Country
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134B-3 in Phnom Penh: 65 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 3, 1997 at 1400 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VN-A120
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hô Chi Minh – Phnom Penh
MSN:
66360
YOM:
1984
Flight number:
VN815
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
65
Aircraft flight hours:
11723
Aircraft flight cycles:
8209
Circumstances:
On approach to Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain initiated a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, on a second attempt to land, the captain continued the approach below the glide and passed the MDA. The flight engineer, the copilot and ATC as well warned the captain that his altitude was insufficient but he failed to correct the situation when the aircraft struck palms, stalled and crashed in a rice paddy field located 300 metres short of runway. A boy aged one was injured while 65 other occupants were killed.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134B-3 in Đà Nẵng
Date & Time:
Nov 16, 1996
Operator:
Registration:
VN-A114
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
66220
YOM:
1984
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Đà Nẵng Airport, the nose gear collapsed and apparently punctured the cockpit, injuring a crew member. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134B-3 in Nakhchivan: 52 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 5, 1995 at 1754 LT
Operator:
Registration:
4K-65703
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakhchivan - Baku
MSN:
63383
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
AHY056
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
76
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Captain / Total hours on type:
3641.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
263
Aircraft flight hours:
27500
Aircraft flight cycles:
17893
Circumstances:
During initial climb, at a height of about 60 metres and at a speed of 317 km/h, the left engine failed. The copilot counteracted the left bank and five seconds later, the flight engineer informed the crew that the right engine also failed. The captain took over control and the aircraft climbed to the height of 197 metres when the speed dropped to 290 km/h. The captain elected to make an emergency landing but was forced to make a sharp turn to the right to avoid a building. The aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 37° and adopted a rate of descent of 1,960 feet per minute before crashing in an open field located 3,850 metres from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact. Thirty occupants were rescued while 52 others, among them two crew members, were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine failed during initial climb following the disintegration of the 2nd and 3rd stage of the compressor. Investigations revealed that the maintenance was non compliant and that 38 screws were missing on the main compressor, a violation that was not repaired during the last maintenance inspection conducted 30 flying hours prior to the accident. Following a lack of crew coordination but also a faulty ergonomy of the flight deck, the flight engineer mistakenly shut down the right engine that was running properly.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Lagos: 15 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 24, 1995 at 1605 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RA-65617
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kaduna - Lagos
MSN:
08068
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
74
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Aircraft flight hours:
24844
Aircraft flight cycles:
15740
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kaduna, the crew started the approach to Lagos-Murtala Muhammed Airport in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and strong winds. On short final, the wind changed to a tail component and became stronger. This caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway, about 1,000 metres past the runway threshold. On a wet runway surface, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, struck the concrete structure of a drainage ditch and came to rest 147 metres further, bursting into flames. 65 people were rescued while 15 passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Poor quality in the organization of the meteorological support at Lagos airport, as a result of which the crew did not receive reliable information about the actual direction and force of the wind during the approach and landing procedure, which caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway;
- The presence of a layer of water on the runway, about which the crew was not informed prior to landing, which caused the aircraft to enter an aquaplaning mode and the loss of braking action efficiency;
- The failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure after he encountered poor weather conditions during the final stage of the approach and an erroneous estimation of the actual remaining length of the runway for the safe completion of the landing in case of heavy rainfall;
- Violation on part of the cabin crew requirements for the number and placement of flight attendants at landing, which led to unnoticed penetration of 15 passengers into the rear trunk and toilets after the plane crashed and their death in the event of a fire;
- Unsatisfactory organization of rescue operations at Lagos Airport.
- Poor quality in the organization of the meteorological support at Lagos airport, as a result of which the crew did not receive reliable information about the actual direction and force of the wind during the approach and landing procedure, which caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway;
- The presence of a layer of water on the runway, about which the crew was not informed prior to landing, which caused the aircraft to enter an aquaplaning mode and the loss of braking action efficiency;
- The failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure after he encountered poor weather conditions during the final stage of the approach and an erroneous estimation of the actual remaining length of the runway for the safe completion of the landing in case of heavy rainfall;
- Violation on part of the cabin crew requirements for the number and placement of flight attendants at landing, which led to unnoticed penetration of 15 passengers into the rear trunk and toilets after the plane crashed and their death in the event of a fire;
- Unsatisfactory organization of rescue operations at Lagos Airport.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A-3 in Lima
Date & Time:
Apr 15, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1553
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cuzco - Lima
MSN:
60206
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete, one of the tyre on the left main gear burst. The crew decided to continue to Lima when, on approach, the left main gear could not be lowered and remained stuck in its wheel well. Upon landing, the aircraft sank on its left side and slid for few dozen metre before coming to rest. All 73 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134AK in Samoylikha: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 9, 1994 at 1107 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RA-65760
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
62187
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in an aerial photography mission, carrying three passengers and a crew of five. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 metres parallel to a Tupolev TU-22M3, both crews agreed to close each other about 10-15 metres when the TU-22 struck the tail of the TU-134. While the crew of the TU-22 was able to return to Moscow-Zhukovsky Airport for an emergency landing, the TU-134 entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded area located in Samoylikha, about 140 km southeast of Moscow. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both crews to observe a minimum safe separation between both aircraft while flying in formation and poor judgment.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A-3 in Arkhangelsk
Date & Time:
May 7, 1994 at 1242 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RA-65976
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Arkhangelsk
MSN:
3 35 20 07
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU2315
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
56
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
33606
Aircraft flight cycles:
21071
Circumstances:
On approach to Arkhangelsk-Talagi, the crew encountered technical problems with the landing gear that could not be lowered. Several manual attempts were made and finally, only the right main gear remained stuck in its wheel well. The captain decided to land in such configuration. After touchdown, the aircraft slid on the ground then veered off runway and came to rest in a grassy area. All 62 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The right main gear could not be lowered because of a breakage of the filling connection of the hydraulic tank due to metal fatigue while the aircraft was taxiing at Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport. The fitting was blown out under pressure and damaged hydraulic lines, causing a hydraulic fluid leak and the oil pressure to drop.
