Zone
Vorarlberg

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 400 in Hohenems

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FDL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hohenems - Hohenems
MSN:
1904
YOM:
1972
Location:
Hohenems
Vorarlberg
Country:
Austria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Hohenems-Dornbirn Airport on a local skydiving mission, carrying 23 skydivers and one pilot. After takeoff from runway 05, while climbing to a height of about 50 metres, the pilot encountered difficulties to gain height and elected to make an emergency landing when the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field located 500 metres from the runway end. Four occupants, including the pilot, were injured. All 20 other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is possible that the aircraft was operated beyond its MTOW permissible limit.

Crash of a Rockwell Gulfstream 690D Jetprop 900 off Altenrhein: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1989 at 1059 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Gulfstream 690D Jetprop 900
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FCS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Vienna - Hohenems
MSN:
690-15036
YOM:
1984
Flight number:
RY102
Location:
Altenrhein
Saint Gallen
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
6945
Captain / Total hours on type:
1160.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
400
Aircraft flight hours:
5197
Aircraft flight cycles:
4295
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport in the morning on a special flight to Hohenems-Dornbirn Airport, carrying nine passengers and two pilots, among them Alfred Dallinger, Austrian Minister of Labor. While descending to Hohenems Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to divert to Altenrhein Airport, Saint-Gall, Switzerland. At 1054, the aircraft passed the Altenrhein VOR at an altitude of 2,000 feet with an horizontal visibility estimated to 3-4 km with nebulosity. After completing the last turn to join the glide for a runway 10 approach, the aircraft was still over clouds at a 2,000 feet QNH altitude. Suddenly, the aircraft struck the water surface and crashed in the lake of Constance (Bodensee) about 5,100 meters short of runway 10 threshold. The wreckage was found off the village of Horn. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the fact that the crew continued the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor judgment of the weather situation prevailing in the approach sector,
- Deficiency in the distribution of tasks within the crew during the final approach,
- Improper use of the altitude alert / preselect system and the radio altimeter,
- The crew was stressed by the unfavorable weather conditions and the incoming of a layer of fog,
- Psychological pressure on the crew due to the presence on board of an important personality.
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