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Crash of an Avro RJ100 in Zurich: 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 2001 at 2207 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-IXM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin - Zurich
MSN:
E3291
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
LX3597
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
19555
Captain / Total hours on type:
287.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
490
Copilot / Total hours on type:
348
Aircraft flight hours:
13194
Aircraft flight cycles:
11518
Circumstances:
On 24 November 2001 at 20:01 UTC the aircraft AVRO 146 RJ 100, registered as HB-IXM of the Crossair airline company took off in darkness from runway 26L at Berlin-Tegel airport as scheduled flight CRX3597 to Zurich. At 20:58:50 UTC, after an uneventful flight, the aircraft received the clearance for a standard VOR/DME approach 28 at Zurich airport.Ahead of the aircraft involved in the accident, an Embraer EMB 145, flight CRX3891, landed on runway 28 at Zurich airport. The crew informed the control tower that the weather was close to the minimum for this runway. At 21:05:21 UTC flight CRX3597 reported on the aerodrome control frequency. When the aircraft reached the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 2,390 feet QNH at 21:06:10, the commander mentioned to the copilot that he had certain visual ground contact and continued the descent. At 21:06:36 UTC the aircraft collided with treetops and subsequently crashed into the ground. The aircraft caught fire on impact. Twenty-one passengers and three crew members died from their injuries at the site of the accident; seven passengers and two crew members survived the accident. The wreckage was found in the Geissbühl forest, 4,050 metres short of runway 28.
Probable cause:
The accident is attributable to the fact that on the final approach, in own navigation, of the standard VOR/DME approach 28 the aircraft flew controlled into a wooded range of hills (controlled flight into terrain – CFIT), because the flight crew deliberately continued the descent under instrument flight conditions below the minimum altitude for the approach without having the necessary prerequisites. The flight crew initiated the go around too late.
The investigation has determined the following causal factors in relation to the accident:
• The commander deliberately descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of the standard VOR/DME approach 28 without having the required visual contact to the approach lights or the runway.
• The copilot made no attempt to prevent the continuation of the flight below the minimum descent altitude.
The following factors contributed to the accident:
• In the approach sector of runway 28 at Zurich airport there was no system available which triggers an alarm if a minimum safe altitude is violated (minimum safe altitude warning – MSAW).
• Over a long period of time, the responsible persons of the airline did not make correct assessments of the commander’s flying performance. Where weaknesses were perceptible, they did not take appropriate measures.
• The commander’s ability to concentrate and take appropriate decisions as well as his ability to analyse complex processes were adversely affected by fatigue.
• Task-sharing between the flight crew during the approach was not appropriate and did not correspond to the required procedures by the airline.
• The range of hills which the aircraft came into contact with was not marked on the approach chart used by the flight crew.
• The means of determining the meteorological visibility at the airport was not representative for the approach sector runway 28, because it did not correspond to the actual visibility.
• The valid visual minimums at the time of the accident were inappropriate for a decision to use the standard VOR/DME approach 28.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-21 near Berlin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1966 at 0242 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N317PA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Berlin
MSN:
18995
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
PA708
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
14212
Captain / Total hours on type:
58.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17542
Copilot / Total hours on type:
32
Aircraft flight hours:
1804
Circumstances:
Pan Am's scheduled cargo flight 708 from Frankfurt to Berlin usually lands at Tempelhof Airport. However because of resurfacing of the runways at Tempelhof, Pan Am operated in and out of Tegel Airport since the evening of November 13th. Flight 708 departed Frankfurt at 02:04 and climbed to the cruising altitude of FL90. At 02:35 the flight reported leaving this altitude for FL30. Three minutes later Berlin Control cleared the flight to "turn left heading zero three zero, descend and maintain two thousand". When 6,5 miles from the Outer Marker, the controller cleared the flight to "turn right heading zero six zero cleared ILS runway eight right approach". Immediately after the acknowledgment from the flight crew, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed about 10 miles from the airport in the Soviet occupation zone. Weather was poor with 2,6 km visibility in snow; cloud coverage 3/8 at 500 feet and overcast a 600 feet with a temperature of -1deg C. The Soviet authorities returned about 50 percent of the wreckage. Some major components were not returned which included the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, flight control systems, navigation and communication equipment.
Probable cause:
The descent of the flight below its altitude clearance limit, but the Board has been unable to determine the cause of such descent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45H Expeditor in Berlin-Tegel: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1953 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-RAEG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin – Frankfurt – Paris
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Two takeoff attempts were aborted for unknown reason. After the third takeoff roll, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ground about an engine failure and elected to return for an emergency landing. While completing a last turn to the right to reach the approach path, the aircraft banked right, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located two km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The VHF radio analysis failed to determine the cause of the steep turn to the right during the initial climb, steep turn that was confirmed by eye witnesses and by the exam of the debris at the point of impact. It is believed that the aircraft banked right down to an angle of 90° before impacting terrain, most probably following an engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings in Berlin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
TG611
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin – Frankfurt
MSN:
89
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing steeply to a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft stalled from the tail and went to a near vertical attitude. The left wing then dropped and the aircraft crashed into the ground and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (47th Squadron based in RAF Dishforth):
F/O Ian R. Donaldson,
Sgt Joseph Toal,
Nav William G. Page,
Sig Alexander Dunsire,
Eng Roy R. Gibbs.
Probable cause:
The cause was found to be the elevator trim tab which had been turned to the fully back position.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Berlin

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALBZ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Schleswig – Berlin
MSN:
1348
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown in Berlin-Tegel Airport, a tire burst. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and collided with another Lancashire Aircraft Corporation Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII registered G-AHWN that was parked on the apron. There were no casualties but G-ALBZ was damaged beyond repair. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Schleswig, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. The Halifax registered G-AHWN was repaired but eventually damaged beyond repair on a landing accident in Schleswig on July 6, 1949.
Probable cause:
Tire burst on landing.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Berlin

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKBJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1317
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed for unknown reason. All four crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft christened 'Air Ambassador' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Nauen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKAC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hamburg – Berlin
MSN:
1340
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Berlin on a cargo flight from Hamburg, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Nauen, about 26 km northwest of Tegel Airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Richard Donald Lewis, pilot,
Edward Ernest Caroll, navigator,
John Anderson, flight engineer,
Kenneth George Wood, radio operator.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Berlin

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIOI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1327
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Tegel Airport, the left main gear partially collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.