Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Chersky

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-92851
Flight Phase:
MSN:
1G53-03
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed after an engine failure. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Barentu

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1979
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13026
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
44676
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the airplane lost height and struck the runway surface. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-7 Islander in Blinkhorn Point: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FZVV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Comox - Port Hardy
MSN:
238
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Comox to Port Hardy, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to thick fog. The twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed on hilly terrain located in Blinkhorn Point, Victoria Island. Four passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Avalon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1979 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N22932
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Avalon - San Pedro
MSN:
B139
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
13300
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from the bay of Avalon, the twin engine seaplane lost height and crashed into the sea. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure during initial climb after the elevator tab control system failed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Up elevator cable separated 3 to 4 feet forward of station 29.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 near Sarroch: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1979 at 0047 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-ATJC
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Alghero - Cagliari
MSN:
47667/776
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
BM012
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Aircraft flight hours:
10000
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Alghero Airport at 0010LT on a short schedule service (BM012) to Cagliari-Elmas Airport, carrying 27 passengers and a crew of four. While descending to Cagliari, the crew was informed that runway 14 was in use with thunderstorm activity and rain falls south of the airport. After contacting the Cagliari Tower controller at 0026LT, the flight was cleared to descend to the transition altitude of 6,000 feet. Having in front of them a consistent formation of Cumulonimbus clouds, the first officer radioed their intention to make a 360° turn to further lower the altitude and thus avoid the cloud formations. The controller, not having traffic in the area, authorized the manoeuvre, and first officer then announced the intention to leave at 7,500 feet for 3,000 feet. The controller then asked the flight if they had visual contact with the ground, but this was not the case. The clearance was amended to go down to 6,000 feet instead of 3,000 feet. At 0030LT the flight reported that it was in visual contact with the ground, and that it was about to leave 6,000 ft for 3,000 ft. The controller confirmed this, adding that it had started to rain at the airport in the meantime. The aircraft however did not complete the planned 360° turn, thus finding itself with a different heading from that initially planned. After reaching 3,000 feet, the flight was cleared for the approach. The first officer confirmed this and announced that they would start the final approach with a slight deviation to the right of the beacon. At 0034LT the first officer asked the controller to confirm that the ILS system was inoperative, which it was. At this stage of the flight the crew became unaware of their position. The captain believed he was flying over the sea, further south than the actual position of the aircraft, while the first officer rightly believed he was flying over the mountainous terrain of southern Sardinia. In the last minute and a half of the flight, the captain asked the first officer to lower the undercarriage and continued the descent. At an altitude of 2,000 feet (610 m) the DC-9 hit the rocky mountainside of Conca d'Oru with the lower part of the fuselage, causing the aircraft to break up. A fire erupted. The point of impact was 18 km south-west of the airport. All 31 occupants were killed.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by a wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew and a misinterpretation of ATC instructions.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kingisepp

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-28837
Flight Phase:
MSN:
1G04-06
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed following an engine failure. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan in Lanyu

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
B-12204
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanyu - Taitung
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ready for departure at Lanyu Airport, the crew taxied in the runway when the twin engine airplane collided with a Taiwan Airlines Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander registered B-11107 that was taking off from runway 13/31. Both aircraft came to rest on runway and all 16 occupants in both aircraft were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew engaged on runway without permission while the Islander was taking off.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in Lanyu

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-11107
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lanyu - Kaohsiung
MSN:
335
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 13/31 and increased engine power. Few seconds prior to rotation, the twin engine airplane collided with a Yung Shing Airlines Cessna 404 registered B-12204 that entered the runway without permission. Both aircraft came to rest on runway and all 16 occupants in both aircraft were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew of the Cessna 404 engaged on runway without permission while the Islander was taking off.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Shoal Harbour: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FODS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shoal Harbour - Campbell River
MSN:
984
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft, with pilot and five passengers on board was being flown from Shoal Harbour to Campbell River. The flight was the scheduled service operated daily from Campbell River with several stops along the coast and returning to Campbell River. On arrival at Shoal Harbour dock area, the aircraft was docked and one passenger got on board. The aircraft taxied out for departure. The take-off was from the harbour in a south easterly direction. Shortly after the lift-off from the water, and at a height of 100 feet, the aircraft made a 180° turn to the left and dived into the ground at an angle of 30°. The crash site was just inside the tree line and approximately 50 feet from the water’s edge. The plane exploded on impact and burned. One passenger walked out from the wreckage seconds after the crash but died in hospital at Vancouver the same day. There were therefore no survivors.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. As far as could be determined the aircraft was serviceable prior to impact.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Amderma: 40 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 0101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46269
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk - Amderma
MSN:
77303602
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU513
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Aircraft flight hours:
19917
Aircraft flight cycles:
13194
Circumstances:
The approach to Amderma Airport was initiated by night when the airplane descended below the glide. At a speed of 206 km/h, the airplane struck the ground 1,850 meters short of runway threshold and crashed in flames on a small hill located 140 meters to the left of the extended centerline. Two passengers and a crew member were seriously injured while all 40 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a series of violations on part of the flying crew who failed to follow the published procedures regarding the approach completed by night, which resulted in a premature descent, causing the aircraft to continue the approach below the glide until impact with the ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The real altitude of the aircraft was less than the one reported by the navigator,
- The pilot-in-command decided to continue the approach once the aircraft passed below the glide,
- The pilot-in-command failed to initiate a go-around maneuver,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The navigator in charge of the approach was under training and his instructor failed to assist during the approach maneuver,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 816 kilos above the MTOW at takeoff from Arkhangelsk.