Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander in Egilsstadir: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-RTO
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bakkafjördur – Egilsstađir
MSN:
142
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Egilsstađir Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low clouds. While flying under VFR mode, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Smjörfjöll (1,251 meters high) located few km from the destination. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued to fly under VFR in adverse weather conditions. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kazakhstan

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07660
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zhezkazgan - Karaganda
MSN:
1G157-45
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated area located about 210 km northeast of Zhezkazgan. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the crew was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14P in Bereznik

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41831
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14 803 060
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
18003
Aircraft flight cycles:
17977
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bereznik by night, the left engine lost power. The crew initiated a go-around manoeuvre but the aircraft banked left, descended and struck tree tops at a speed of 160 km/h before crashing in a wooded area. All 4 crew and 4 out of 16 passengers were injured while all other occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the cable connected to the left engine throttle lever disconnected on approach, causing the rpm to drop.

Crash of a Boeing 727-21 in San José

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1980 at 1437 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N327PA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - San José
MSN:
19036
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
PA421
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
67
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the airplane descended below the glide until the right main gear struck the ground 15 meters short of runway 07 threshold. On impact, the landing gear was torn off. Out of control, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage then slid on several dozen meters before coming to rest. All 73 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Clipper Meteor' was damaged beyond repair.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Vonyshevo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1980 at 1205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32047
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1G91-48
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
9625
Aircraft flight cycles:
18448
Circumstances:
In the morning, the crew completed a spraying mission on wooded areas. At 1015LT, when the mission was over, the crew allowed tree passengers to embark and departed for Soligalich. Few minutes later, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with low clouds, haze and rain falls. While flying at an altitude of 285 meters, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew allowed passengers to embark without prior authorization. At the time of the accident, both pilots were intoxicated as they consumed alcohol the evening before the flight. Various analysis revealed a blood alcohol level of 1,16‰ for the captain and 0,75‰ for the copilot.

Crash of a Vickers 768D Viscount in Vijayawada

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DJC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bombay - Vijayawada
MSN:
296
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane landed hard and bounced three times, before the nose gear collapsed. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest. All 29 occupants escaped without injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 812 Viscount near Karawang: 37 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1980 at 0629 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-IVS
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Banjarmasin - Jakarta
MSN:
353
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Aircraft flight hours:
33000
Aircraft flight cycles:
17947
Circumstances:
While descending to Jakarta-Kemayoran Airport, the crew send a distress call and reported the aircraft was unstable. Shortly later, the airplane banked left then entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in the region of Karawang, about 26 km east of Jakarta. Debris were scattered 2 km wide and all 37 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of this accident was the in-flight fracture of a spigot in the elevator tab circuit. This part had exceeded the 12,000 flight hours retirement life by 21,000 hrs resulting in a total life of 33,000 hrs. As this figure is higher than the total airframe hours flown by the aircraft it means that the part that failed must have been transferred from another aircraft at some point which was an opportunity to notice that the fatigue life had already been exceeded.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 200 in Riyadh: 301 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1980 at 2205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HZ-AHK
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Karachi - Riyadh - Jeddah
MSN:
193U-1169
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
SV163
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
287
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
301
Captain / Total flying hours:
7674
Captain / Total hours on type:
388.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1615
Copilot / Total hours on type:
125
Aircraft flight hours:
3023
Aircraft flight cycles:
1759
Circumstances:
About 2108LT, the airplane departed Riyadh Airport en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Six minutes and 54 seconds after takeoff, while climbing to FL350, visual and aural warnings indicated smoke in the aft cargo compartment C-3. Climbing through FL220, a return to Riyadh was initiated. About two minutes later smoke was noted in the aft of the cabin, and passengers were panicking. At 18:25:26 the no. 2 engine throttle was stuck. The flight landed at about 2136LT and then taxied clear of the runway and came to a stop on an adjacent taxiway. While parked on the taxiway, the aircraft was destroyed by the fire and the three hundred and one persons on board the flight were killed.
Survival aspects:
The accident was survivable. The first door was opened about 23 min after all engines had been shutdown. The first rescue attempt was conducted at L-1 door. Most witness statements agree in content but differ slightly in the time factor element. A witness who participated in the first two efforts to open the doors stated that he was aboard fire truck n°4 was it was positioned near the left rear portion of the aircraft. He observed thick white smoke flowing from the bottom rear fuselage. At that time the aircraft engines were still running. A few seconds later, he observed smoke near the top of the fuselage, forward of the n°2 engine inlet. According to him, this smoke was followed almost immediately by flames in the same area. As the driver of n°4 started applying agent via the monitor, the witness dismounted and moved toward exit L-1. His route was outboard of n°1 engine which he thought was still running. On approaching L-1, he observed the fire chief and other people attempting to reach the L-1 emergency handle via a ladder which was placed on top of fire truck n°6. While fire personnel steadied the ladder, he climbed up and pulled the emergency handle. He was not certain if the door moved or not. An additional effort was attempted while he held onto and rode the monitor. While on the monitor, he pushed on the door to no avail. Most of :he group then moved to R-2 where another ladder had been positioned by other firemen. A firemen then climbed the ladder, operated the handle and the door opened in the emergency mode. The cabin was observed to be full of smoke and no life was observed nor were any human sounds heard. R-2 door was opened at 1905, 26 min after the aircraft came to a stop and 23 min after the shutdown of all engines. Shortly after (about 3 min) R-2 was opened, flames were seen progressing forward from the rear section of the cabin.
Probable cause:
The initiation of a fire in the C-3 cargo compartment. The source of the ignition of the fire is undetermined. Factors contributing to the fatal results of this accident were:
- The failure of the captain to prepare the cabin crew for immediate evacuation upon landing and his failure in not making a maximum stop landing on the runway, with immediate evacuation,
- The failure of the captain to properly utilize his flight crew throughout the emergency,
- The failure of C/F/R headquarters management personnel to ensure that its personnel had adequate equipment and training to function as required during an emergency.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Montevideo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CX-BMT
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Montevideo-Carrasco Airport, the pilot passed out. The pilot elected to take control of the aircraft that lost height and crashed. Both occupants were killed. The passenger was not familiar with piloting techniques.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400 in Mawlamyine

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ADO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yangon - Mawlamyine
MSN:
10313
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
27365
Aircraft flight cycles:
27058
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, rolled for few dozen meters and came to rest, broken in two. All 28 occupants were slightly injured.