Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 in Palembang: 26 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-GVC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jakarta - Palembang
MSN:
11039
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
GA150
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
8516
Aircraft flight cycles:
7533
Circumstances:
While descending to Palembang-Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport, the crew encountered foggy conditions that reduced the visibility to 50 meters. On final approach, the airplane descended too low when it struck coconut trees and crashed about 4 km short of runway 28. All four crew members and 21 passengers were killed as well as one people on the ground. All 36 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the approach under VFR mode in a visibility that was below minimus. The crew led the airplane pass below the MDA until it impacted trees and crashed.

Ground accident of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Skopje

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SP-WOB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G160-15
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked on apron at Skopje Airport, the aircraft was struck and destroyed by another ZUA AN-2 (SP-WNZ) that crashed upon landing. The aircraft was empty.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Beihan

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7O-ABP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aden - Beihan
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Beihan Airport, the airplane nosed over and came to rest on its nose. All occupants were evacuated, five of them were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.121 Trident 1E-140 in Bilbao

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 1548 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AVYD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bilbao - London
MSN:
2138
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
BA552
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
110
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10895
Captain / Total hours on type:
1685.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5359
Copilot / Total hours on type:
782
Aircraft flight hours:
12892
Circumstances:
The taxi drills were actioned by the First Officer and the Flight Engineer during this time and "runway items" were completed after the Commander turned the aircraft through 180° close to the threshold of runway 28, aligned it on the runway centre line, and selected the wheel brakes to park. A power setting of 100 per cent thrust was made, all engine indications were checked as correct, and the engine relight switches were selected 'ON' before the wheel brakes were released and the takeoff run commenced at about 13:46 with the Commander piloting the aircraft. The aircraft accelerated normally ; the First Officer called out the indicated airspeeds at 80 knots and 100 knots and made a call of 'Wet V1' at 117 knots then removed his hand from the throttles. At the time or just after 'Wet V1' was called the Flight Engineer and the First Officer heard a noise which the latter crew member attributed to the aircraft's entry into standing water. According to the Flight Engineer the aircraft appeared to decelerate at the same time that he heard the noise. The Commander felt a marked deceleration consistent with a loss of engine power, whereupon he immediately closed the throttles, called "Abandon", deployed the airbrakes and lift dumpers and applied the wheel brakes fully. However according to the Flight Engineer all engine indications had been normal prior to the closing of the throttles. On seeing a hand close the throttles the First Officer selected emergency reverse thrust on the pod engines, checked the engine indications were correct and maintained the application of emergency reverse thrust until the aircraft eventually came to rest. The First Officer and the Commander checked the indicated pressures on the wheel brake gauges which showed the wheel brakes were fully applied. The initial deceleration felt satisfactory to the crew, then quickly deteriorated and the First Officer formed the impression that the aircraft was aquaplaning. The Flight Engineer then noticed that the aircraft had begun to drift gradually to the left of the runway centreline apparently as the result of a deliberate action by the Commander. Subsequently it became evident to the Commander that he could not bring the aircraft to a halt within the runway confines. Some 200 metres to 300 metres before the end of the runway he turned the aircraft to the left using nose-wheel steering and applied full left rudder. As the nose wheels ran off the runway onto the grass, the aircraft slewed to the left then skidded broadside to the right for a short distance before it came to an abrupt stop at the side of the runway in a right wing down attitude with the right wing tip close to the threshold lights of runway 10. Evacuation drills were initiated and the passengers left the aircraft in a reasonably orderly manner, the majority by slide from the main exit doors and foremost right overwing emergency exit. Catering equipment in the galleys came out of stowage during the accident obstructing access to the forward emergency exit door and preventing use of this exit and its slide during the evacuation. All 117 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the Commander's decision to abandon take-off on a wet runway at or close to V 1 . Contributory factors were the low effective braking coefficient of friction achieved by the aircraft and the failure of the Commander to ascertain the extent and depth of water present on the runway prior to takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander in San Juan

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 1141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N122DW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Dorado
MSN:
234
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
955
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Circumstances:
While on a taxiway at San Juan-Isla Verde Airport for takeoff, the airplane collided with a ground vehicle and came to rest. The pilot and the driver were uninjured while the aircraft and the vehicle were damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with ground vehicle while taxiing for takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the driver who crossed the active taxiway,
- Failure of the pilot to see and avoid objects or obstructions,
- Rain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Mota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1975 at 1020 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bahar Dar - Debra Marcos
MSN:
4292
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
23921
Circumstances:
En route from Bahar Dar to Debra Marcos at an altitude of 11,500 feet, weather conditions worsened and the visibility decreased due to low clouds. While descending into clouds, the captain saw a mountain ahead and elected to gain height when the base of the tail struck trees. The airplane stalled and crashed onto Mt Choke. A passenger was killed while other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Vancouver

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
CF-XYA
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vancouver Airport, the left engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed about 1,200 meters short of runway threshold. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on final approach for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Leipzig: 27 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1975 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DM-SCD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stuttgart - Leipzig
MSN:
9 35 07 02
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The approach to Leipzig-Halle Airport was completed in marginal weather conditions. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when, at a height of 3 meters, the airplane struck the localizer antenna. The left engine and a part of the left wing were torn off. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames 300 meters short of runway threshold. Three crew members and four passengers were injured while 27 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the flight crew to follow the approved procedures while descending into marginal weather conditions below the MDA. The crew failed to follow the approach checklist and did not check the decision height, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum descent altitude. A lack of ATC assistance was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Fairchild F27B in Gambell: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1975 at 1357 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4904
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nome – Savoonga – Gambell
MSN:
21
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
WC099
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
6607
Captain / Total hours on type:
4626.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2738
Copilot / Total hours on type:
470
Aircraft flight hours:
26068
Circumstances:
Wien Air Alaska Flight 99, a Fairchild F27B , was a regularly scheduled passenger and cargo flight from Nome, Alaska, to Savoonga and Gambell, two villages on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. The captain's IFR flight plan, as filed with the Nome Flight Service Station (FSS), indicated a route of flight from Nome to Savoonga, via Island Intersection, then to Gambell, with a return to Nome via Island Intersection. The requested altitude was 12,000 feet and the listed alternate airports were Galena and Nome. At 1216, Flight 99 departed Nome and landed at Savoonga at 1306. The aircraft departed Savoonga at 1327 with an estimated time en route of 15 minutes to Gambell. There were 32 persons on board, 28 passengers and 4 crewmembers. When the Wien agent at Gambell heard Flight 99's radio transmissions after takeoff from Savoonga, she activated the Gambell Non Directional Beacon (NDB) . According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, the crew identified the Gambell NDB shortly after departing Savoonga and contacted the Wien agent at Gambell. The crew gave their estimated time of arrival and requested the weather. The agent replied, "Our current weather is partial obscured sky. Visibility 1 to 1/2 miles ... 1 mile to 1/2 mile with ... and fog, Temperature is 47°, wind is calm, altimeter 29.70." Soon thereafter, Flight 99 questioned the visibility; the agent replied that it was, "sometimes about 5 miles, it's very hard to tell..." When the flight arrived in the Gambell area, the captain, who was flying the aircraft, remarked to the first officer that fog appeared to be a problem. He also stated, "We'll take a shot from this way and if we can't make it, we'll come around and hit it from that side. If we can't make it from there, we'll turn out and (come in underneath it)." The pilot then made several attempts to land. According to some surviving passengers, the aircraft descended to a low altitude over the tundra to the south of the airport during one of the approaches. During another of the approaches, ground witnesses saw the aircraft make a low pass down the runway and then a right turn out to sea before it disappeared into the fog. Some of the survivors, including the flight attendant, believed that the aircraft touched down on this approach. The CVR indicates that the crew had the runway in sight but decided to execute a missed approach because they were too far down the runway to land safely. Flight data recorder (FDR) information shows that the aircraft descended to within a few feet of the surface. According to correlated CVR/FDR information, the aircraft then turned right, flew north, and make a relatively steep turn to the right. During this turn, the first officer said that a 155° heading inbound would be perfect. Cockpit conversations during the rollout indicated that the flight passed the NDB while on a heading of 140°. The captain then called for final flaps and landing gear. When last observed by ground witnesses, the aircraft was heading southeast. It flew over a beach and near boat racks located about 240 yards northeast of the NDB. It continued its course and passed over the eastern end of some newly constructed houses just north of Troutman Lake, which is located between the runway and Sevuokuk Mountain. Ground witnesses stated that the landing gear was lowered before they saw the aircraft disappear into the fog. Ground witnesses and survivors of the crash generally agreed that there was a considerable amount of patchy fog in the area and that visibility ranged from 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles. A heading of 140° was maintained for about 28 seconds until the aircraft struck Sevuokuk Mountain at an altitude of 424 feet. Several of the passengers could see the ground and were aware of their position relative to the village of Gambell. Some of them realized that the aircraft was going to hit the mountain and braced themselves. Shortly after the aircraft entered the fog and just before impact, some witnesses and survivors heard an increase in engine sound. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and three crew members and seven passengers were killed. All other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the flight crew's failure to adhere to prescribed company instrument approach procedures while attempting to land in adverse weather conditions. The following findings were reported:
- Weather in the area of the flight was below authorized minimums for an approach,
- The crew did not comply with approved instrument approach procedures during several attempts to land in instrument flight conditions,
- The runway rotating light beacon was no operating.
Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Novosibirsk

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42472
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
0 2 12 05
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear upon landing for undetermined reasons.