aircraft flight cycles:

4214

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Beromünster, the single engine aircraft landed at Colombier Airport where 17 skydivers boarded the plane on a flight to Ecuvillens. While overflying the region of Gruyere, all 17 skydivers jumped. Few minutes later, while descending to Ecuvillens, the pilot encountered marginale weather conditions with limited visibility due to stratus up to the altitude of 1,060 metres. While flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed the forest of Gibloux, near Pont-en-Ogoz. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants, one pilot and one female passenger, were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a PAC 750XL in the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 2003 at 0601 LT

Type of aircraft:

PAC 750XL - Pacific Aerospace Corporation

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-UAC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hamilton – Pago Pago – Christmas Island – Kiribati – Hilo – Oakland

MSN:

103

YOM:

2003

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16564

Captain / Total hours on type:

180.00

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The pilot was ferrying the aircraft from Hamilton, New Zealand to Davis, California, via Pago Pago, American Samoa; Christmas Island, Kiribati; and Hilo, Hawaii. On the final leg, following a position report 858 nm from San Francisco, he reported a problem with his fuel system, indicating a probable ditching. Under the observation of a US Coast Guard HC-130 crew, the pilot ditched the aircraft at 1701 UTC, 341 nm from San Francisco, the aircraft nosing over on to its back as it touched down. The pilot did not emerge as expected and was later found by rescue swimmers, deceased, still in the cockpit. His body could not be recovered and was lost with the aircraft.

Probable cause:

The following findings were reported:
- The pilot was appropriately licensed, rated and experienced for the series of flights undertaken.
- The aeroplane had a valid airworthiness certificate and had been released to service.
- There was nothing (other than the item in 3.5) to suggest that the aeroplane was operating abnormally on the final flight.
- The aeroplane was being operated at 14 000 feet pressure altitude without supplementary oxygen as required by CAR 91.209 and 91.533.
- The left front fuel filler orifice was observed to be leaking fuel before departure.
- There was no attempt made to further investigate or correct this fuel leak and the pilot stated that it would stop once he departed.
- On most other aircraft this would be true, once the fuel level dropped away from the filler orifice and was no longer affected by aerodynamic suction.
- On the 750XL, the fuel system design was such that the front tanks were continuously topped up.
- The fuel loss would continue until all fuel in the rear tanks and the ferry system was consumed.
- The front fuel caps are thus critical items to be checked before flight.
- The fuel quantity uplifted at Hilo indicated that the problem had existed on the previous leg with a loss rate of up to 125 litres (33.2 US gallons) per hour.
- A comparison of the uplift figure with the expected consumption on the previous leg should have provided sufficient warning to the pilot that a problem existed.
- The existence of the problem could have been detected on the final flight by the shortened top-up intervals and by comparing fuel used by the engine with fuel remaining.
- Cumulative delays, especially including the longer than normal final refuelling time, probably influenced the pilot’s decision to depart without further checking the reason for the fuel leak or the apparent discrepancy between fuel figures.
- Cumulative fatigue, circadian rhythm and hypoxia were probably significant factors in the pilot’s failure to detect the fuel problem in flight, in time to make a safe return.
- By the time the pilot announced that he had a fuel problem, the only course of action open to him was ditching the aeroplane.
- The search and rescue facilities were activated appropriately, and had the potential to effect a successful rescue.
- The water entry impact on ditching was reasonably severe and probably incapacitated the pilot before he could vacate the cockpit.

Final Report: