Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain on Mt Burangrang: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
PK-PPD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Mt Burangrang
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While descending to Bandung-Husein Sastranegara Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Burangrang (2,064 meters high) located 14 km north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Tacloban: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C2136
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
440
YOM:
1975
Location:
Tacloban
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all nine occupants.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Fergana

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11005
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6 3 439 07
YOM:
1966
Location:
Fergana
Fergana Province (Farg‘ona viloyati)
Country:
Uzbekistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the crew inadvertently retracted the landing gear before rotation. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1975 at 1129 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
N118DW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dorado - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
239
YOM:
1971
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
596.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport in good weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC that both engines failed simultaneously. Realizing it would not be possible to reach the airport, the pilot decided to ditch the aircraft few km offshore. The airplane slid on water for few meters before coming to rest. All seven occupants evacuated the cabin and were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost. The wreckage was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. Aircraft not recovered.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1975
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-23691
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1G32-24
YOM:
1963
Location:
Serafimovich
Volgograd oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising below minima weather conditions, the single engine airplane struck a hill and crashed near Serafimovich. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Elko: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1975 at 0909 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N52SA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ely - Alko
MSN:
402A-0078
YOM:
1969
Location:
Elko
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2100.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Elko, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, snow falls, turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm. He descended below the MDA until the twin engine airplane struck a hill located few miles from the airport. The wreckage was found three days later on December 2. Both occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm
- High obstructions,
- Blowing snow,
- The pilot did not use available instrument approach chart for reference.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Sofia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-ANA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sofia - Varna
MSN:
67302708
YOM:
1966
Location:
Sofia-Vrazhdebna
Sofia Province
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While parked on apron at Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the airplane was deiced and the snow was removed before the crew was cleared to taxi to runway 10 for takeoff. However, the runway was closed for snow removal. When this was done, the crew was cleared for takeoff and just after liftoff from runway 10, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed on a bank of the Iskar River located by the airport. The copilot was killed and two passengers drowned. All other occupants were rescued, some of them were injured.
Probable cause:
The hold over time (HOT) between the deicing time and the takeoff time was too long and a significant amount of snow accumulated on the fuselage, wings and all critical surfaces. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to take off. The crew failed to request a second deicing.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Kharkiv: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1975 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46349
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mineralnye Vody - Rostov-on-Don - Kharkiv - Gomel
MSN:
97305708
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
SU7950
Location:
Kharkiv
Kharkiv oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Aircraft flight hours:
9445
Aircraft flight cycles:
8146
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Kharkiv Airport by night and a limited visibility. He was cleared to descend by ATC when, at a speed of 270 km/h, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill located 12 km short of runway threshold. A crew member and 18 passengers were killed while 31 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of ATC error who transmitted to the crew a wrong barometric pressure of 757 mm instead of 737 mm, causing the aircraft to descend 220 meters too low. The crew was also blamed as he failed to react to the warning horn coupled to the ground proximity warning system that sounded for 23 second prior to impact.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near El Caoba: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AGA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Flores - Uaxactun
MSN:
6142
YOM:
1942
Location:
El Caoba
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route from Flores to Uaxactun, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near El Caoba. Seven passengers were injured while 15 other occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV on Mt Apshara: 38 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1975 at 2214 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46467
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tbilisi - Batumi - Sukhumi - Krasnodar
MSN:
27307905
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU6274
Location:
Mt Apshara
Abkhazia
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Aircraft flight hours:
7335
Aircraft flight cycles:
6878
Circumstances:
En route from Batumi to Sukhumi, weather conditions worsened and the crew was cleared to modify his route to avoid the low pressure are to the north. Few minutes later, the crew was cleared to descend to 2,400 meters. While cruising at a speed of 410 km/h in limited visibility due to the night and marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the south slope of Mt Apshara (2,580 meters high) located about 26 km northeast of Gali, Abkhazia. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 38 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a series of negligences and wrong decisions on part of ATC who cleared the crew to descent to an unsafe altitude of 2,400 meters while the minimum safe altitude for the area was 3,600 meters. This was made possible by several errors in the track calculation after the crew has been cleared to avoid the low pressure area but his position was 25 km too far from the prescribed flight path at that moment. The crew failed to take the appropriate measures to know his proper position which was considered as a contributing factor.
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