Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Nanisivik: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
C-FABW
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pond Inlet – Nanisivik – Resolute Bay
MSN:
278
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nanisivik in marginal weather conditions, the airplane nosed down to an angle of 45° then banked to the right to an angle of 80° and crashed 670 meters short of runway. Due to blizzard, SAR operations were hampered and rescuers arrived on the crash site 24 hours later only. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. The assumption that the loss of control may have been caused by windshear or an in-flight failure of the flap and/or aileron control rod was not ruled out.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P near Ukhta

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07471
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G151-46
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Ukhta and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Vieques: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1977 at 0748 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N862JA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Christiansted – Vieques
MSN:
184
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
5031
Captain / Total hours on type:
1010.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Vieques on a flight from Christiansted, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea few miles offshore. Five passengers were killed and five other occupants were injured .
Probable cause:
Double engine failure during normal cruise and ditching due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Forced landing off airport on water.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Podkopayevo

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09696
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G76-30
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew made a mistake in handling the fuel system, causing the engine to flame out. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crash landed and was written off. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Vickers 837 Viscount in Bucaramanga

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1267
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barrancabermeja – Bucaramanga
MSN:
441
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane landed hard at Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport and bounced several times before landing firmly on the last third of the runway. Aware that he would be unable to stop the airplane within the remaining distance, the captain decided to veer off runway and made a sharp turn to the right when both left main gear and nose gear collapsed. Both left engines struck the ground and the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 22 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Tarko-Sale: 17 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1977 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47695
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tarko-Sale - Surgut
MSN:
27307602
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU134
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Aircraft flight hours:
11791
Aircraft flight cycles:
8486
Circumstances:
Following a night takeoff from Tarko-Sale Airport, while climbing at a height of 120 meters and a speed of 295 km/h, the captain requested flaps up when the airplane started to descend with a rate of nine meters per second. The aircraft then rolled to the right by an angle of 30° and struck trees at a speed of 365 km/h before crashing 2,889 meters past the runway end. Four crew members and 13 passengers were killed while six other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Eyewitnesses reported a red light facing the aircraft just prior to the accident but it was confirmed there was no other traffic in the vicinity of the airport at the time of the accident. It is possible that the red light may be a fire or a possible flare.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2H6 near Jalan Tanjung Kupang: 100 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1977 at 2036 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9M-MBD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Penang - Kuala Lumpur
MSN:
20585/306
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
MH653
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
93
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
100
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Penang Airport at 1921LT on scheduled service MH653 to Kuala Lumpur. During the descent, while at an altitude of 4,000 feet, a hijacker entered the cockpit and forced the crew to divert to Singapore. The aircraft then climbed to FL210 and proceeded to Singapore when the hijacker shot both pilots and then himself. Few minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located in the region of Jalan Tanjung Kupang. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 100 occupants were killed. The cockpit voice recordings indicate noises suggestive of the cockpit door being broken in, along with a reasonable amount of screaming and cursing. No noises are heard from within the cockpit to indicate any of the three occupants were conscious. The autopilot was then disconnected, possibly due to a pitch input by someone entering the cockpit and trying to control the aircraft. An investigator speculated that someone pulled back on the column, causing a pitch up, followed by an oscillation. This rapidly developed into a high amplitude phugoid oscillation that resulted in a rapid dive.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was hijacked in-flight and both pilots were shot.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 near Narvaez Bay

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
C-GPBO
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Vancouver - Saturna Island
MSN:
100
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Saturna Island, the crew encountered marginal weather and a limited visibility. Descending to a height of about 200-300 feet, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops with one of its float. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in a wooded area located near Narvaez Bay. All 14 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Chuya

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70629
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G128-38
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Chuya. There were no casualties.

Ground accident of an Ilyushin II-18 in Bucharest

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HA-MOF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Istanbul - Bucharest - Budapest
MSN:
183 0063 01
YOM:
1963
Flight number:
MA203
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Bucharest-Otopeni Airport was completed in heavy rain falls. After landing, the crew vacated runway and was taxiing when the airplane collided with two trucks parked on the taxiway. The pilot stopped the airplane and all occupants were evacuated safely. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that both truck drivers stopped their vehicles at an unauthorized position.