Crash of a Cessna 402A on Mt Kumaneshiriyama: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
JA5162
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
402A-0021
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mt Kumaneshiriyama
Hokkaidō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Sapporo-Okadama Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Kumaneshiriyama located about 47 km northeast of Okadama Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Gilgal

Date & Time: May 29, 1972 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1135
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
721
YOM:
1954
Location:
Gilgal
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Gilgal, while climbing, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed in a field. All seven occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after cargo shifted during initial climb.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 on Helgoland Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1972 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
D-IDHC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Helgoland - Wangerooge
MSN:
31
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
GQ005
Location:
Heligoland-Düne
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Düne Airport on Helgoland Island, while climbing to a height of 60 meters, the airplane banked left and crashed 200 meters to the left of the runway. Both pilots and six passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 off Lobito: 22 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
CR-LLD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luanda – Lobito – Lubango
MSN:
10439
YOM:
1970
Location:
Lobito
Benguela
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Aircraft flight hours:
3828
Aircraft flight cycles:
3224
Circumstances:
On final approach in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane descended too low and crashed into the sea 3 km offshore. Two passengers and a crew member were rescued while 22 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minima and the crew continued the approach until the airplane contacted water and crashed.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Albuquerque: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1972 at 1229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Ross Aviation - USA
Registration:
N841NS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Albuquerque - Santa Fe
MSN:
LD-346
YOM:
1967
Location:
Albuquerque-Sunport
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
6769
Captain / Total hours on type:
411.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Albuquerque Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to return when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure or malfunction during initial climb and uncontrolled descent. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Deficiency of company maintained equipment, services and regulation by operational supervisory personnel,
- Left front cargo door improperly secured,
- Blades failure due to foreign object damage,
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Forward cargo door not secured, opened in flight and damaged left prop, causing additional drag,
- Door unsafe system inoperative.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: May 18, 1972 at 1521 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
N8961E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Fort Lauderdale – Cleveland
MSN:
45870/332
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
EA346
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16500
Captain / Total hours on type:
960.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1500
Aircraft flight hours:
10928
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing flight EA346 from Miami to Cleveland with an intermediate stop in Fort Lauderdale. On approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and limited visibility due to rain showers. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed hard on runway 09L with a rate of descent of 2,000 feet per minute. On impact, the undercarriage and the tail were torn off and the airplane slid on the wet runway before coming to rest in flames. Three occupants were injured while seven others escaped unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by a ground fire.
Probable cause:
The decision of the pilot to initiate and continue an instrument approach under weather conditions which precluded adequate visual reference and the faulty techniques used by the pilot during the landing phase of that approach. The Safety Board also finds that the flight crew's non-adherence to prescribed operational practices and procedures compromised the safe operation of the flight.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-10A in Rus'ka Lozova: 122 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1972 at 1153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-10
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11215
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Kharkiv
MSN:
0 4 025 02
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU1491
Location:
Rus'ka Lozova
Kharkiv oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
115
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
122
Aircraft flight hours:
15483
Aircraft flight cycles:
11105
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Vnukovo Airport at an altitude of 7,200 meters, the crew was cleared to approach Kharkiv-Osnova Airport and to descent to 1,500 meters. While approaching at a speed of 400-500 km/h with a rate of descent of 6 meters per second, the airplane lost its both wings, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Rus'ka Lozova, about 25 km north of Kharkiv-Osnova Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 122 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a structural failure of the center section lower panel caused the failure of both wings due to fatigue cracks. The rate of descent and the presence of atmospheric turbulences were considered as contributing factors. Investigations revealed that this portion of the aircraft could not be inspected by technicians during a maintenance process due to a faulty conception of the aircraft, thus the fatigue fractures could not be detected in time. Following this tragedy, the Antonov AN-10 would not be operated anymore in passenger service.

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

Date & Time: May 12, 1972
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-50506
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G88-33
YOM:
1967
Location:
Kirensk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crash landed in a field near Kirensk. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 101 in Valledupar

Date & Time: May 7, 1972 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
HK-721
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maicao – Valledupar – Barrancabermeja – Bogotá
MSN:
152
YOM:
1962
Location:
Valledupar
Cesar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Valledupar-Alfonso Lopez Pumarejo Airport at 1530LT bound for Barrancabermeja on a flight from Maicao to Bogotá. During initial climb, the crew reported technical problems with the left engine that failed and was cleared to return to Valledupar for a safe landing. On final approach to runway 02, the captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed 900 meters short of runway threshold. All 32 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-43 in Palermo: 115 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1972 at 2224 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
I-DIWB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rome - Palermo
MSN:
45625/144
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
AZ112
Location:
Palermo-Punta Raisi
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
108
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
115
Captain / Total flying hours:
8565
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3117
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, the crew started the approach to Palermo-Punta Raisi by night. The four engine airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Longa (600 meters high) located 7 km south of the airport, west of the village of Carini. It was determined that the aircraft struck the mountain just few meters below its summit and disintegrated on impact. All 115 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited to 5 km with clouds down to 1,500 feet.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the minimum descent altitude. The lack of visibility caused by adverse weather conditions remains a contributing factor, as well as poor IFR operation on part of the crew. Also, it was reported that the crew failed to follow some of ATC instructions.
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