Crash of a Tupolev TU-134IK at Severomorsk-Safonovo NAS: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CCCP-65687
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Severomorsk
MSN:
62400
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow-Zhukovsky Airport on a flight to Severomorsk-Safonovo NAS, carrying 16 people. On approach, the crew encountered bad weather conditions and the visibility was poor. On final, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alarm sounded in the cockpit, informing the pilot his altitude was too low. The navigator also informed the captain that the aircraft deviated from the approach path to the left by one km but the captain ignored these messages as well as ATC instructions. At an altitude of 206 meters, the left wing struck an electric pole. The aircraft lost height and crashed, bursting into flames. The captain survived and was slightly injured while 15 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The captain failed to follow the approach procedures and ignored ATC instructions as well as GPWS and other crew member warnings. In such conditions, he led the aircraft deviating from the approach path and descending below the minimum safe altitude until impact.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII near Qatur: 14 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VHB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Algiers - Nicosia - Tehran
MSN:
230
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing an official government flight from Algiers to Tehran with an intermediate stop in Nicosia, carrying four crew members, one journalist and nine members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Algeria en route to Tehran to take part to peace talks about the Iran-Iraq war. While cruising at an altitude of 37'000 feet over Iraq, the crew was instructed by ATC to leave the Iraqi airspace and to divert to Ankara. Few minutes later, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of an Iraqi MiG-25PD. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in a mountainous terrain located near Qatur. The aircraft was destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed, among them Mohammed Seddik Benyahia, Minister of Foreign Affair of the Republic of Algeria.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of an Iraqi MiG-25PD.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Sunflower: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1982 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N499W
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phoenix - Amarillo
MSN:
401-0273
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2950
Captain / Total hours on type:
364.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5484
Circumstances:
At 1027 the pilot received a weather briefing for Holbrook, AZ. The pilot was told of forecasts for "at least moderate icing in clouds or in precipitation above the freezing level" and the briefer stated "I guarantee you moderate to severe turbulence..." for a route into Holbrook. The pilot later got weather info for Amarillo, TX and filed an IFR flt plan to Amarillo. The aircraft departed at 1150. At 1204 the pilot reported he had an engine problem. Radar plots indicate the aircraft was maintaining a climb of about 500 fpm up to 11,200 ft. Thirty seconds later the aircraft had descended to 8,500 ft. Radio and contact was lost about 1207. Based on a weather study the probable meteorological conditions that existed about the time & in the area of the accident were moderate to severe turbulence below 12,000 ft msl & while in the clouds above freezing level the aircraft likely encountered moderate to severe rime icing. The aircraft was not certificated for flt into known icing conditions. The flight was transporting prisoners for various government agencies.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - rain
2. (f) weather condition - turbulence in clouds
3. (f) weather condition - icing conditions
4. (c) flight into known adverse weather - initiated - pilot in command
5. (c) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
6. (c) wing - ice
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of an Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette in Lagos: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1981
Registration:
TY-BBK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cotonou – Lagos
MSN:
29
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Lagos-Murtala Muhammed Airport while on a state flight from Cotonou. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Coclecito: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1981 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAP-205
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Río Hato – Penonomé – Coclecito
MSN:
284
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Río Hato Airport at 1044LT and landed at Penonomé at 1055LT. Following a stop of 45 minutes, the airplane took off bound to the north to Coclecito. While cruising at an altitude of 3,400 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. All seven occupants were killed, among them General Omar Efraín Torrijos, President of the Republic of Panama.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain while flying in low clouds and foggy conditions.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Bamako: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VRE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Algiers - Bamako - Freetown
MSN:
156
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bamako Intl Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with stormy weather and severe turbulences. The airplane went out of control and crashed 8 km short of runway. Both passengers and a crew member were injured while three other crew members were killed. Both passengers were the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Seddick Benyahia and his chief of staff. They were en route to Freetown to take part to a conference about the war in the Western Sahara.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King on Mt Huayra Pungo: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1981 at 1400 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAE001A
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Quito - Macará
MSN:
BB-723
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport around noon on a flight to Macará, carrying six passengers and three crew members, among them Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador who was making an official visit of the south region of Ecuador. While cruising at an altitude of 7,700 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Huayra Pungo located 40 km north of Macará. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all nine occupants were killed. The airplane had dual registration HC-BHG and FAE001A.
Crew:
Col Marco Andrade Buitrón, pilot,
Lt Galo Romo Altamirano, copilot,
María Soledad Zapata, stewardess.
Passengers:
Mr. Jaime Roldós Aguilera, President of the Republic of Ecuador,
Mrs. Martha Bucaram, President's spouse,
Mr. Marco Aurelio Subía Martinez, Minister of Defense,
Mrs. Gladys Irlanda Sarango; Mr. Martinez's spouse,
Mr. Armando Arsenio Navarrete,
Col Héctor Alfredo Torres Velázques.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty as the airplane was not equipped with any recording equipment. Nevertheless, Ecuadorian Air Force attributed the accident to a controlled flight into terrain caused by a navigational error on part of the flying crew while flying in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in the Kamoa Mountain Range: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
8R-GFF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
1966
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located in the Kamoa Mountain Range. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690B in Burns: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1981 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N81521
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Klamath Falls - Burns
MSN:
690-11351
YOM:
1976
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2177
Captain / Total hours on type:
506.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Burns Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report: