Positioning

Crashed in unknown circumstances upon landing at South Bimini Airport. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.

The twin engine aircraft departed Wels Airport on a short positioning flight to the nearest airport of Linz-Hörsching before continuing to Bratislava. Weather conditions were poor with visibility down to 100 metres due to fog and an RVR of 325 metres for runway 27. After takeoff from runway 27, the aircraft struck tree tops located 1,125 metres past the runway end, lost height and crashed 300 metres further, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three occupants were killed.

After rotation, during the initial climb, the nose of the airplane pitched up to approximately 60° above the horizon. The airplane continued to climb until about 250 feet above the ground, then rolled right, pitched down and descended. The airplane impacted the ground, approximately 45° nose down, 650 feet to the right of the runway. Post accident investigation of the wreckage revealed the elevator jammed in the full up deflection. The upper end of the elevator control rod was found not connected to the elevator, but was found laying aft, wedged between the tail cone and the elevator faring, holding the elevator in the full up position. The control rod connecting bolt was found laying in the bottom of the tail cone undamaged. The washer, nut and cotter pin related to the control rod connecting bolt were not found. The elevator had been removed, recovered and then installed by company maintenance personnel 166 flight hours prior to the accident. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The crash occurred at the 1,100 foot level of a mountainside while the airplane was flying a course roughly parallel to the mountain range. Marginal weather conditions were reported for the area. The pilot's 22-year-old son stated that in those type weather conditions his father would routinely climb up into the soup. Set a loran course for home, and sit back and relax. When close to home he would descend to vfr conditions over the flat coastal area and land. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The aircraft departed Simferopol on a positioning flight to Skopje, carrying two passengers and six crew members. In Skopje, a load of automobile spare parts should be loaded and the aircraft was then scheduled to continue to Ukraine. A second AN-12 from the same operator approached Skopje few minutes prior to the accident and its crew decided to divert to Sofia Airport due to poor weather conditions (thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls) at destination. On approach to Skopje, the crew modified his route to avoid the thunderstorm and followed a wrong heading of 230° instead of the planned 163°. Few minutes later, the crew was cleared for an approach to runway 34 and followed heading 140°. At an altitude of 5,200 feet on approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Lisec (1,934 metres high) located 26 km south of runway 34 threshold. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,600 metres and all 8 occupants were killed.

While descending to Yurimaguas-Moisés Benzaquen Rengifo Airport, the right engine caught fire and exploded. For unknown reasons, the crew was unable to extinguish the fire that spread to the right wing. The crew initiated an emergency descent and attempted to land near Pongo de Caynarachi, about 50 km south of Yurimaguas. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

During cruise flight, the pilot reported that the right engine cowling partially separated and the left forward cylinder of that engine separated, followed by an engine compartment fire. He attempted to feather the propeller but was unable. He initiated a descent to extinguish the fire and was successful but after leveling off, was unable to maintain directional control. He ditched the airplane and both he and the passenger exited the aircraft. The pilot dragged the seriously injured passenger with him to a nearby island where they were rescued the following day. The aircraft was not recovered; therefore, no determination could be made as to the reason for the separation of the cylinder. Review of the aircraft logbook indicates that on 8/27/91, the n°5 cylinder of the right engine was removed and replaced. Also, the n°1 cylinder was removed and reinstalled following repair. There were no further entries in the aircraft logbook regarding cylinder removal or replacement to the right engine.

The crew discussed touch-and-go landings as they walked out to board. The captain occupied the right seat to allow the copilot to fly the short repositioning flight from the left. The airplane lifted off prematurely and remained in ground effect. Roll attitude vacillated slightly before onset of a rapid right roll to inverted at ground impact. The engines continued to run after impact; both were selected to high power. No material or mechanical discrepancy was found which diminished power or aircraft control. Both occupants were killed.

While approaching Zanzibar Airport by night on a positioning flight from Dar es-Salaam, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in the sea off Chenguu Island, few hundred metres offshore. The pilot, sole on board was killed.

While on a positioning flight from Saposoa – Uchiza, the twin engine aircraft disappeared from radar screens and the pilot did not send any distress call. The wreckage was found in a jungle near Campanilla and both occupants were killed. Weather conditions were considered as good but it is possible that is deteriorated locally.