Crash of a Cessna 402B in St Petersburg

Date & Time: Oct 18, 2017 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N900CR
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Tampa – Sarasota
MSN:
402B-1356
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
654
Captain / Total hours on type:
38.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8971
Circumstances:
The pilot departed on the non-scheduled passenger flight with one passenger onboard; the flight was the 3rd leg of a 4-leg trip. About 13 minutes after departure, he advised air traffic control that the airplane was “fuel critical” and requested vectors to the nearest airport, which was about 7 miles away. Both engines subsequently lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing on a street about 2 miles from the airport, during which the airplane collided with two vehicles. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuel tanks, with evidence of a small fire near the left wingtip fuel tank. Fuel consumption calculations revealed that the airplane would have used about 100 gallons of fuel since its most recent refueling, which was the capacity of the main (wingtip) tanks. Both fuel selectors were found in their respective main tank positions. Given the available information, it is likely that the pilot exhausted all the fuel in the main fuel tanks and starved the engines of fuel. Although the total amount of fuel on board at the start of the flight could not be determined, had all tanks been full, the airplane would have had about 63 gallons remaining in the two auxiliary tanks at the time of the accident. The auxiliary fuel tanks were breached during the accident and quantity of fuel they contained was not determined. Examination of the engines revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause:
The pilot's mismanagement of the onboard fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of power to both engines, and a subsequent forced landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Noviny pod Ralskem: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 2017 at 0736 LT
Operator:
Registration:
OK-TKF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Příbram – Gdansk
MSN:
421B-0931
YOM:
1975
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
675
Captain / Total hours on type:
47.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6381
Aircraft flight cycles:
6797
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Příbram Airport Runway 06 at 0705LT on a charter flight to Gdansk, carrying one passenger and one pilot. About 30 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 14,100 feet, the pilot was cleared to climb to FL180 when he declared an emergency and reported the failure of both engines. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded area located 1,5 km northeast of Noviny pod Ralskem, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was an inner mechanical defect in the left engine past its stipulated TSO. The defect caused a forced stall of the engine. For this reason, the propeller on this engine could not be feathered. During the shutdown of the right engine, the feathering of the propeller on this engine did not take place. The aircraft entered to the fall and a stall-spin in which it fell to the ground.
Contributing factors:
- The left engine TSO was over the stipulated limit of 12 years. (The last general overhaul was performed on 29 October 2001.),
- Limited experience of the pilot on this type of aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 650 Citation VII in Istanbul

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2017 at 2116 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-KON
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Istanbul - Ercan
MSN:
650-7084
YOM:
1998
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Atatürk Airport in Istanbul at 2105LT bound for Ercan with a crew of three and one passenger on board. Shortly after takeoff, an unexpected situation forced the crew to return for an emergency landing. After touchdown on runway 35L, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, struck a concrete drainage ditch and came to rest, broken in two and bursting into flames. All four occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Learjet 25D off Naiguatá: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 2017 at 0016 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV3191
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Barcelona
MSN:
25-368
YOM:
1984
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Maiquetía-Símon Bolívar Airport at 0011LT for a 35 minutes flight to Barcelona. About five minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and plunged into the sea few km off Naiguatá, State of Vargas. It appeared the aircraft disintegrated on impact and few debris were found the following morning floating on water. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter near Wamena: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 2017 at 1110 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PK-RCX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wamena – Derakma
MSN:
922
YOM:
1998
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Wamena Airport at 1100LT with three passengers, two pilots and 508 kg of various goods. About 10 minutes later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain at an altitude of 2,300 metres. It was scheduled to arrive at Derakma at 1125LT. The wreckage was found a day later by the crew of a helicopter. All five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, VMC conditions prevailed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Tarapacá

Date & Time: Jun 11, 2017 at 1712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4833
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Pedrera – Tarapacá
MSN:
34 04
YOM:
1993
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1475.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1560
Copilot / Total hours on type:
426
Aircraft flight hours:
3409
Aircraft flight cycles:
3182
Circumstances:
Following an unventful charter flight from La Pedrera, the crew initiated the approach to Tarapacá Airfield. Just after touchdown on runway 25, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the airplane rolled for few dozen metres and became stuck in mud. All 45 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Inappropriate decision by the aircraft operator to rush the aircraft's initial route to an aerodrome unknown to the company, not appropriate to the type of aircraft and not authorised in its Operating Specifications, without at least a proper risk assessment.
- Inadequate crew decision to accept and decide to proceed to an unknown aerodrome, without due knowledge of its characteristics, without prior experience or training in aerodrome operation and without at least a risk assessment.
- A side runway excursion, from 24 metres from the threshold of runway 25, as a result of a probable unstabilised approach resulting in an off-axis landing.
Contributing factors:
- Inefficient planning and supervision of operations by the aircraft operator, by scheduling the operation to an unknown airfield.
- Failure of the company to comply with the contents of the Dispatch Manual and General Operations Manual, in relation to the procedures that must be complied with before operating new routes, new airports or special airports, in aspects such as route analysis, runway analysis, risk management and crew requirements.
- Ignorance of the Tarapacá runway by the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E9 in Yei

Date & Time: Apr 1, 2017 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-EIV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yei - Arua
MSN:
96 26 32
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
H7360
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, at a relative high speed, the pilot-in-command rejected takeoff and initiated an emergency braking procedure, apparently following an engine problem. The twin engine aircraft deviated to the left and veered off runway. While contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in the bush. All 20 occupants were rescued, among them both pilots were slightly injured.

Crash of a Quest Kodiak 100 in Moretecocha

Date & Time: Mar 29, 2017 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-CRF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moretecocha – Shell Mera
MSN:
100-0116
YOM:
2014
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Moretecocha Airfield, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the single engine airplane impacted trees and crashed in a river bed. All seven occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2A-3 Islander near Mutare: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 2017 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C9-AOV
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Beira - Mutare - Harare
MSN:
624
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a charter flight from Beira to Harare with an intermediate stop in Mutare on behalf of the Mozambican company Cornelder. Ten minutes before its ETA in Mutare Airport, while descending to the altitude of 5,200 feet, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit obstacles and crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Vumba Botanical Reserve. The wreckage was found 23 km southeast from the airport. It appears that a passenger survived but later died from his injuries. Among the passengers were Adelino Mesquita, brother of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Mozambique.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 in Detroit

Date & Time: Mar 8, 2017 at 1452 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N786TW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Detroit - Washington DC
MSN:
53123/1987
YOM:
1992
Flight number:
7Z9363
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
110
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15518
Captain / Total hours on type:
8495.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9660
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2462
Aircraft flight hours:
41008
Aircraft flight cycles:
39472
Circumstances:
A McDonnell Douglas MD-83, registration N786TW, suffered a runway excursion following an aborted takeoff from runway 23L at Detroit-Willow Run Airport, Michigan, USA. The aircraft had been chartered by the University of Michigan Basketball team for a flight to a game in Washington, DC. The flight crew prepared for take-off and calculated V-speeds (V1, VR, V2) using "Normal Thrust Takeoff", a 10 kts headwind, and a take-off weight of 146,600 lbs. The V-speeds for this configuration were 139 kts, 142 kts, and 150 kts, respectively. However, the flight crew chose to increase VR to 150 kts to allow for more control during take-off in the presence of windshear. During takeoff roll, at 14:51:56 (about 3,000 ft down the runway) and about 138 kts of airspeed, the control column was pulled back slightly from a non-dimensional value of -7 to -5.52. The airplane’s left elevator followed the control input and moved from a position of -15° trailing edge down to -13° trailing edge down. The right elevator did not change and stayed at approximately -16° trailing edge down. At 14:52:01 a large control column input was made (151 kts and 4100 ft down the runway) to a non-dimensional 18.5 and the left elevator moves to a position near 15° trailing edge up. After 14:52:05 the right elevator moves to -13° trailing edge down, but no more. The airplane does not respond in pitch and does not rotate. The captain decided to abort the takeoff. The maximum ground speed was 163 kts (173 kts airspeed) and the airplane began to decelerate as soon as the brakes were applied at 14:52:08. Spoilers were deployed at 14:52:10 and thrust reversers were deployed between 14:52:13 and 14:52:15. The aircraft could not be stopped on the runway. The airplane’s ground speed was 100 kts when it left the paved surface. The aircraft overran the end of the runway, damaged approach lights, went through the perimeter fence and crossed Tyler Road. It came to rest on grassy terrain, 345 meters past the end of the runway, with the rear fuselage across a ditch. The nose landing gear had collapsed. Runway 23L is a 7543 ft long runway.
Probable cause:
The NTSB determines that the probable cause of this accident was the jammed condition of the airplane’s right elevator, which resulted from exposure to localized, dynamic wind while the airplane was parked and rendered the airplane unable to rotate during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were (1) the effect of a large structure on the gusting surface wind at the airplane’s parked location, which led to turbulent gust loads on the right elevator sufficient to jam it, even though the horizontal surface wind speed was below the certification design limit and maintenance inspection criteria for the airplane, and (2) the lack of a means to enable the flight crew to detect a jammed elevator during preflight checks for the Boeing MD-83 airplane. Contributing to the survivability of the accident was the captain’s timely and appropriate decision to reject the takeoff, the check airman’s disciplined adherence to standard operating procedures after the captain called for the rejected takeoff, and the dimensionally compliant runway safety area where the overrun occurred.
Final Report: