Crash of a Tupolev TU-124V near Kilpyavr AFB: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1970 at 1927 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-124
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45083
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Leningrad - Murmansk
MSN:
5 35 17 06
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
SU145
Location:
Kilpyavr AFB
Murmansk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
7425
Aircraft flight cycles:
5854
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight by night at an assigned altitude of 8,400 meters, the crew was cleared to descent to 2,400 bound for Kilpyavr AFB near Murmansk. While in a 3° nose-down attitude, the airplane struck the snow covered slope of a hill (240 meters high), slid for 624 meters then lost its both engines and wings and came to a halt, broken in two. The wreckage was found 29,5 km from the airport and 8 km to the right of the extended centerline. Eight passengers and three crew members (the captain, the navigator and the flight engineer) were killed while 27 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot-in-command started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum prescribed altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and the absence of any visual reference points on the ground did not allow the crew to know his exact position and to distinguish the ground obstacles. ATC allowed the crew to perform a straight-in approach with radar control. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Absence of an established approach procedure,
- Intermittent loss of VHF communications during the approach procedure,
- The relative inexperience of the flying crew with less than 500 flying hours on this type of aircraft.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Batagay: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1970 at 2053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47701
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chokurdakh - Batagay
MSN:
59900202
YOM:
1965
Location:
Batagay
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared to descent to 2,700 meters and received all information related to the destination airport. Shortly later, the crew informed ATC about their ETA in eight minutes. As the pilot has the runway in sight, he was cleared to descend to 600 meters. While cruising at an altitude of 1,020 meters at a speed of 350 km/h in a 7° nose-down attitude and a 3° left bank, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,081 meters high) located 40 km from the airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 34 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the ground collision was the consequence of a premature descent on part of the pilot-in-command who continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and the lack of assistance on part of ATC were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 6A off Cleveland: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1970 at 0749 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
N2300H
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cleveland - Detroit
MSN:
04444
YOM:
1953
Location:
Cleveland-Burke Lakefront
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
10200
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cleveland-Burke Lakefront Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Lake Erie. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the right wing partially failed during climb. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Wing attachment fitting, bolts,
- Fatigue fracture,
- FAA replacement time requirement inadequate on part of the company personnel,
- Lower right main wing/fuselage root JT attach fitting.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in New Delhi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1970 at 1913 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - New Delhi
MSN:
10290
YOM:
1965
Location:
New Delhi-Palam
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
7891
Aircraft flight cycles:
4581
Circumstances:
On approach to Palam Airport in New Delhi, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with storm activity, turbulences, rain and windshear. On final, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that was caught by downdrafts and crashed 3 km short of runway 28. A passenger was killed while 22 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by downdrafts, turbulences and probable windshear on final approach.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680V in Aspen: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1970 at 0806 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N6359U
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Aspen
MSN:
680-1536-4
YOM:
1965
Location:
Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
5865
Captain / Total hours on type:
525.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot get troubled by the presence of frost on the windshield and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. The airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few miles short of runway and was destroyed upon impact. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures and directives,
- Failure to provide adequate directives in manual equipment on par of the operational supervisory personnel,
- High obstructions,
- Accumulation of ice on windshield,
- The pilot-in-command failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment such as windshield anti-icing and de-icing systems,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- The pilot did not follow the company informal go-around procedures,
- There were no go-around procedures in the company operations manual,
- Mountain obscured by ice on windshield.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 814 Viscount in London

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
G-AWXI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London - East Midlands
MSN:
339
YOM:
1958
Location:
London-Heathrow
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 28R at London-Heathrow Airport, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, the engine n°4 failed and caught fire. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared for an emergency landing on the same runway. For undetermined reason, the crew was unable to feather the propeller. Following a normal approach, the airplane landed and was stopped in flames after a course of several hundred yards. All 42 occupants were quickly evacuated and there were no casualties. The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the failure of the engine n°4 could not be determined. The crew was unable to feather its propeller that was windmilling, causing drag. However, it was reported that a fuel line located near the engine n°4 failed, causing the fuel to ignite while in contact with high-temperature components of the engine.

Crash of a Vickers 701 Viscount in Bristol

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMOA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9
YOM:
1953
Location:
Bristol-Lulsgate
Somerset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
58
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For undetermined reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard. The pilot-in-command was able to stop the aircraft onto the runway and none of the 63 occupants were injured while the aircraft was considered as irreparable.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-12 in Aspen

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1970 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Registration:
N270L
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Aspen
MSN:
157
YOM:
1949
Location:
Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9700
Captain / Total hours on type:
41.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Denver, the aircraft belly landed at Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field Airport. It slid on the runway for several dozen yards before coming to rest. All 27 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wheels-up landing caused by a crew error. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The pilot-in-command failed to extend the landing gear on approach,
- The crew failed to use the approach checklist,
- Failure of the landing gear warning and indicating components,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel,
- The gear warning horn was improperly set.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99 Airliner in Chambéry

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 99 Airliner
Operator:
Registration:
F-BRUF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris-Le Bourget – Chambéry
MSN:
U-121
YOM:
1969
Location:
Chambéry-Aix-les-Bains
Savoie
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the crew started the approach to Chambéry-Aix-les-Bains Airport by night. In a limited visibility, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground and came to rest in a swampy area located few dozen meters short of runway 18 threshold. All 17 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the airport was not equipped with an ILS system.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 4C in Addis Ababa

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1970 at 0418 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ANI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairo - Khartoum - Addis Ababa
MSN:
6475
YOM:
1964
Flight number:
MS755
Location:
Addis Ababa-Bole
Addis Ababa City District
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Addis Ababa-Haile Selassie I Airport was completed by night and marginal weather conditions. On final, at an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot-in-command made a visual contact with runway 32 but the aircraft was 250 feet to the right of the extended centerline. The captain decided to make a turn to the left when the aircraft banked left, lost height and struck the ground. Out of control, it crashed by the runway and came to rest. All 14 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below minima weather conditions and passed the minimum descent altitude without any visual contact with the ground or runway. In such conditions, the captain should make a go-around procedure.
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