Subic Bay, Olongapo (Cubi Point NAS)

Site:

Schedule:

Shanghai – Subic Bay

MSN:

48419

YOM:

1990

Flight number:

FDX087

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Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1430.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

5700

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2300

Aircraft flight hours:

30278

Aircraft flight cycles:

5817

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport at 2116LT on a cargo flight to Subic Bay with a load of electronics and garments. Weather conditions at Subic Bay Airport was at follow: scattered at 1,800 feet and 7,000 feet, light rain, wind calm and visibility six km. At 2315LT, the aircraft landed on runway 07 (2,400 metres long). Unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway was wet), the aircraft overran and plunged in the Subic Bay. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was totally destroyed.

Probable cause:

The failure of the flight crew to properly address an erroneous airspeed indication during descent and landing, their failure to verify and select the correct airspeed by checking the standby airspeed indicator, and their failure to execute a missed approach. These failures led to an excessive approach and landing speed that resulted in a runway overshoot. Contributing factors to the accident were clogged pitot tube drain holes, the MD-11's insufficient alerting system for airspeed anomalies, and the failure of the SEL ELEV FEEL MAN and SEL FLAP LIM OVR D checklists to refer the crew to the standby airspeed indicator.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell CT-39E Sabreliner off Spratly Islands

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner

Operator:

Registration:

158381

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Singapore – Subic Bay

MSN:

282-93

YOM:

1968

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Circumstances:

En route from Singapore to Subic Bay, the crew encountered technical problems with the navigation system. Eventually, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft in the South China Sea off the Spratly Island. The crew found refuge in a dinghy and was rescued few hours later by the crew of a Vietnamese ship. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of the navigation system for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed MC-130EY-1 Hercules off Tabones Islands: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1981 at 0525 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

64-0564

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Cubi Point - Cubi Point

MSN:

4074

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

Stray 59

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Cubi Point NAS at 0428LT on an exercise over the South China Sea under call sign Stray 59, carrying members of the USAF as well as military personnel from Australia, Philippines and New Zealand. At 0525LT, while cruising at very low height, the airplane apparently hit the water and crashed off Tabones Islands. A crew member was rescued while 23 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-105-LO Orion off Cubi Point NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Operator:

Registration:

154596

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cubi Point - Cubi Point

MSN:

185-5277

YOM:

1968

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Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Cubi Point NAS on a flight over the Pacific Ocean consisting on a tracking mission of the Soviet ship christened 'Minsk'. About five minutes after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 5,900 feet, the engine n°4 exploded. Propeller blades detached and the engine caught fire. Shortly later, the engine n°3 oversped and due to an excessive temperature, the crew decided to shut it down and to feather its propeller. In coordination with Cubi Point Tower, the crew initiated a turn and started the descent back to Cubi Point NAS. Despite the airplane banked right to an angle of 60° and nosed down to 15°, the pilot was able to continue the descent but eventually reduced the power on both left engine to ditch the aircraft. In a nose-down attitude (3 to 5° pitch down), the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea about 1,400 meters short of runway threshold and sank quickly. Ten occupants were seriously injured while five others were killed. The wreckage was later recovered.

Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound into the South China Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Grumman C-2A Greyhound

Operator:

Registration:

152793

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Cubi Point - Saigon

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Circumstances:

En route from Cubi Point NAS to Saigon, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the South China Sea, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-50-LO Orion off Cubi Point NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1971 at 0710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Operator:

Registration:

152151

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cubi Point - Cubi Point

MSN:

185-5121

YOM:

1965

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Cubi Point NAS, while in initial climb, both engines n°2 & 3 exploded. Both electric and hydraulic systems failed and the captain elected to ditch the airplane that crashed into the sea few dozen yards offshore. Fifteen occupants were rescued while Ensign Ed Cooper was killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane's water-alcohol injection system was accidentally serviced with water and cleaning solvent by the ground crew. This caused the turbine inlet temperature to increase immediately after liftoff.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-25-LO Orion off Cubi Point NAS: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Operator:

Registration:

150508

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cubi Point - Cubi Point

MSN:

185-5034

YOM:

1963

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Circumstances:

While on a maritime patrol flight, the airplane caught fire in mid-air, exploded and crashed into the sea off the Cubi Point NAS. All 13 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire caused by the ignition of magnesium flares.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 into the Pacific Ocean: 29 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1960 at 1410 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

56541

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Schedule:

Atsugi - Subic Bay

MSN:

22191

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

En route from Atsugi to Subic Bay (Cubi Point NAS, Philippines), the crew informed ATC that engine number three caught fire and elected to divert to Naha Airport, Okinawa. Few minutes after 1400LT, the captain informed ATC about his position and maintained the altitude of 6,500 feet with 339° heading and requested maritime assistance in case of ditching. This was the last message. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 290 km southeast from Okinawa Island. No trace of the 29 occupants was found but only 350 kilos of debris floating on water.

Probable cause:

Fire of the engine number three in flight for unknown reason.

Crash of a Fairchild R4Q-1 Flying Boxcar off Naha: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1958 at 1945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

128741

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type: