Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II near Phônsavan: 18 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1993 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34117
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vientiane – Phônsavan
MSN:
0042
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While descending to Phônsavan Airport, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions due to fog. On approach, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a hilly and wooded terrain located 28 km from the airport, bursting into flames. All 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the approach below the minimum safe altitude in below minima weather conditions.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-117 in Dakar

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1993 at 1839 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C5-GAA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dakar - Banjul
MSN:
2030
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Saint Louis, a Twin Otter operated by Air Sénégal was cleared to descend to Dakar-Yoff Airport and was instructed to maintain 3,000 feet over YF VOR. At the same time, the NAMC YS-11 departed Dakar-Yoff Airport on a regular schedule flight to Banjul. Registered C5-GAA, the aircraft was carrying 34 passengers and a crew of four. Its pilots were instructed to climb via radial 140 and maintain the altitude of 2,000 feet while over YF VOR. When both aircraft reached the YF VOR, they collided. While the crew of the NAMC was able to return to Dakar and land safely despite the left wing was partially torn off, the Twin Otter entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea few km offshore. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both crew failed to respect their assigned altitude, causing both aircraft to collide. At the time of the accident, the Twin Otter was about 100-300 feet too low and the NAMC was about 700-900 feet too high.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Dakar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1993 at 1839 LT
Operator:
Registration:
6V-ADE
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saint-Louis - Dakar
MSN:
393
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Saint Louis, the crew was cleared to descend to Dakar-Yoff Airport and was instructed to maintain 3,000 feet over YF VOR. At the same time, a NAMC YS-11A-117 operated by Gambia Airways departed Dakar-Yoff Airport on a regular schedule flight to Banjul. Registered C5-GAA, the aircraft was carrying 34 passengers and a crew of four. Its pilots were instructed to climb via radial 140 and maintain the altitude of 2,000 feet while over YF VOR. When both aircraft reached the YF VOR, they collided. While the crew of the NAMC was able to return to Dakar and land safely despite the left wing was partially torn off, the Twin Otter entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea few km offshore. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both crew failed to respect their assigned altitude, causing both aircraft to collide. At the time of the accident, the Twin Otter was about 100-300 feet too low and the NAMC was about 700-900 feet too high.

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I in Tucumã

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1993 at 1355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-OGM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Redenção – Tucumã
MSN:
208-0069
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
JJ329
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
500
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tucumã Airport, 3 km short of runway threshold, the engine lost power and its temperature was too high. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a prairie. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- There was a deficiency in the instruction received, since the crew did not perform emergency training on that type of aircraft, resulting in inadequate preparation for the engine failure situation, especially at low altitude,
- There are indications that the maintenance services were inadequate and contributed to the occurrence of engine failure, due to the possible occurrence of compressor stall,
- The company performed inadequate technical and operational oversight for not providing emergency situations for the crews of that type of aircraft involved in the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Prince Rupert: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1993 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FUMG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prince Rupert - Kincolith
MSN:
B145
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1600.00
Aircraft flight hours:
22683
Circumstances:
The Grumman G21A Goose (C-FUMG) departed from the Seal Cove floatplane base at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, on a charter flight to Kincolith. The aircraft carried one pilot, four passengers, and approximately 600 pounds of baggage and freight. This was the first flight of the day for the occurrence aircraft. Prior to take-off, the pilot contacted the Prince Rupert Flight Service Station (FSS)1 by radio and obtained local traffic and weather information. The aircraft took off from the water at approximately 1141 Pacific standard time (PST)2, and proceeded southbound, following the normal departure path. During the take-off and climb, one or both of the aircraft's engines did not sound as if they were operating normally. Shortly after take-off, the pilot radioed the company dispatcher at Seal Cove and reported that he was experiencing engine problems, and that he was returning to Seal Cove and would require assistance at the ramp. After the left propeller stopped rotating, the aircraft rolled to the left and descended steeply to the ground. The aircraft crashed into trees on a hillside, at an altitude of approximately 150 feet, approximately three nautical miles (nm)3 south of Seal Cove. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; the three other passengers received serious injuries. A search started approximately 45 minutes after the aircraft departed. The aircraft was discovered by a Coast Guard helicopter, which was able to rescue the survivors. The accident occurred during daylight hours at about 1145 PST, at latitude 54·17'N and longitude 134·14'W.
Probable cause:
The pilot encountered engine problems during the take-off and climb, and, after the left propeller was feathered, lost directional control of the aircraft. The aircraft rolled to the left, descended rapidly, and crashed to the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander near Tuktoyaktuk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1993 at 1713 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GMOP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tuktoyaktuk - Inuvik
MSN:
398
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
3224
Captain / Total hours on type:
848.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9391
Circumstances:
On 03 December 1993, a Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander, registration C-GMOP, owned and operated by Arctic Wings and Rotors, departed Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, on a night
visual flight rules (VFR) flight to the Inuvik townsite airstrip. On board were the pilot and six passengers. The pilot took off from runway 09 at 1706:34 mountain standard time (MST) , and had turned the aircraft to a southerly direction when the right engine (Textron Lycoming IO540-K1B5) lost all power. At 1710:40, the pilot reported to Tuktoyaktuk Flight Service Station (FSS) that he had an engine problem and was trying to get back to the airport. At 1711:44, he reported that he was "presently heading back to the airport at this time." At 1711:58, he reported "showing six miles back from the airport at this time." The FSS specialist asked if he was declaring an emergency, and the pilot's response was indecisive. During the last radio transmission, there were indications of stress in the pilot's voice; however, there was no further mention of the specific nature of the problem. The pilot did not report his altitude during the conversations with the FSS. The transmission lasted approximately 15 seconds and ended at 1713:03. When the aircraft did not return to the airport, an air and ground search was initiated. The aircraft was located on an ice-covered lake approximately eight miles southeast of the airport. The aircraft struck the ice in a steep nose-down attitude. The engines and front of the aircraft penetrated the approximately two-foot-thick layer of ice. The remainder of the fuselage, wings, and empennage remained on the ice surface. The seven occupants were fatally injured. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness at approximately 1713 MST, at latitude 69°20'N, longitude 132°56'W, at an elevation of approximately 50 feet above sea level (asl).
Probable cause:
A magneto impulse coupling, worn beyond the prescribed limits, resulted in the failure of the right engine. Following the engine failure, the pilot mistrimmed the rudder and was unable to maintain control of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Vahun

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LX-UGO
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1945
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vahun Airfield, at a height of 40 feet and at a speed of 77 knots, the twin engine aircraft adopted a high sink rate. The captain increased engine power when the aircraft rolled to the right, collided with trees and crashed few hundred metres short of runway. All 13 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a BAe 3101 Jetstream 31 in Hibbing: 18 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1993 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N334PX
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Hibbing
MSN:
706
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
NW5719
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
7852
Captain / Total hours on type:
2266.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2019
Copilot / Total hours on type:
65
Aircraft flight hours:
17156
Aircraft flight cycles:
21593
Circumstances:
While on a localizer back course approach the airplane collided with trees and the terrain approximately 3 miles from the runway threshold. The captain delayed the start of the descent that subsequently required an excessive descent rate to reach the FAF and MDH. The captain's actions led to distractions during critical phases of the approach. The flightcrew lost altitude awareness and allowed the airplane to descend below mandatory level off points. The captain's record raised questions about his airmanship and behavior that suggested a lack of crew coordination during flight operations, including intimidation of first officers. Company management did not address these matters adequately. The airline's flight operations management failed to implement provisions to adequately oversee the training of their flight crews and the operation of their aircraft. FAA guidance to their inspectors concerning implementation of ops bulletins is inadequate and has failed to transmit valuable safety information as intended to airlines. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The captain's actions that led to a breakdown in crew coordination and the loss of altitude awareness by the flight crew during an unstabilized approach in night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were: the failure of the company management to adequately address the previously identified deficiencies in airmanship and crew resource management of the captain; the failure of the company to identify and correct a widespread, unapproved practice during instrument approach procedures; and the Federal Aviation Administration's inadequate surveillance and oversight of the air carrier.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30 in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1993 at 0622 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-135C
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas - Buenos Aires
MSN:
46971/258
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
VA940
Country:
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
106
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Caracas, the crew started the descent to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport but encountered poor weather conditions with ceiling down to 800 feet, heavy rain falls and windshear. The aircraft landed 750-800 metres past the runway threshold and was unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 35 is 2,800 metres long). It overran and while contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest 180 metres further. All 123 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the runway surface was wet and the braking action was reduced.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Ciudad Constitución

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
OB-1453
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31-7812067
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.