Crash of an Avia 14P in Zaporozhie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-52002
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tbilisi - Rostov-on-Don - Zaporozhie
MSN:
018 602 111
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
SU2903
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
21213
Aircraft flight cycles:
22259
Circumstances:
The descent to Zaporozhie Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions but with a visibility estimated to 4 km, above the minima. On final approach, the airplane was not properly aligned on the glide and the captain failed to follow the instructions transmitted by ATC and the warnings from his navigator. Eventually, while at an altitude of 40 meters, he elected to make a go around, increased engine power and started a turn to the right but it was too late. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located short of runway. A crew member and six passengers were killed while 28 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The captain started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the glide at an insufficient altitude. He neglected several procedures, ATC instructions and other crew members warning until the airplane struck the ground and crashed. Poor flight crew coordination and communication was considered as a contributing factor. Weather conditions were marginal with limited visibility but above the minima.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III in Casablanca: 61 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1970 at 0945 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CN-CCV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agadir - Casablanca - Paris
MSN:
32
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
76
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
61
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Agadir to Paris with an intermediate stop in Casablanca. On final approach, the crew encountered unclear technical problems when the airplane lost height and crashed 2 km short of runway 35 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and 61 occupants were killed while 21 other were injured.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the final approach was continued below the glide as a result of various problems. During the descent, the fire alarm connected to the right engine came on in the cockpit and the flight engineer immediately switched all the power of the hydraulic pumps on the engine that the captain was shutting down, which blocked the transfer actions until the power supply on the left engine would be reactivated. At impact, controls started to function again but it was too late for the pilot-in-command to expect recovery.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Toguchin: 45 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1970 at 0407 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47751
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Krasnoyarsk - Bratsk
MSN:
79901204
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU1661
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Aircraft flight hours:
3975
Aircraft flight cycles:
3832
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport at 0342LT and its crew was cleared to climb to 4,200 meters, altitude reached at 0353LT. At this time, the crew was cleared to continue to climb to the assigned altitude of 6,000 meters. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 5,400 meters, the airplane collided with a radiosonde weather balloon operated by the Hydrometeorological Service. The balloon struck the windshield and the nose cone and partially destroyed the cockpit. The airplane went out of control, entered a dive and partially disintegrated at the altitude of 2,000 meters before crashing in an open field located 20 km southeast of Toguchin. The airplane struck the ground at a speed of 300 km/h and was totally destroyed. All 45 occupants were killed. Some debris from the nose and the weather balloon were found more than 6 km from the main point of impact. The windshield was not recovered.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision with a radiosonde weather balloon while cruising by night. Apparently, the crew has not been informed about the presence of the weather balloon.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Binghamton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1970 at 1611 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N497DM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Binghampton - Washington DC
MSN:
AF-690
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6630
Captain / Total hours on type:
106.00
Circumstances:
At liftoff from Binghamton-Broome County Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height. Suddenly, it stalled and crashed in flames in an open field located near the airport. A pilot and two passengers were killed while eight other occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a poor flight preparation on part of the crew who decided to takeoff with a snow covered aircraft. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- The crew attempted to takeoff with snow on wings,
- Aircraft not cleaned prior to takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B off Belém: 38 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1970 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BUF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Recife - Belém
MSN:
556
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
QR903
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Circumstances:
The approach to Belém-Val-de-Cans-Júlio Cezar Ribeiro Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. While completing a last turn to join the approach path of runway 06, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when one of the wing struck the water surface. The airplane crashed into the Guajará Bay, about 800 meters short of runway 06 threshold. A crew member and a passenger were rescued while 38 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Probable misjudgement of the distance separating the aircraft and the water surface on part of the flying crew while conducting an approach in marginal weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Cairo

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AOC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
57302103
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Alexandria Airport, the crew informed ATC about the explosion of the left engine and requested the permission to divert to Cairo-Intl Airport for an emergency landing. Due to severe damages caused by the explosion, the crew was unable to lower the gear nor the flaps. Eventually, the captain decided to belly landed in a sandy area located near the runway 05. The airplane slid for dozen yards, came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while all 15 occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Explosion of the left engine due to the presence of a foreign object in the rear cone of the left engine nacelle.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Beryozovo

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-12966
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9 3 465 01
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an approach in a limited visibility due to thick fog, the airplane landed hard and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Misjudgement on part of the crew who failed to realize the distance with ground on final approach.

Crash of a Convair CV-990-30A-6 Coronado in Würenlingen: 47 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1970 at 1334 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-ICD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Zurich - Tel Aviv
MSN:
30-10-15
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
SR330
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
47
Captain / Total flying hours:
9674
Captain / Total hours on type:
1612.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
18429
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1969
Aircraft flight hours:
24447
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Zurich-Kloten Airport runway 28 at 1314LT bound for Tel Aviv with 38 passengers and nine crew members on board. Seven minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 14,000 feet some 41 km south of the airport, the captain contacted ATC and declared an emergency stating that a denotation occurred in the cargo compartment and that the cabin pressure was dropping. He requested an immediate return to Zurich and during the following minutes, he reported successively that smoke spread in the cabin and cockpit and that some of the instruments were unserviceable. He also reported the failure of the electrical system and asked for a radar assistance. While he was vectored to the airport, the copilot said 'smoke on board, I don't see anything' then the captain reported 'we are falling, goodbye everyone'. The airplane then completed a 180 turn, nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located near the village of Würenlingen, some 22 km northwest of runway 14 threshold. The airplane totally disintegrated on impact and all 47 occupants were killed. At the time of impact, the airplane was in a nose-down attitude of 12° and at a speed of 422 knots and in a slight left bank. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were marginal with rain falls, a cloud base at 300 meters, overcast till 600 meters, visibility up to 5 km and wind 15-20 knots. Among the passengers were 15 Israelis, nine Germans, five Americans, two Canadians, two Mexicans, one Belgian, one French, one British, one Thai and 10 Swiss citizens, among them all nine crew members.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the tragedy was the consequence of the detonation of an explosive device (bomb) that was placed on board, in the cargo hold. Connected to an altimeter, the bomb exploded once the altitude of 14,000 feet was reached, causing severe damages to the fuselage, the control systems and causing smoke to spread in the cabin. The act of sabotage was later claimed by the Palestinian group Abu Jihad who justified the terrorist act by the presence of several Israel senior officials on board. No human error and no technical discrepancy were reported during investigations. The fire that followed the explosion damaged some of the generators, creating several electrical short circuits that made it impossible to continue the operation of the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Congo: 17 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1970
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CUD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9780
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in DRC. All 17 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 in Samsun

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-TEZ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10123
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
15679
Aircraft flight cycles:
14525
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Samsun Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 29 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who landed the aircraft too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available.