Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Bogotá: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-1590
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
31-410
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed in a residential area. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. Two people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following an engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Short 360-100 in Enshi

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-3606
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wuhan – Enshi
MSN:
3673
YOM:
1985
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Enshi Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. All 25 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Kutaisi: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1985 at 1009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87803
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tbilisi – Kutaisi – Poti
MSN:
9 23 09 23
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU07G
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
According to published procedures, the crew was supposed to climb to an altitude of 2,400 meters after takeoff from Kutaisi Airport. But due to an Aeroflot Antonov AN-24 that was approaching another airport in Kutaisi, the crew was instructed by ATC to maintain the altitude of 300 meters after departure. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to switch from VFR to IFR mode when, in restricted visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 47 km west of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a poor ATC assistance and radar coverage of the region as well as a lack of ATC coordination in the Kutaisi Airport area control center. At the time of the accident, ATC was unaware of the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions. Lack of discipline, poor work organization and procedures violation were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in New Zealand: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1985 at 1223 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-EHT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nelson - Wellington
MSN:
402B-0340
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising in good weather conditions on a flight from Nelson to Wellington, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in the Tory Channel. A passenger was rescued while eight other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Kilifas: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2-DNI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
28
YOM:
1968
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kilifas, northwest of PNG. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402C off Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1985 at 1242 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N402V
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Freeport - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
402C-0337
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6435
Captain / Total hours on type:
3100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3338
Circumstances:
Pilot ditched aircraft in Atlantic Ocean after losing power in both engines. The three occupants escaped uninjured and were picked up by a nearby boat. The aircraft sank in approximately 800 feet of water about 5 minutes after ditching. Post accident inspection of operator records along with a statement from the previous pilot who flew the aircraft revealed that approximately 26 pounds of fuel remained on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. Cessna Aircraft Company representative stated that the cessna 402C aircraft has an unusable fuel capacity of 44.4 pounds in critical flight attitudes and that this figure is lower in more normal attitudes.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: descent - normal
Findings
1. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
2. (c) aircraft preflight - improper - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel consumption calculations - improper - pilot in command
4. (c) refueling - not performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B99 Airliner near Staunton: 14 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1985 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N339HA
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Baltimore - Staunton
MSN:
U-156
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
AL1517
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
3447
Captain / Total hours on type:
301.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3329
Copilot / Total hours on type:
119
Aircraft flight hours:
23455
Aircraft flight cycles:
41215
Circumstances:
Henson Airlines flight 1517 was cleared for an instrument approach to the Shenandoah Valley Airport, Weyers Cave, Virginia, at 0959 on September 23, 1985, after a routine flight from Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Baltimore, Maryland. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at Shenandoah Valley Airport. there were 12 passengers and 2 crew members aboard the scheduled domestic passenger flight operating under 14 CFR 135. Radar service was terminated at 1003. The crew of flight 1517 subsequently contacted the Henson station agent and Shenandoah unicom. The last recorded radar return was at 1011, at which time the airplane was east of the localizer course at 2,700 feet mean sea level and on a magnetic track of about 075°. At 1014 the pilot said, '..we're showing a little west of course...' and at 1015 he asked if he was east of course. At 1017, the controller suggested a missed approach if the airplane was not established on the localizer course. There was no response from the crew of flight 1517 whose last recorded transmission was at 1016. The wreckage of flight 1517 was located about 1842 approximately six miles east of the airport. Both crew members and all 12 passengers were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was a navigational error by the flightcrew resulting from their use of the incorrect navigational facility and their failure to adequately monitor the flight instruments.
Factors which contributed to the flightcrew's errors were:
- The non standardized navigational radio systems installed in the airline's Beech 99 fleet,
- Intra cockpit communications difficulties associated with high ambient noise levels in the airplane,
- Inadequate training of the pilots by the airline,
- The first officer's limited multi engine and instrument flying experience,
- The pilots' limited experience in their positions in the Beechcraft 99,
- Stress inducing events in the lives of the pilots.
Also contributing to the accident was the inadequate surveillance of the airline by the Federal Aviation Administration which failed to detect the deficiencies which led to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Ugohan River

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32103
Flight Phase:
Site:
MSN:
1G93-09
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Struck a hill and crashed near Ugohan River, south of Khabarovsk krai, while cruising at an insufficient altitude. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to respect the minimum safe altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 in Milwaukee: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1985 at 1521 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N100ME
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Milwaukee - Atlanta
MSN:
47309
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
YX105
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Captain / Total flying hours:
5100
Captain / Total hours on type:
1100.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5197
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1640
Aircraft flight hours:
31892
Aircraft flight cycles:
48903
Circumstances:
Midwest Express Airlines Flight 206, DC-9 N100ME arrived at Milwaukee (MKE) at 13:15 on September 6, 1985. It departed Milwaukee at 13:36 and arrived in Madison at 13:55 after an uneventful flight. At Madison, N100ME was designated as flight 105 to Atlanta (ATL), with an intermediate stop in Milwaukee. Flight 105 departed Madison at 14:25 and arrived at Milwaukee, on time and without incident, at 14:41. About 14:49, the first officer of flight 105 contacted Milwaukee Tower to request an instrument flight rule (IFR) clearance to Atlanta. The clearance was received. The Atlanta forecast included a 1,000-foot ceiling, visibility 2 miles, thunderstorms and rain showers. At 15:12, the Before Engine Start Checklist was read and accomplished in accordance with Midwest Express operating procedures. Engine start was commenced at 15:14 and the After Start Checklist was accomplished. The first officer requested clearance to taxi to runway 19R for departure. About 15:17:50, the Taxi Checklist was completed, and the engine pressure ratio (EPR) and airspeed reference bugs were set to 1.91 and 133 knots, respectively. Both indications were correct for the departure conditions applicable to flight 105. At the conclusion of the Taxi Checklist, the captain advised the first officer "Standard briefing ..." At 15:19:15, the first officer reported to the tower local controller, "Milwaukee, Midex 105, ready on 19R." Flight 105 was cleared to "position and hold" on runway 19R. The captain called for the Before Takeoff Checklist, which was completed in accordance with the COM. Flight 105 was cleared for takeoff at 15:20:28; the first officer acknowledged the clearance. The captain operated the flight controls, and the first officer handled radio communications and other copilot responsibilities during the takeoff. The Midwest Express DC-9 Flight Operations Manual required the use of standard noise abatement takeoff procedures during all line operations, unless precluded by safety considerations or special noise abatement procedures. At the time flight 105 departed, noise abatement procedures were in effect. Midwest Express also utilized "reduced thrust" takeoff procedures (at the captain's discretion) to extend engine life. The flightcrew was complying with the reduced thrust and standard noise abatement takeoff procedures. The takeoff roll and liftoff were normal, with liftoff occurring near the intersection of the midfield taxiway and runway 19R, about 4,200 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. Rotation to the takeoff attitude occurred at 140 knots. The DC-9 accelerated to 168 knots with a rate of climb of about 3,000 feet/minute, indicating a normal two-engine initial takeoff flightpath. At 15:21:26 N100ME was about 7,600 feet down the runway, reaching a height of 450 feet above the ground. At that moment there was a loud noise and a noticeable decrease in engine sound. The captain then remarked "What the # was that?" The first officer did not respond. At 15:21:29, the local controller transmitted, "Midex 105, turn left heading 175." At the time of his transmission he observed smoke and flame emanating from the right airplane engine. The captain asked the first officer, "What do we got here, Bill?" The first officer did not respond to the captain but advised the local controller, "Midex 105, roger, we've got an emergency here." Two seconds later, the captain said, "Here"; again there was no response. Neither pilot made the call outs for "Max Power" or "Ignition Override-Check Fuel System," which were part of the Midwest Express "Engine Failure after V1" emergency procedure. Meanwhile the airplane began to deviate substantially to the right and the heading changed from 194 degrees to 260 degrees in eight seconds. The vertical acceleration dropped sharply to about 0.3 G and increased to a value of 1.8 G. At that point the airplane stalled. This accelerated stall occurred at a KIAS of about 156 kts.
Probable cause:
The flight crew's improper use of flight controls in response to the catastrophic failure of the right engine during a critical phase of flight, which led to an accelerated stall and loss of control of the airplane. Contributing to the loss of control was a lack of crew coordination in response to the emergency. The right engine failed from the rupture of the 9th to 10th stage removable sleeve spacer in the high pressure compressor because of the spacer's vulnerability to cracks.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Kandahar: 52 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1985 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YA-BAM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kandahar - Farah
MSN:
57314106
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kandahar Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 3,800 feet, the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Out of control, it crashed 18 km west of Kandahar Airport and was destroyed. None of the 52 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile shortly after takeoff.