Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Shamshernagar: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AUV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10330
YOM:
1967
Location:
Shamshernagar
Sylhet
Country:
Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
7813
Aircraft flight cycles:
11387
Circumstances:
On approach to Shamshernagar Airport, the pilot realized he was too high on the glide. Instead of initiating a go-around manoeuvre, he selected ground fine pitch on both propellers while the aircraft was at a height of few hundred feet and at a speed of 125 knots. Doing so, the airplane adopted a high rate of descent and at a height of 20 feet above the ground, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed short of runway. The airplane was totally destroyed and seven passengers were killed. All other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who selected ground fine pitch on both propellers still in flight instead of making a go-around manoeuvre.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2A7 in Charlotte Amalie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1970 at 1442 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-200
Operator:
Registration:
N8790R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
20240/717
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
TBB505
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10666
Captain / Total hours on type:
169.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
21016
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1126
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown on runway 09 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the airplane bounced twice and eventually landed firmly after a course of 2,700 feet (runway 09 is 4,650 feet long). At this time, the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane overran, went through a fence and a road before coming to rest in flames against a hill. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and two passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
The captain's use of improper techniques in recovering from a high bounce generated by a poorly executed approach and touchdown. Lack of cockpit crew coordination during the approach and attempted recovery contributed to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 748-1-105 in Sarmiento

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
LV-HHH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Esquel - Sarmiento
MSN:
1546
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
AR682
Location:
Sarmiento
Chubut
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
21542
Aircraft flight cycles:
17282
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the twin engine aircraft landed hard at Sarmiento Airport. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, causing both propellers to struck the ground. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries among the 28 occupants.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1970
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41288
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G64-03
YOM:
1965
Location:
Ukhta
Republic of Komi
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 pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed near Ukhta and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft B80 Queen Air in Indonesia

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
SAATAS - East Indonesian Air Charter
Registration:
PK-LEB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LD-356
YOM:
1967
Location:
Indonesia
All Indonesia
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed following an engine failure at takeoff somewhere in Indonesia. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a BAc 111-424EU in Constanţa: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1970
Type of aircraft:
BAc 111
Operator:
Registration:
YR-BCA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tel Aviv – Bucharest
MSN:
130
YOM:
1968
Location:
Constanța
Constanța
Country:
Romania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
In flight from Tel Aviv to Bucharest, the crew was informed about bad weather at destination and was rerouted to Constanţa, about 200 km east of Bucharest. While approaching Constanţa-Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog. Descending too low, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located about 5 km short of runway. Eight occupants were injured while 19 others were killed.
Probable cause:
The visibility was limited due to fog and the crew continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude (MDA), in violation of the published procedures.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in New Delhi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1970 at 0643 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CZC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Delhi - Jaipur
MSN:
12103
YOM:
1943
Location:
New Delhi-Safdarjung
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from New Delhi-Safdarjung Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The pilot declared an emergency, initiated a turn when the airplane went out of control, stalled and crashed. Three crew members and two passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine during initial climb due to fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the crew failed to follow the preflight checklist and due to poor flight preparation, the aircraft was not refueled prior to departure.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Tambov

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1970
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-25611
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G61-37
YOM:
1965
Location:
Tambov
Tambov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a steep turn at low height, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a field. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Stewart-Davis PBY-5A Super Catalina in Christiansted

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1970 at 0803 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
N5584V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – Christiansted
MSN:
1846
YOM:
1944
Location:
Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen (ex Alexander Hamilton)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching the seaplane base of Christiansted, the crew suspected technical problems with the undercarriage and decided to divert to Christiansted-Alexander Hamilton Airport. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the seaplane came to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing due to the failure of the upper end hydraulic actuator. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear failure,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Corrosion,
- Improper maintenance of the aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Precautionary landing on airport following a suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Gear overdue 1,700 hours overhaul by 801 hours.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1970 at 1817 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft G18S
Operator:
Rambar Aviation
Registration:
N871MP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Parkersburg - Pittsburgh
MSN:
BA-610
YOM:
1962
Location:
Pittsburgh-Intl
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
1800.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed 3 miles short of runway. All seven occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who misread or failed to read the instruments on approach. The airplane hit the ground 3 miles short of runway, about 950 feet below glide slope.
Final Report:
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