Zone

Crash of a Boeing 737-46J in Kabul

Date & Time: Dec 10, 2016 at 1224 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JY-JAQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Herat - Kabul
MSN:
27826/2694
YOM:
1995
Flight number:
4Q502
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
164
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5078
Captain / Total hours on type:
4877.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3380
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3177
Aircraft flight hours:
56805
Aircraft flight cycles:
28611
Circumstances:
On 10 December 2016, JAV Boeing 737-400 Aircraft, registration JY-JAQ, operating a leased scheduled passenger flight SFW 502, on behalf of SAFI Airways under wet lease contract with the later call sign, departed a domestic flight from Herat Airport (OAHR), at 07:00 Z from RWY 36 to Kabul International Airport (OAKB) Afghanistan. At approximately 07:57:45 Z, the Aircraft touched down RWY 29 at Kabul. The aircraft departed Herat with 164 passengers ,07 Operating Crewmembers and 02 Engineers , Total on board were 173 person. As the flight approached OAKB, the crew received the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) from OAKB station at 07:45 Z indicating normal weather with visibility of 6 Km, temperature 07 degrees Celsius and wind of 150/07. The Aircraft was configured for landing with the flaps set to 30, and approach speed selected of 152 knots (VREF + 10) indicated airspeed (IAS). The Aircraft was cleared to approach ILS 29. The Aircraft was vectored by the radar for RWY 29. Air traffic control cleared the flight to land, with the wind reported to be 190 degrees at 15 knots. The crew stated that a few seconds after the touchdown, they felt the aircraft vibrating, during which they applied brakes and deployed the reverse thrust. The vibration was followed by the aircraft rolling slightly low to the right. It later came to a full stop left of the runway centre line, resting on its left main landing gear and the right engine, with the nose landing gear in the air. The occurrence occurred at approximately 3,806 ft / 1,160 m past the threshold. The PIC declared Emergency to the ATC and the cockpit crew initiated an evacuation command from the left side of the aircraft. Evacuation was successfully accomplished with No reported injuries. Kabul airport RFF reached the occurrence aircraft and observed the smoke coming from right side and immediately deployed their procedures by spraying foam on engine # 2. The aircraft sustained substantial damage due to the separation of the right main gear resulting on the aircraft skidding on the right engine cowlings. No injuries were sustained by any of the occupants during the occurrence or the evacuation sequence. Operating crew of the incident flight were called by the Afghani Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) for interview and medical examination (alcohol and drugs, blood test). No injuries were reported by the occupants of the Aircraft or the ground crew.
Probable cause:
The Investigation committee determines that the airplane occasionally experienced main landing gear shimmy and the most probable cause indicated that the struts were extended for long period of time. As a result, the torsion link of the shimmy damper remained in an extended vertical position, where the damper has less mechanical advantage for longer periods of time. Despite the presence of shimmy damper hardware which is designed to reduce the torsional vibration energy generated during landing.
Contributing factors to the event include:
- High altitude airport of 5,877 feet.
- An overly soft landing, allows the landing gears to remain in the air mode longer, which makes them more vulnerable to shimmy,
- Touchdown with a closure rate of 1 fps, which is considered overly soft and may increase the risk of shimmy torsional forces,
- High ground speed at touchdown of 178 knots ,which resulted from the high touchdown airspeed of 158 knots , touchdown at (VREF+16).
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-4Y0 in Kabul

Date & Time: Nov 7, 2014 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YA-PIE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Herat - Kabul
MSN:
26086/2475
YOM:
1993
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown at Kabul Airport runway 29, the right main gear collapsed, causing the right engine nacelle to struck the runway surface. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 737-4Y0 in Kabul

Date & Time: May 8, 2014 at 1704 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YA-PIB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Delhi – Kaboul
MSN:
26077/2425
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
FG312
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
122
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from New Delhi-Indira Gandhi Airport, the crew was cleared for an ILS approach to Kabul Airport Runway 29. On short final, the aircraft entered an area of heavy rain falls. The crew continued the approach and the aircraft landed after the touchdown zone. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage, collided with the ILS antenna and slid for 285 metres before coming to rest. All 132 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew completed the landing too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew failed to follow SOP's,
- Poor crew recurrent training,
- The thrust reverse systems were activated too late after landing.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382E-20C Hercules near Kabul: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 2010 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-TUC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bagram - Kabul
MSN:
4362
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
NCR662
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Bagram AFB on a short flight to Kabul, carrying 8 crew members and a load of various equipment on behalf of the NATO forces based in Pakistan. En route, while cruising by night, the aircraft impacted a rocky face located 30 km east of Kabul. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 8 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Salang Pass: 44 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 2010 at 0937 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YA-PIS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunduz – Kabul
MSN:
2 73 079 03
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
PM1102
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Kunduz Airport at 0900LT on a flight to Kabul, carrying 38 passengers and six crew members, among them six foreigners. En route, while flying in marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located south of the Salang Pass. The crew of an ISAF helicopter localized the wreckage 3 days later in a snow covered area at an altitude of 4,270 metres. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 44 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent despite he was instructed by ATC to maintain his actual altitude. Poor visibility due to heavy fog was a contributing factor, as well as a non reaction of the crew regarding the GPWS alarm, due to a misunderstanding by the crew, either due to language problems or because of previous false alerts.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules C.1P in Lashkar Gah

Date & Time: May 24, 2006 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XV206
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kabul - Lashkar Gah
MSN:
4231
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The RAF Hercules was on a routine operational flight providing support to the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) at Lashkar Gar, Afghanistan at the time of the accident. The LKG Tactical Landing Zone (TLZ) is 6,800 feet long by 150 feet wide with a surface of compacted sand and gravel located on the south side of LKG town. The TLZ is used by UK forces and other agencies including the UN and Red Cross. The aircraft took off at 08:50 UTC from Kabul International Airport (KBL) to fly a routine logistics sortie to deliver cargo and personnel to LKG TLZ. After an uneventful medium level transit the aircraft landed at LKG at 10:20 UTC. Using a standard tactical landing technique the aircraft touched down some 500ft in from the runway threshold, reverse thrust was selected and speed reduced without the need for wheel braking. After 3 seconds, as the speed was nearing 70 kts there was a loud bang from the port side of the aircraft in the vicinity of the port main landing gear, the force of which was felt throughout the aircraft. At the same time the flight deck crew saw tyre debris flying up in front of the aircraft and then became aware of structural damage to the number 2 engine. The captain ordered the Emergency Engine Shutdown Drill (EESD) on the number 2 engine. He maintained directional control with nosewheel steering. Immediately after the shutdown of number 2 engine crew members observed a large amount of fuel leaking from the port wing area in the vicinity of the external tank pylon and that there was a fire in the vicinity of No.1 engine. The captain ordered the shut down of the No.1 engine using the EESD. Whilst this drill was carried out crew members observed that the fire was spreading across the whole wing. Realising the severity of the situation the captain brought the aircraft to a halt near the northern end of the landing zone some 6,400 feet from the touchdown point. He ordered the passengers and crew to immediately carry out the Emergency Evacuation Drill. Once all personnel had evacuated the aircraft, fire rapidly destroyed the aircraft and cargo.
Probable cause:
The Board concluded that XV206 was destroyed after detonating an explosive device that was buried in the surface of the LKG TLZ. After extensive investigation the Board concluded that the device was an anti-tank landmine. This resulted in aircraft debris puncturing the port wing fuel tanks, causing a major leak of fuel that ignited, leading to an uncontrollable fire originating in the port wing in the vicinity of the n°1 engine.
The Board concluded that the following contributed to the loss of XV206:
a. The lack of permanent force protection at LKG TLZ allowed uncontrolled access to persons wishing to carry out a hostile act;
b. The TLZ clearance procedures proved to be inadequate for detecting subsurface mines.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD near Kōh-e Khāk-e Shahīdān: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 2005 at 0953 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
4L-ZIL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kabul - Bagram
MSN:
00534 64926
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
RPK1102
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
After being offloaded at Kabul Airport following a flight from Bahrain, the four engine aircraft took off for a short flight to Bagram AFB, carrying a load of telecommunication equipments for the US Armed Forces. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew changed frequency and contacted Bagram Airbase. Due to traffic at Bagram, the crew was instructed to hold at 10,000 feet about 10 nm south of Bagram AFB. Shortly later, the crew started the descent in haze when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Kōh-e Khāk-e Shahīdān, about 28,6 km northwest of Kabul. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 5 km with haze and clouds at 1,200 feet. The wreckage wasa found at an altitude of 2,120 metres.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Kabul

Date & Time: Apr 25, 2005
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UN-11003
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dubai – Kabul
MSN:
5 3 430 04
YOM:
1965
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Kabul Airport, following an uneventful cargo flight from Dubai, the aircraft became uncontrollable. It veered off runway to the left and came to rest. A small fire erupted near the undercarriage and was quickly extinguished. All six crew members were rescued but slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after a tyre burst shortly after touchdown.

Crash of a Boeing 737-242 near Kabul: 104 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 2005 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EX-037
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Herat - Kabul
MSN:
22075
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
KMF904
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
97
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
105
Circumstances:
On February 3, 2005, a Boeing 737-242 aircraft (the "Aircraft") with Kyrgyz Republic registration EX-037, operated by Phoenix Aviation, was conducting Kam Air Flight 904 from Herat to Kabul. There were a total of 105 occupants on board the Aircraft, including eight crew members and ninety-seven passengers. The Aircraft was cruising at flight level 270 when it contacted Bagram Radar Approach Control ("Bagram") for descent and landing. The flight was normal until it failed to level at flight level 130 during the VOR/DME approach. At 1043:24 UTC, Bagram cleared the flight to descend at its discretion and to expect the VOR approach to runway 29. The prevailing weather was also passed on to the Aircraft. Visibility was reported 2 kilometers with snow, ceiling 2,200 feet broken. wind calm and altimeter setting QNH 1016. AT 1043:58 UTC, when the Aircraft was 35 miles west of the Kabul VOR. radar contact was established with Ba9ram. The Aircraft was advised by Bagram to cross the VOR at or above flight level 130 and cleared it for the VOR/DME approach to runway 29. At 1048:41 UTC the Aircraft reported flight level 130. Bagram again cleared the Aircraft for the VOR approach to runway 29 and advised the Aircraft to report procedure turn inbound. The crew replied that they would report proceeding inbound for the VOR approach to runway 29. This was the last transmission from the Aircraft. At about 1050:11 UTC, Bagram stated that radar contact had been lost with the Aircraft. Bagram and Kabul Air Traffic Control Tower attempted to locate the Aircraft through radar and radio communication, but were not successful. Search for the Aircraft was delayed and hampered due to a severe snowstorm in the region. The Aircraft was located approximately three days later by an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopter approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Kabul International Airport at N 36 27.900 E 69 30.185. The Aircraft was destroyed by force of impact from colliding with the mountain. All 105 occupants on board the Aircraft had received fatal injuries. Subsequently, all bodies were recovered and identified. The wreckage was found at the altitude of 9,960 feet (3,035 metres) on the summit of Mt Shapiri Ghar located about 30 km southeast of Kabul Airport.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred probably due to the premature descent by the aircraft below its minimum assigned altitude of 13,000 feet during approach in weather conditions below VFR requirements. The reason for descending below the minimum altitude could not be determined due to inadequate evidence. The investigation was severely affected due to non-availability of FDR and CVR data readouts. The investigation was finalized to the extent possible based on the limited evidence available. The investigation revealed that the aircraft did not proceed to the VOR as instructed by the air traffic controller and descended below the minimum assigned altitude prior to being established on any segment of the approach. As a result, the aircraft collided with a mountain. The cause of descending below the assigned altitude could not be determined due to inadequate data and evidence.
Final Report:

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.