Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Russia

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-56436
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G181-20
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Russia, date exact unknown (somewhere in April 1987). No casualties.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Hyannis

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1987 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N87PB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hyannis - Nantucket
MSN:
402C-0639
YOM:
1982
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2629
Captain / Total hours on type:
550.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6032
Circumstances:
Shortly after the initial power reduction during takeoff, the pilot noted a partial loss of power in the right engine. He said he 'went to full power on both engines' and noted an 'extremely high' fuel flow indication to the right engine. He said, 'thinking that the engine was flooding, I placed the boost pump switch from high to off to possibly eliminate the problem with no result. I then placed the pump back to high and tried to decrease the fuel flow by leaning the mixture. This also did not seem to eliminate the problem.' While troubleshooting the problem, he turned to a downwind and stayed in the traffic pattern, but could not maint altitude. Subsequently, a wheels-up landing was made in an area of small trees approximately 1/2 mile before reaching runway 24. An examination of the right engine revealed the spark plugs were wet with fuel and black with soot. Also, its #5 fuel nozzle had been cross-threaded and was knocked out of its hole during impact. During an initial test, the right fuel pressure sensing switch did not sense operating pressure (over 6 psi); this would have resulted in a high boost/fuel flow condition. Later, the switch was tested ok. All nine occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (partial) - mech failure/malf
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (f) fuel system - pressure excessive
2. (f) powerplant controls - improper use of - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
3. (c) emergency procedure - improper - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
4. (f) terrain condition - high vegetation
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Medan: 23 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1987 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-GNQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Banda Aceh - Medan
MSN:
47741
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
GA035
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
On final approach to Medan-Polonia Airport, pilots encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences and heavy rain falls. On final, the aircraft became unstable and lost height. The pilot increased engine power when the aircraft struck a television antenna, stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. 23 occupants were killed while 22 others were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach probably caused by windshear and microburst.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Anchorage: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1987 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N967JW
Survivors:
No
MSN:
402-0067
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3577
Captain / Total hours on type:
210.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on the last leg of a scheduled commuter flight, when it crashed in a heavily wooded area while making a VFR approach to Merrill Field, Anchorage, AK. The captain and his sole passenger were killed in the crash when the airplane struck the ground upside-down in a near vertical attitude. The airplane's copilot, who had deplaned minutes before the accident flight, said he did not see the captain use the aircraft's auxiliary fuel tanks at any time during that evening's earlier flights. The airplane's main fuel tanks hold 100 gallons of useable fuel; it is estimated that the airplane would have consumed slightly more than 100 gallons of fuel at the time of the accident. Ample fuel remained in the auxiliary tanks, but an engine restart cannot be readily accomplished if the auxiliary tanks are not selected prior to the engine's quitting. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base turn
Findings
1. (c) fluid, fuel - starvation
2. (f) inattentive - pilot in command
3. (f) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
4. (c) airspeed (vmc) - not maintained - pilot in command
5. (c) directional control - not maintained - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #4: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B80 Queen Air in San Felipe: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1987 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CDW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Serena - Santiago
MSN:
LD-126
YOM:
1963
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed La Serena-La Florida Airport at 1900LT on a regular schedule service to Santiago de Chile. About 45 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered engine problems, declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to San Felipe Airport. On approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a peach plantation located 10 km from the airport, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while eight other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a double engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Detroit: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1987 at 1434 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N160FB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cleveland - Detroit
MSN:
160
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
NW2268
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
17953
Captain / Total hours on type:
3144.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1593
Aircraft flight hours:
12918
Aircraft flight cycles:
24218
Circumstances:
At 14:30 the flight was cleared for a runway 21R visual approach and was cleared to land one minute later, At a height of 60-70 feet the aircraft suddenly yawed violently to the left and banked left 80-90° in a descent. The aircraft then rolled right and struck the ramp area 1,010 feet inside and to the left of the runway 21R threshold. It then skidded 398 feet, struck three ground support vehicles in front of Gate F10 at Concourse F and caught fire. Both pilots and seven passengers were killed, 10 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The captain's inability to control the airplane in an attempt to recover from an asymmetric power condition at low speed following his intentional use of the beta mode of propeller operation to descend and slow the airplane rapidly on final approach for landing. Factors that contributed to the accident were an unstabilized visual approach, the presence of a departing DC-9 on the runway, the desire to make a short field landing, and the higher-than-normal flight idle fuel flow settings of both engines. The lack of fire-blocking material in passenger seat cushions contributed to the severity of the injuries.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander off Sampit: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-VIR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Balikpapan – Sampit
MSN:
392
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Sampit Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the Sampit River few km from the airfield. Four passengers were killed while five other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-41 in Trondheim

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SE-DAT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bodø - Trondheim
MSN:
47625
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SK355
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
103
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
DC-9 "Gissur Viking" was approaching Trondheim runway 27 with the co-pilot at the controls. Descending through 2500 feet the ATC controller asked the crew to contact SAS Station in Trondheim over company frequency. The captain was working through the checklist but contacted SAS, contrary to company regulations (it's not allowed use company frequency while on final approach). The captain then forgot to arm the spoilers because he had not completed the checklist. He co-pilot noticed that the spoilers had not been armed and, while descending through 100 feet, called "Spoilers". The pilot instinctively extended the spoilers and, realizing his mistake, immediately retracted them. The aircraft entered a high sink rate and touched down heavily. A go-around was executed and after landing severe structural damage was found to the undercarriage, engines (30° respectively 15° tilted down), and tail cone (the APU was pushed halfway up the tail). All 107 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew. Lack of crew coordination and approach checklist not completed were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in Taiwan

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
B-12207
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
831
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident somewhere in Taiwan in February 1987, exact date unknown. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Felvoru

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1987
Registration:
8Q-GIA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Male – Felvoru
MSN:
341
YOM:
1972
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing on relative rough sea, the right float was torn off. The aircraft came to rest and partially sank few dozen meters offshore. All 16 occupants were rescued, some of them were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.