Crash of a Shaanxi Y-8F-200W into the Andaman Sea: 122 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 2017 at 1335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Shaanxi Y-8
Operator:
Registration:
5820
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mergui – Yangon
YOM:
2016
Location:
Andaman Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
108
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
122
Aircraft flight hours:
809
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Mergui (Myeik) Airport at 1306LT bound for Yangon, carrying soldiers and their family members. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet in good weather conditions, radar contact was lost with the airplane that crashed in unknown circumstances in the Andaman Sea at 1335LT. SAR operations were initiated and first debris were found at the end of the afternoon about 218 km off the city of Dawei, according of the Myanmar Army Chief of Staff. It is believed that none of the occupants survived the crash. Brand new, the aircraft has been delivered to the Myanmar Air Force in March 2016. The Shaanxi Y-8 is a Chinese version of the Antonov AN-12 built post 2010. The tail of the aircraft was found a week later and both CFR and DFDR were recovered and transmitted to the Army for further investigations.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Papun: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
XY-AEI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Papun - Yangon
MSN:
541
YOM:
1977
Location:
Papun
Kayin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Papun Airport runway 18, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the airplane suffered an explosion and crashed. All 14 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 761D Viscount in Akyab

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ADF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yangon - Akyab
MSN:
188
YOM:
1957
Location:
Akyab
Rakhine State (Arakan)
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the airplane too far down the runway (about 450 meters past the runway threshold). After touchdown, unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. All 43 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK off Sandoway: 28 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ACM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sandoway - Yangon
MSN:
15534/26979
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sandoway
Rakhine State (Arakan)
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sandoway Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea (Gulf of Bengal). Three passengers were rescued while 28 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Mawlamyine: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ADL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yangon - Mawlamyine
MSN:
10236
YOM:
1963
Location:
Mawlamyine
Mon State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
4897
Aircraft flight cycles:
4732
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Yangon, the crew landed at Mawlamyine (Moulmein) Airport. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overrant and came to rest. Six passengers were killed while 39 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL on Mt Kaolokung: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ACS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yangon – Putao
MSN:
9877
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Kaolokung
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Yangon to Putao, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kaolokung located in Yunnan, China. The wreckage was spotted few hours later. All 20 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK near Thazi: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ADC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yangon – Mandalay
MSN:
14348/25793
YOM:
1944
Location:
Thazi
Mandalay Region
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Struck Mt Pindaya near Thazi while flying from Yangon to Mandalay. Ten people were rescued while twelve occupants were killed in the accident.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A in Mauripur: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1953 at 0335 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
Operator:
Registration:
CF-CUN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Rome – Beirut – Karachi – Yangon – Jakarta – Darwin – Sydney
MSN:
6014
YOM:
1952
Location:
Mauripur AFB (Karachi)
Sindh (سنڌ سندھ)
Country:
Pakistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
51
Circumstances:
The crew (five flying crew and six De Havilland engineers) were conducting a demo flight from London to Sydney to show this new jetliner to potential clients in Southeast Asia and Oceania. While taking off from runway 25 (2,500 meters long) at Mauripur Airbase, the airplane failed to get airborne, overran, hit several obstacles, went through a perimeter fence and eventually crashed in flames in a small river. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the fact that the nose of the aircraft was lifted too high during the takeoff run, resulting in a partially stalled condition and excessive drag. This did not permit normal acceleration and prevented the aircraft from becoming airborne within the prescribed distance. The pilot appears to have realised that the nose was excessively high and took corrective action, but this was done too late to prevent the aircraft striking an obstruction immediately beyond the perimeter fence before it became airborne. The following factor was considered as contributory: the pilot, who had only limited experience in the Comet aircraft, elected to takeoff at night at the maximum permissible takeoff for the prevailing conditions. The circumstances required strict adherence to the prescribed takeoff technique, which was not complied with.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove I in Yangon

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1950
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ABR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04195
YOM:
1948
Location:
Yangon
Yangon Region
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft commenced a normal take-off and when airborne, "wheels up" was selected. Since sticking of the undercarriage selector knob was experienced the radio operator was requested to operate the undercarriage safety switch. The undercarriage retracted normally and the aircraft immediately sank and struck the runway. The pilot shut off power and the aircraft slid at high speed for a considerable distance down the runway. The aircraft caught fire but all passengers and crew were evacuated safely before the aircraft was almost completely destroyed. The pilot-in-command stated in his evidence that he had no idea of the airspeed at the time he retracted the undercarriage but he was satisfied that he had the safety speed. Although 'Pilots notes' give 20 degrees of flap for take-off no flap was used in this case as the pilot felt that, in the event of engine failure after take-off, 20 degrees flap would make it more difficult to handle the aircraft on one engine. It was brought out in the evidence that in handling the undercarriage lever, which is at times awkward to operate in Dove aircraft, the attention of the pilot can be distracted from actual flight.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The aircraft was pulled off after too short a take-off run at a low speed.
- The undercarriage was retracted too early and before safety speed was reached, whilst still at a very low altitude.
- The aircraft sank back on to the runway before the safety speed was reached. This my be due to either a thermal disturbance or to the fact that the pilot's attention was distracted by difficulty in retracting the undercarriage.
- The aircraft caught fire to the rear of the starboard engine nacelle while still sliding down the PSP runway, due possibly to the fracture of petrol pipes and electrical circuits.
- The pilot failed to operate the fire extinguishers in the engine nacelles which might have prevented the outbreak of fire. (The inertia switch of the static fire extinguishers in the engine bays were not operating due to the relatively slow acceleration.
- The airport fire tender delivered its full complement of 2,500 gallons of foam, but was late in arrival as a result of taking the unserviceable taxi track, and the equipment on it was not applied to the best advantage due to the inexperience of the crew.
- The fire burnt itself out and the aircraft was almost totally destroyed.
Final Report:
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