Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Anuradhapura: 40 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 30, 2000
Operator:
Registration:
UR-79170
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palaly - Colombo
MSN:
47313410
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Jaffna-Palaly Airport on a flight to Colombo, carrying mostly Marines officers. While in cruising altitude, the pilot reported an engine fire and diverted to Anuradhapura Airport. On approach, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located 14,5 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 40 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was shot down by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) surface-to-air missile.
Crash of an Antonov AN-32B off Palaly: 63 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 22, 1995 at 1720 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CR-862
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Colombo - Palaly
MSN:
35 03
YOM:
1995
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
63
Circumstances:
While on approach to Papaly Airport, the captain contacted ATC and requested that the approach lights intensity should be increased. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea few km short of runway. All 63 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft was shot down by a shell fired by soldiers from the 'Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam'.
Crash of a Shaanxi Y-8 off Palaly: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 18, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
CR-871
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Colombo - Palaly
MSN:
06 08 01
YOM:
1988
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was approaching Palaly AFB in Jaffna following a flight from Colombo, carrying six crew members and supply equipments. On final, the aircraft was shot down by a 20 mm shell and crashed in the sea about 3 km offshore. A crew member was rescued while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a shell fired by soldiers from the 'Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam'.
Crash of an Antonov AN-32B off Colombo: 75 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 12, 1995 at 0720 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CR-861
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Colombo - Palaly
MSN:
35 02
YOM:
1995
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
75
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Colombo-Ratmalana Airport on a flight to the Palaly AFB (Jaffna), carrying 70 soldiers and five crew members. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew declared an emergency and reported technical problems with the instruments. After being cleared to return, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn at an altitude of 8,000 feet when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea about 40 km north-northwest of Ratmalana Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 75 occupants were killed. It was reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident were poor with thunderstorm activity.
Crash of an Avro 748-334-2A in Jaffna: 45 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 28, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
4R-HVB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palaly - Colombo
MSN:
1757
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Palaly Airport, while climbing, the left engine exploded. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return. On short final, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion about 200 metres short of runway. All 45 occupants were killed, among them 40 soldiers and two civilians.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine exploded during climbout after being hit by a surface-to-air missile shot by Tamil separatists.
Crash of a Shaanxi Y-8 in Iyakachchi: 19 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 5, 1992 at 1700 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CR-872
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Colombo - Jaffna
MSN:
06 08 04
YOM:
1988
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Colombo on a flight to Jaffna, carrying military personnels, weapons and ammunition. While descending to Jaffna (Palaly) Airport, the four engine aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near Iyakachchi, about 45 km east of Jaffna Airport. All 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
Ground explosion of an Avro 748-212-2 in Colombo
Date & Time:
Sep 7, 1978
Operator:
Registration:
4R-ACJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Colomb - Colombo
MSN:
1571
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked on apron at Colombo-Ratmalana Airport, the airplane was prepared by a crew of two for a positioning flight to Colombo-Katunayake Airport when an explosion occurred in the middle section. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots escaped uninjured. Liberation Tigers claimed responsibility for explosion but the real author of the terrorist act was not found.
Probable cause:
Bomb explosion.
Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE.210 Caravelle 10B3 near Fujairah: 112 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 14, 1972 at 2004 LT
Operator:
Registration:
OY-STL
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Colombo – Bombay – Dubai – Ankara – Copenhagen
MSN:
267
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
NB296
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
106
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
112
Captain / Total hours on type:
58.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1400
Aircraft flight hours:
6674
Aircraft flight cycles:
2373
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Bombay at 33,000 feet, the crew contacted Dubai control to obtain the latest weather bulletin: wind from 040° at 8 knots, visibility 10 km and 5/8 clouds at 2,000 feet. Approaching via radial 084, the crew was informed he will be able to start the descent at 1955LT. However, at 1949LT (six minutes too early), the crew informed ATC he was ready for the descent as his position was 95 NM from Dubai. At that moment, the plane was in fact 162 NM from the destination but the crew was not aware of it. After being cleared to descend at 4,000 feet, pilots were informed that they may choose either Runway 30 or 12, to which they respond that they will attempt a direct approach on Runway 30. By night, the captain thought he was seeing the lights of the city of Dubai when they are actually those of Fujairah located 95 km east. Despite that the crew had difficulties to tune into NDB frequency, the crew continued the descent when, at an altitude of 1,600 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was about 92 kilometers east of Dubai Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 112 occupants were killed, among them 74 Danish whom six crew members, 20 Swedish, 12 Norwegians, four Finns and two West Germans.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were not bad but the presence of clouds and reduced visibility by night hampered the crew in their ground recognition. The use of a flight plan with errors and outdated information or a misreading of the weather radar settings or the combination of both allowed the crew to start the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to approach below the prescribed minimum altitude. A succession of errors within the crew during the descent also allowed the aircraft to be too far to the north from the approach path as the wreckage was located 33 kilometers north to the runway 30 approach path. The fact that pilots visually mistaken the cities of Fujairah and Dubai remained a contributing factor.
Final Report:
Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 5 in Trincomalee: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 18, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
CS-403
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Trincomalee – Colombo
MSN:
04489
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Trincomalee-China Bay Airport, while climbing, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion onto a fuel storage area. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt R. Varatharasa,
F/Lt Shibley.
Passengers:
Lt Peiris,
Maj Andrew J. Hacker,
Sgt A. Guy.
Crew:
F/Lt R. Varatharasa,
F/Lt Shibley.
Passengers:
Lt Peiris,
Maj Andrew J. Hacker,
Sgt A. Guy.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after rotation.
