Iraq

The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Balad Airport while completing a local mission. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

On 8 June 2020, at approximately 2205 hours local time (L), the mishap aircraft (MA), a C-130H (tail number (T/N) 94-6706), was involved in a mishap during a routine mobility airlift mission from Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, into Al Taji (Camp Taji), Iraq, when it failed to come to a stop during landing, overran the runway, and impacted a concrete barrier. All 26 mishap crew (MC) members and passengers survived the mishap, with relatively minor injuries to two of the individuals. The MA was damaged beyond repair, and was valued at $35,900,000. The MA was from the 165th Airlift Wing (165 AW), Georgia Air National Guard (ANG), was manned with Wyoming ANG crew members deployed from the 153d Airlift Wing (153 AW), in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (386 AEW) at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. The mishap occurred at the end of the first planned leg of the MC’s mission on 8 June 2020. The MC departed Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, at approximately 2053L, with an uneventful start, taxi, takeoff, and cruise to Camp Taji. During descent into Camp Taji, the MC prepared the MA for a nighttime landing, using night vision devices. During this time, the MC turned the MA earlier than their planned turn point, did not descend to lower altitudes in accordance with their planned descent, and allowed the airspeed to exceed recommended maximum speeds for the configuration the plane was in. During the landing, the MA continued to be above the planned glideslope and maintained excessive airspeed, with a nose-down attitude until touchdown. The MA proceeded to “porpoise” or oscillate down the runway from the point of touchdown until the MA was slowed sufficiently by use of reverse thrust from the engines to allow the MA to settle onto the wheels, which in turn allowed for the brakes to engage. The MA, despite slowing somewhat, had less than 1,000 feet of runway remaining by that point, and thus overran the runway and did not come to a complete stop until it impacted a 12-foot-high concrete barrier, approximately 600 feet past the runway.

The single engine airplane departed Balad AFB on an exercice with three crew members on board. While flying at low height, it was shot down by a 57 mm antiaircraft gunfire. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in Hawijah, some 160 km north of Balad AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew occupants were killed.

The twin engine airplane departed Arbil Airport on a military survey flight, carrying two passengers and two pilots. While cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet, the left engine failed and smoke spread in the cabin. Confused and disoriented, the crew inadvertently shut down the right engine. During the descent, the crew was able to open the outflow valve, clearing the smoke. The crew then realized he could not reached the Arbil Airport so he attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Kawrgosk, about 17 km northwest of Arbil Airport. The aircraft slid on its belly for few dozen metres before coming to rest, and was damaged beyond repair. All four occupants evacuated safely.

Shortly after take off from Sulaymaniyah Airport runway 31, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed 2,100 metres from the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed, among them four employees of the Iraqi communications company Asiacell. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were as follow: 1,500 metres visibility in snow falls, overcast 3,500 feet.

The crew was completing a positioning flight to Talil AFB (Imam Ali), Iraq. On approach, the aircraft was too high and descended with an excessive speed and a tailwind component of 10 knots. The crew failed to initiate a go-around and the aircraft landed about two-third down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a sandy area about 60 metres past the runway end. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and later destroyed by soldiers from the 68th Transportation Company.

The four engine aircraft departed Al Asad AFB at 1102LT on a cargo flight to Baghdad with 7 crew members on board, carrying various goods for the allied forces in Iraq. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the engine n°2 failed and caught fire. The crew declared an emergency and reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a desert area located 22 km southeast of Al-Taqaddum AFB, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed.

The four engine aircraft departed Baghdad Airport on a support mission, carrying 32 passengers and a crew of six. Sixty seconds after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 313 feet and at a speed of 163 knots, the airplane's defensive system activated. The pilot reacted in accordance with applicable directives and after reacting to the defensive alert, the crew realized that all three engines n°1, 3 and 4 lost 60% of power. The crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field located 7,5 km north of the airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 38 occupants escaped uninjured. U.S. Air Force Maintenance and Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel from the 447th Air Expeditionary Group were called in. They placed explosive charges on the plane and blew up the Hercules on July 7.

The crew of ZH876 were tasked to fly a routine roulement of troops to a Tactical Landing Zone (TLZ) in Maysān province, Iraq. Weather at the TLZ was good, with a visibility of 25 km, no significant cloud and a light surface wind. The flight to the TLZ was routine and at approx 17:00 UTC the Hercules began to make its approach to the TLZ. Comms had already been established between ZH876 and the Tactical Air Traffic Controller (Tac ATC) at the TLZ, and the aircraft was subsequently cleared to land. An uneventful approach followed flown by the copilot. At 17:10:15 UTC, as the aircraft was about to touchdown at the TLZ, the crew experienced a load bang and a bright flash. The flash temporarily blinded the flight-deck crew. Virtually simultaneously, the aircraft touched down. The first flash was followed, a second later, by another flash and louder bang. The aircraft slewed off the left-hand side of the runway. The captain took over control of the aircraft. On regaining vision, the captain tried to steer the aircraft back onto the runway. However, the crew became aware of a fire on the port side, which was confirmed as a wing fire. The captain brought the aircraft to an immediate halt. The aircraft came to rest 50 m from the runway edge, some 700 m after touchdown. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and it was decided to blow up the plane because the damage was too difficult to repair and there was also a potential risk that anti-Iraqi forces might obtain information on specialist equipment.

The aircraft was performing a charter flight from Adana, Turkey, to Balad AFB (located 70 km north of Baghdad), carrying 30 workers coming from Moldova, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, on behalf of the Turkish Company Kulak specialized in reconstruction projects. The aircraft departed Adana Airport at 0600LT for a 90 minutes flight. On approach, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, while attempting a second approach, the aircraft descended too low and crashed 2,5 km short of runway, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while 34 other occupants were killed.