Crash of a Boeing 707-363C in Jeddah

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
HZ-ACE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18582/344
YOM:
1963
Location:
Jeddah
Makkah l-Mukarramah (مكة المكرمة)
Country:
Saudi Arabia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft sustained substantial damages and was later withdrawn from use following a heavy landing at Jeddah Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Mwanza

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
General Air Swaziland
Registration:
3D-GAS
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
500-1590-204
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mwanza
Mwanza Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident near Mwanza.

Crash of a Boeing 707-340C near At Ta'if: 156 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1979 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AWZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Kano - Jeddah - Karachi
MSN:
20275/844
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
PK740
Location:
At Ta'if
Makkah l-Mukarramah (مكة المكرمة)
Country:
Saudi Arabia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
145
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
156
Aircraft flight hours:
30710
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a schedule service from Kano to Karachi with an intermediate stop at Jeddah, carrying 145 passengers and a crew of 11. It departed Jeddah-King Abdulaziz Airport at 0129LT and continued to climb by night and good weather conditions. While cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet, the captain informed ATC about an in-flight fire and was cleared to descent to 30,000 feet then 4,000 feet at his discretion. Seventeen minutes later, the situation on board became very critical with heavy smoke spreading in the cabin and the crew declared an emergency. While attempting an emergency landing in a desert area, the airplane struck the ground and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found about 48 km north of At Ta'if, in a rocky area. None of the 156 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
An in-flight fire in the cabin area which, through its intensity and rapid extension, resulted in panic among the passengers and smoke in the cockpit, eventually incapacitating the flight crew. The cause of the cabin fire was not determined. It was considered that the origin of the cabin fire could have been a leaking gasoline or kerosene stove, carried aboard by Haj pilgrim passengers. Pressure differential could have caused a poorly sealed gasket to leak fuel. A second possibility is an electrical fire, but the rapid extension of the fire was considered difficult to explain because of the electrical circuit protection devices of the Boeing 707. Sabotage was considered as another possibility, but no evidence of use of an incendiary device was found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Cascavel

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Consultoria Tecnical e Operacional de Aviaçao - CTOA
Registration:
PT-KVT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12147
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cascavel
Paraná
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km from Cascavel. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Bugulma: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1979 at 0951 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70219
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bugulma – Menzelinsk – Aktanysh – Izhevsk
MSN:
1G138-37
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU1535
Location:
Bugulma
Republic of Tatarstan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
3561
Circumstances:
The departure from Bugulma was scheduled at 0805LT but postponed first to 0900LT due to poor weather conditions en route. Shortly before takeoff at 0950LT, three additional passengers enplaned, giving a total of 15 passengers (the maximum allowed was 12). One minute after liftoff, during initial climb, at a height of 15 meters, the airplane's speed decreased to 60 km/h then it veered to the left, stalled and crashed. A passenger was killed while another one was uninjured. 15 others occupants were injured and a second passenger died from his injuries five days later, on November 16. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as normal and the total weight of the aircraft and its CofG were within limits.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control during initial climb occurred after the pilot got distracted. For any reason, he adopted a wrong takeoff configuration and failed to take appropriate actions to maintain a positive rate of climb and a sufficient speed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tau

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1979 at 1703 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N23BC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
431
YOM:
1974
Location:
Tau
All Samoa Islands
Country:
Samoa Islands (Western Samoa)
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6979
Captain / Total hours on type:
1073.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tau Airport, the copilot failed to call out low airspeed. Following an improper level off, the airplane bounced on landing then veered off runway and collided with trees. All 18 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Hard landing and subsequent collision with trees due to improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- The copilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The copilot did not call out low airspeed on final.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ATU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
119
YOM:
1970
Location:
Huabango
Gulf
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Kamina, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain near Huabango, few km from Kamina. Three passengers were killed, among them a missionary, while seven other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Greenville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1979 at 1112 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
N66893
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Greenville - Columbia
MSN:
31-7405192
YOM:
1974
Location:
Greenville-Downtown
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
4.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and turned back when the airplane struck a power line and crashed in flames near the airport. The pilot and four passengers were killed while two other passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- High obstructions,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Engine malfunction before best climb speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Big Trout Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-GTJA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pickle Lake - Big Trout Lake
MSN:
630
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
UH607
Location:
Big Trout Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Big Trout Lake Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. On final, the twin engine airplane struck an NDB tower and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while nine other occupants were injured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.
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