Oradea | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft departed Bucharest-Baneasa Airport on an ambulance flight to Oradea, carrying a medical team, one patient and two pilots. Doctors should go to Oradea to obtain transplant organs from a patient who just passed away. While cruising at an altitude of 6,300 feet vertical to the Apuseni Mountain Range, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with icing conditions but continued when both engines lost power and failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a snowy and wooded hillside at an altitude of 1,400 metres. A pilot and a passenger were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight due to carburetor icing. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Erroneous assessment of the risk factors specific to the conduct of this flight,
- Lack of crew experience on this type of aircraft,
- Erroneous decision of the captain to continue the flight in meteorological conditions that caused the carburetor icing,
- Erroneous decision of the captain to continue to fly for a long period of time in icing conditions,
- Erroneous decision of the captain to continue the mission under the AMA, under conditions of BMI flight according to IFR flight rules,
- Erroneous decision of the crew to initiate the flight while the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW and the CofG was outside the prescribed limits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Gulfstream G200 in Oradea

Date & Time: Jan 16, 2009 at 1535 LT

Type of aircraft:

Gulfstream G200

Operator:

Registration:

YR-TIG

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bucharest - Oradea

MSN:

012

YOM:

1999

Flight number:

TIH101

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1600

Copilot / Total hours on type:

465

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Bucharest-Otopeni Airport, the crew started the approach to Oradea Airport in marginal weather conditions. On final approach, the pilot-in-command established a visual contact with the runway 19 and continued the descent. The aircraft landed 761 metres past the runway threshold. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch located 420 metres short of runway 01 threshold. All 13 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The contrast between the area covered with snow and the snow-cleared area (the runway) induced the pilots visual sensation about the runway threshold. This caused the crew to miscalculate the touchdown point, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Oradea

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1994

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

508

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oradea – Bucharest

MSN:

25 08

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Oradea Airport, the flight engineer under training prematurely retracted the landing gear. The aircraft sank on its belly and skidded on runway before coming to rest. All 11 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Premature retraction of the undercarriage during takeoff.

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in Bacău

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1994 at 0937 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Travair

Registration:

OO-TLS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oradea – Iaşi

MSN:

B-188

YOM:

1974

Location:

Bacău

Country:

Romania

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft took off Oradea Airport at 0805LT with destination Iași Airport, having as alterne airport Bacău Airport. At 08.53 hrs, due to bad meteorological conditions on Iași Airport the crew requested to Bacău ACC permission for landing on Bacău Airport. Bacău ACC has granted permission and informed the crew about the meteorological conditions in that moment at Bacău Airport. The crew confirmed. During the aircraft was performing the approach procedure, the crew was instructed to contact the precision radar (PAR) and was informed that at that moment the visibility range was 800 metres. At the first approach PAR sent to the crew all the appropriate data for the radar assistance and in the final stage has asked the crew to perform a missed landing, go up to 900 metres and to contact Bacău TWR because the aircraft was away from the runway centerline (approx. 60 metres left). On Bacău TWR frequency the crew received the indication to perform a right turn to intercept the QDM 342 degrees at Bacău. It was also stated that the runway beacon is running. The crew was instructed, also, to contact PAR which assisted the aircraft, with the necessary corrections, during the approach procedure and landing until the crew reported the accident at 0930LT.

Probable cause:

Further the analysis of the flight recordings between the aircraft and the Romanian Air Traffic Services, statements and all other data contained by the investigation file the following conclusions have been reached:
- The meteorological conditions at Iași Airport were difficult and have not permitted the landing of the aircraft,
- The decision for landing on Bacău Airport was made by the crew,
- At the moment the meteorological conditions at Bacău Airport assured the minimum conditions for landing the aircraft,
- The air traffic control was performed by Bacău TWR and PAR, according to international regulations, providing permanent information regarding the aircraft during the final approach for landing.
We mention that after the first missed landing the crew maintained its decision to perform a second approach for landing, knowing the meteorological conditions on Bacău Airport.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Oradea

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1989

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

YR-PMG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1G227-17

YOM:

1987

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Oradea Airport, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Sânmartin, about 5 km southeast of the airfield. Occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Sibiu: 33 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

YR-AMD

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Oradea - Sibiu - Bucharest

MSN:

27307606

YOM:

1972

Location:

Sibiu

Country:

Romania

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Sibiu Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions and strong winds. While descending at an altitude of 1,700 meters, the airplane struck the snow covered Mt Lotru located 22 km from the runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 33 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Wrong decisions on part of the flying crew who adopted a wrong approach configuration, causing the aircraft to drift about 20 km to the south of the approach path. The lack of visibility and strong winds were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B on Mt Vlădeasa: 20 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1970 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

YR-AMT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bucharest - Oradea

MSN:

7 73 033 10

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

RO035

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Bucharest-Otopeni Airport at 1300LT bound for Oradea. While descending in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in a snow covered hill located in the Vlădeasa Mountain Range, about 73 km southeast of Oradea Airport. The wreckage was found three days later and a passenger was found alive while 20 other occupants were killed. The survivor told rescuers that at least eight other people survived the crash but later died due to extreme low temperature.

Probable cause:

Premature descent on part of the flying crew, causing the aircraft to pass below the minimum prescribed altitude. This resulted in a controlled flight into terrain. The lack of visibility due to marginal weather was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mg3e in Oradea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

HA-JUA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oradea – Budapest

MSN:

5523

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Oradea Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft named 'Kaszala Károly' stalled and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Four passengers were injured and 12 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mihály Dúló,
Tibor Küpri,
Károly Zsimkó.

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