Crash of a Gulfstream G200 in Moscow

Date & Time: Feb 26, 2019 at 1244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4K-AZ88
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Baku - Moscow
MSN:
189
YOM:
2008
Flight number:
EWS88
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7608
Captain / Total hours on type:
2356.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2554
Copilot / Total hours on type:
609
Aircraft flight hours:
4174
Aircraft flight cycles:
1787
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Baku-Bina Airport on a charter flight to Moscow, carrying three passengers and three crew members. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared for an approach to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport runway 24C. The aircraft landed at a speed of 150 knots some 250 metres past the runway threshold. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure and activated the thrust reversers. After a course of several hundred metres, the aircraft deviated to the left, made an almost 180 turn and veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the right main gear was torn off and the aircraft came to rest in a snow covered area. All six occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The reason for the accident with the Gulfstream G200 4K-AZ88 was the stowing of the right-engine reverser by the pilot KVS from maximum thrust reversal while maintaining maximum thrust reversal on the left engine, which led to the appearance of a significant turning moment to the left. The aircraft turning to the left in the presence of a cross wind to the right, as well as turbulence of the airflow near the rudder due to the open thrust reversal mechanism of the left engine and possible ice deposition on the outer surfaces of the aircraft, which led to the development of a significant swing moment on the rudder. The development of a significant articulated moment on the rudder, in the absence of power steering in the rudder control system, led to its deviation to the leftmost position despite significant (up to 82 kg or 180 pounds) forces exerted by the crew on the pedals. The deviation of the rudder (pedals) to the left also led to the deviation of the nose wheel to the left. The total moment from the running reverse of the left engine, from the right engine in direct draft mode, and from the rudder and nose wheel deflection to the left, led to the aircraft rolling out of the runway and its damage. Separate braking applied by the crew could not prevent the aircraft from rolling out.

The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew did not take into account the provisions of the AOM about the possible "destabilizing" effect of the thrust reverse when landing with a cross wind on the runway with a reduced braking coefficient;
- Increased psycho-emotional tension of the crew members due to long dissatisfaction and emotional discussion of instructions and actions of ATC controllers. At the same time, the instructions and actions of the ATC service controllers were in line with established procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD near Bagram AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 2011 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4K-AZ55
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Baku - Bagram AFB
MSN:
20534 20680
YOM:
2005
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Baku-Bina Airport at 2126LT on a cargo flight to Bagram AFB, carrying 9 crew members and a load of 18 tons of various goods destined to the NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan. While approaching Bagram AFB by night, at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located 25 km from the airport. The wreckage was found at the first light of day. The aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 501 Citation I/SP near Sulaymānīyah: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 2006 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-IMRX
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Munich - Budapest - Baku - Sulaymānīyah
MSN:
501-0688
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a business flight from Baku to Sulaymānīyah with 5 passengers and one pilot on board. It departed Munich to Baku via Budapest on February 14. As it descended through the altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens and crashed near Buschin, few dozen km from Sulaymānīyah Airport. The wreckage was found on February 19 in a snow covered and hilly terrain. All 6 occupants were killed, among them 4 German businessmen, one pilot and one translator. The aircraft was owned by the German Company Hasit Trockenmörtel, specialised in building reconstruction.

Crash of an Antonov AN-140-100 off Nardaran: 23 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 2005 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4K-AZ48
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Baku - Aktau
MSN:
36525307036
YOM:
2004
Flight number:
AHY217
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
On a flight from Baku to Aktau in difficult weather conditions at night when took off with caged gyro horizons, so the crew lost spatial orientation. The aircraft entered a steep right downward spiral and crashed on the shore of the Caspian Sea near Nardaran, some 35 km northeast of Baku, less than five minutes after takeoff. All 5 crew and 18 passengers were killed, among them were 15 Azeris, one Briton, one Australian, one Turkish, one Georgian and 4 Kazakh.
Probable cause:
The gyro horizons failed after takeoff due to a malfunction caused by the fact that some counterfeit assemblies and instruments had been installed by KhGAPP during the production of the aircraft. While cruising at night and poor visibility, the crew lost situational awareness and suffered a spatial disorientation, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent and to crash into the sea. The lack of visual references on ground was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD in Dushanbe

Date & Time: Dec 30, 2004 at 0348 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-IBM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Billund – Baku – Kaboul
MSN:
00334 48390
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
RIN922
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Ilyushin 76 was chartered to fly a consignment of 28938 kg of humanitarian aid from Billund, Denmark to Kabul, Afghanistan. The airplane departed Billund at 18:00 and landed at Baku, Azerbaijan for a refueling stop. Visibility at Kabul was reported as 3000 m, and forecast worsening to 1200 m between 00:00 and 06:00 h due to snow and haze. Minima for Kabul airport however were a visibility of 5000 m and a cloud base at 450 m. The captain nevertheless departed Baku. While approaching Kabul the weather was reported to be: wind 340 degrees at 4 kts, visibility 2000 m, 1-2 octas clouds at 480 m, 5-7 octas clouds at 3000 m and a QNH of 1020 hPa. During the approach low clouds were moving in from the north. The visibility was limited to 500 m in fog and the wind direction changed. The crew of the Ilyushin were not informed of these changed values. The approach was continued and flaps and gear were selected down. At decision height the spoilers were extended and the descent was continued. The captain ordered the spoilers to be retracted, but this command was not carried out. At a height of 310 m, 4230 m short of the runway 29 threshold, the flaps were selected down to 43 degrees. The Il-76 was at that stage 365 m to the right of the extended centreline. The flight descended below the glideslope until it contacted the ground 910 m short of the runway threshold, at a speed of 230 km/h. The left undercarriage was destroyed and separated from the aircraft. The lower aft fuselage and cargo door were severely damaged and the pressure in the no. 1 and no. 2 hydraulic systems fell. The crew applied takeoff power, retracted the spoilers and selected flaps back to 30 degrees. The aircraft climbed away and the captain decided to head for Termez, Uzbekistan, but this airport was closed due to fog. It was decided to continue to Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The airplane made a low pass over the field so the air traffic controllers could observe the nature of the damage. A forced landing was then carried out.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Disturbance in the work of the command-supervisory composition of the "Airline Transport Incorporation" company, that led to the failure to present the crew with AIP information of the Republic of Afghanistan about the Kabul Airport minima and the special features of the approach to this airport, as presented in the "Jeppesen", valid on 30.12.04;
- Decision making by crew and the decision to carry out an approach under below-minima conditions; unsatisfactory crew interaction during the final stage of the approach, which led to the loss of height, the failure to retract the spoilers, the descent below the established glide path, the collision of aircraft with a ground-based structure and the late spool-up of the engines to takeoff power;
- Deficiencies in the weather support of the flight, in that the crew were not given a visibility forecast, which did not allow crew to estimate the level of hazard of a change in the meteorological conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD in Ürümqi: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 2004 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
4K-AZ27
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taiyuan – Ürümqi – Baku – Riga
MSN:
00534 60827
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Taiyuan to Riga with intermediate stops in Ürümqi and Baku, carrying seven crew members and a load of clothes. Two minutes after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed near a farm located 10 km from the airport. The aircraft was partially destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed. Weather conditions were good at the time of the accident with a wind from 170 at 36 km/h.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD in Baku: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 2004 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-ZVA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ankara – Bakou – Kabul
MSN:
00634 68036
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ankara, Turkey, on a cargo flight to Kabul, Afghanistan, with an intermediate stop in Baku, Azerbaijan. In Ankara, the airplane was loaded with 39,980 kg of cargo. At Baku Airport, 47 tons of fuel were added, bringing the takeoff weight to 189 tons, and the centre of gravity to 29,3% MAC, which was within the prescribed limits. During the eight-hour stopover the crew decided to rest in the aircraft instead of a hotel. As the aircraft started taxiing to the runway the flight engineer was heard saying that he would select the flaps at 30 degrees and slats at 14 degrees for takeoff. This however was not done. Prior to takeoff the position of the flaps was not verified by any of the crew members. Takeoff was thus commenced with flaps and slats retracted and the stabilizer trimmed at the takeoff position -4 degrees (corresponding to actual takeoff weight, CofG and flaps at 30°). At a speed of 210 km/h the pilot pulled on the control column to lift off the nose gear. At a calculated unstick speed of 265 km/h the angle of attack reached 9 degrees but the plane did not lift off the runway. Accelerating through 290 km/h the angle of attack of the aircraft reached 14,5 degrees, setting off the angle of attack warning on the flight deck. Some 1750 meters down the runway, the aft fuselage struck the runway. Seventy meters further on, at a speed of 300 km/h and an angle of attack of 19,4°, the Ilyushin lifted off the runway. The air traffic controller who witnessed the departure advised the crew to abort the takeoff, but the captain apparently continued. The airplane rolled to the left until the wing contacted the runway. Then the flight engineer noted his error and, without informing the captain, began extending the flaps and slats. Again without informing the captain, the flight engineer brought back the power levers of the four engines to idle. After three seconds he moved them from idle to the 'engine shutdown' position. The captain three times yelled "takeoff" but the engines were already shut down. After flying for 490 meters the aircraft struck the ground and crashed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the flight engineer to extend flaps and slats prior to takeoff. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor crew coordination,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Crew fatigue.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Baku

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-11337
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yerevan - Turkmenbashi
MSN:
3 3 412 04
YOM:
1963
Flight number:
PZA9455
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Yerevan Airport on a cargo flight to Turkmenbashi, carrying 8 passengers, 7 crew members and a load of 13 tons of various goods. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 9,100 metres, the crew requested the permission to divert to Baku-Bina Airport. On approach, the crew was instructed by ATC to initiate a go-around as he was aligned on the wrong runway (a runway under construction and parallel to the active runway 35). The crew started to climb when all four engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a rocky field located 6 km from the airport. All 15 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- During engine run at Yerevan Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine that could not be started properly, which caused an excessive fuel consumption of 900 litres,
- En route, the crew failed to monitor properly the fuel consumption,
- The decision to divert to Baku-Bina Airport was taken too late,
- The crew failed to declare an emergency and failed to inform ATC that he was short of fuel, which would give him the priority for landing,
- Poor approach planning as the crew was approaching the wrong runway,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The crew failed to raise the landing gear during climbout, which increased fuel consumption.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B near Choporti: 33 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1993 at 2215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EY-26035
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Batumi - Baku - Shimkent
MSN:
106 04
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Circumstances:
En route from Batumi to Baku, while cruising at the assigned altitude of 5,100 metres, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and severe turbulences. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on the slope of a mountain (690 metres high) located near Choporti. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 33 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight following atmospheric turbulences in thunderstorm area.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154B in Maksatikha: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1978 at 1332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-85169
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Baku - Leningrad
MSN:
76A169
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
SU6709
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
126
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3308
Aircraft flight cycles:
1567
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 9,600 meters on a flight from Baku to Leningrad, all three engines stopped simultaneously. Shortly later, all generators failed as well, causing the electrical system to be inoperative. Unable to maintain altitude and speed that dropped to 370 km/h, the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field. After touchdown, the airplane slid for 1,518 meters, struck various obstacles and came to rest in flames. Four passengers were killed while 130 other occupants were rescued, some of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight failure of all three engines after the fuel transfer system failed while being connected on manual mode. Technical analysis were unable to determine the exact cause of the fuel transfer system failure but it is possible this was caused by the malfunction or the failure of a switch or other electrical components.