Zone
Shaanxi

Ground accident of a De Havilland DHC-8-402Q Dash-8 in Xi'an

Date & Time: Dec 7, 2002
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-8-400 (Dash-8)
Operator:
Registration:
B-3567
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4005
YOM:
2000
Location:
Xi'an
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Two engineers took over the airplane for an engine test run at Xi'an Airport. While parked on the apron, the aircraft started to roll on a slippery ground and eventually collided with the main terminal. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that snow fell during the preceding days and that the tarmac was slippery.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154M near Xi'an: 160 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1994 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-154
Operator:
Registration:
B-2610
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Xi'an - §Guangzhou
MSN:
86A740
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
WH2303
Location:
Xi'an
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
146
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
160
Aircraft flight hours:
12507
Aircraft flight cycles:
6651
Circumstances:
Twenty-four seconds after takeoff, while climbing, the crew encountered controllability problems. The captain contacted ATC and reported uncommanded rolled left and right up to 30°. The aircraft continued to climb but reached a high angle of attack when it nosed up to 20°, activating the stall warning alarm. The aircraft reached the altitude of 4,717 metres then rolled to the left, pitched down to an angle of 65° and entered an uncontrolled descent. At a speed of 747 km/h, the aircraft descended to the altitude of 2,884 metres in 12 seconds then suffered structural deformation and failure before crashing in an open field located 29 km southeast of Xi'an Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 160 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of poor maintenance. The previous evening, the autopilot yaw-channel had been erroneously connected to the bank control and the bank-channel to the yaw control, after maintenance was completed at an unapproved facility.

Crash of an Avia 14M near Dingxi: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1992 at 1531 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avia 14
Operator:
Registration:
B-4211
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lanzhou - Xi'an
MSN:
109 807 113
YOM:
1958
Location:
Dingxi
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Lanzhou around 1445LT on a flight to Xi'an, carrying 28 passengers and a crew of seven. About 45 minutes into the flight, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to return to Lanzhou. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the aircraft struck a hilly terrain and crashed near Dingxi, about 72 km southeast of Lanzhou. 14 people were killed and 21 others were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Lanzhou: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
B-3413
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lanzhou – Xi’an – Chengdu
MSN:
37308907
YOM:
1973
Location:
Lanzhou
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Lanzhou-Zhongshan Airport, the crew encountered poor weather and severe icing conditions. The right engine failed and the crew feathered its propeller. After being cleared to return, the crew initiated the descent when control was lost. The airplane crashed in a field located few km from the airport, some 30 minutes after takeoff. Six passengers were killed while 38 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine due to severe icing conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 near Xi'an: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
632
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chengdu – Beijing
Location:
Xi'an
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
En route from Chengdu to Beijing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located 70 km from Xi'an. All 14 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Shaanxi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16350
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Xi’an – Liangping
MSN:
20816
YOM:
1944
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Xi'an (Hsian) to Liangping, carrying a crew of four and two USAF officers. While cruising in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the Shaanxi province. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt John F. Pospichal, pilot,
F/O Frederick L. Patterson, copilot,
T/Sgt Jerome H. Birkenfeld, radio operator,
S/Sgt Robert S. Abeel Jr., crew chief.
Passengers:
Maj Leslie G. Shellan,
Col James C. MacMullan.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Xi'an: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15901
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20367
YOM:
1944
Location:
Xi'an
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing both crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Lawrence F. Ireson Jr.,
Sgt Wilbur P. L. Kirkpatrick.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Xi'an

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107332
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27019
YOM:
1944
Location:
Xi'an
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK near Hechi: 37 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1945 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49657
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Xi’an – Kunming
MSN:
26918/15473
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hechi
Guangxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Xi'an (Hsian) Airport at 1500LT bound for Kunming with 35 passengers and a crew of four. While cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet over the cloud layer, the left engine caught fire. The captain ordered the radio operator and the flight engineer to bail out. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed 123 km west of Hechi, killing all 37 occupants. Both crew that bailed out survived. The pilot, Major Carrol D. Gregory, and the copilot 2nd Lt Ralph R. Young were killed.

Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Junkers W.34hi near Lingtai: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lanzhou – Xi’an
MSN:
2746
YOM:
1934
Location:
Lingtai
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Lanzhou to Xi’an, the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when control was lost and the airplane crashed near Lingtai. Both passengers were injured and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fritz Bröhm, pilot,
Mr. Meier, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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