Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rawlins – Denver

MSN:

LD-286

YOM:

1966

Location:

Denver-Stapleton

Colorado

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2062

Captain / Total hours on type:

148.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Denver-Stapleton was completed in poor weather conditions, below MDA for an ASR approach. At the decision height, the pilot-in-command was unable to locate the runway so he decided to initiate a go-around when the left engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. Two passengers were seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure or malfunction during a missed approach procedure. The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls,
- Ice induction,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ice,
- Complete failure of the left engine,
- Incorrect use of alt air left engine,
- Weather above DH.AST approach offered and accepted by the pilot,
- Weather below MDA for ASR approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 off Tiksi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1969 at 2027 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-44984

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Borogon – Tiksi

MSN:

1G27-06

YOM:

1963

Flight number:

T-2

Location:

Tiksi

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5515

Aircraft flight cycles:

3918

Circumstances:

On final approach to Tiksi by night and poor weather conditions, while at an altitude of 300 meters and a speed of 150 km/h, the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed into the Tiksi bay, some 2.5 km from the runway threshold. A passenger was rescued while five other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The engine failed on approach to Tiksi Airport due to the failure of exhaust valves, pistons and cylinders. It was also determined that the cylinder head temperature decreased on final approach and that the carburetor was iced, causing the engine to lose power and the aircraft to suffer a reduction of aerodynamic performances.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Choquetanga: 74 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1969 at 1510 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

CP-698

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santa Cruz - La Paz

MSN:

43273/191

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 15,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Choquetanga and was totally destroyed upon impact. The wreckage was found three days later in an isolated area. All 74 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 727-64 in Mexico City: 27 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1969 at 1720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-100

Operator:

Registration:

XA-SEJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mexico City-Benito Juarez

Schedule:

Chicago - Mexico City

MSN:

19255/331

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

MX801

Location:

Federal District of Mexico City

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

115

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to runway 23L at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport, the three engine airplane lost height and struck the ground about 1,5 km short of runway threshold. It bounced and became airborne again when the nose gear and the forward fuselage struck a railway embankment. Out of control, the airplane crashed and broke into several pieces near the runway threshold. 80 people were wounded while 15 others were uninjured. Five crew members and 22 passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty due to negligence on part of the technicians in charge of the aircraft maintenance. Investigations revealed that at the time of the accident, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was not properly installed and was unserviceable. It was later reported that the technicians failed to follow the published procedures regarding the FDR installation process. No Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was on board at the time of the accident as the same technicians did not reinstall it prior to the flight. In such conditions, the airplane was unairworthy.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster in Đà Nẵng: 77 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1969 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

XV-NUG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saigon – Pleiku – Đà Nẵng

MSN:

10860

YOM:

1945

Location:

Đà Nẵng

Đà Nẵng City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Saigon via Pleiku, the crew started the descent to Đà Nẵng in marginal weather conditions. The visibility was relatively limited due to clouds. On final, the DC-4 was cleared to land on runway 17L. At the same time, the crew of a USAF F4E Phantom II registered 67-0393 was approaching runway 17R when he was contacted by ATC and also cleared to land. The crew of the DC-4 understood this message was dedicated to him so the captain made a turn to the right to join the runway 17R approach path. Doing so in limited visibility, he failed to see the Phantom that was approaching from his right side. Both airplane collided and while the Phantom was able to land, the Skymaster entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a rice paddy field located about three km from the runway threshold. Two passengers were seriously injured while 75 other occupants and two people on the ground were killed. Two other people working in the field were also injured.

Probable cause:

Misinterpretation of ATC clearance on part of the pilot who modified his approach path, causing the aircraft to collide with a USAF fighter.

Crash of a Convair CV-640 in Campbell River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1969 at 1709 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-640

Operator:

Registration:

CF-PWR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Vancouver - Campbell River

MSN:

440

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

PW627

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Convair approached Campbell River with the weather just above minima (2-2,5 miles visibility, 400 feet broken ceiling and wind 110 degrees with gusts to 20 mph. The crew positioned the aircraft visually 2nm south of the airfield on a westerly heading preparatory to attempting an approach to the west. This would involve a right hand circuit flown above the broken south and west of the airport employing DME and ADF information. This improvised approach was not in accordance with published approach procedures under instrument conditions. After flying for 1 minute and 40 seconds the crew turned right. A few seconds after the captain expressed concern, the Convair struck a 1047 feet hill at 932 feet.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who failed to comply with the approved instrument approach procedure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Londrina: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1969 at 2033 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SPP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Campo Grande – Londrina – São Paulo

MSN:

15618/27063

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Londrina Airport at 1833LT on the last leg to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport on a flight from Campo Grande to São Paulo. About 50 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to shut down the left engine and to feather its propeller. The captain was then cleared to return to Londrina for a safe landing as an emergency landing at Ourinhos Airport was not possible as it was not lighted at night. On final approach to runway 12 at Londrina Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames less than two km from the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

Technical problems encountered en route with the left engine for undetermined reason.

Crash of a BAc 111-402AP in Manila: 45 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1969

Type of aircraft:

BAc 111

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C1131

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cebu City - Manila

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

PR158

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7208

Aircraft flight cycles:

6445

Circumstances:

On final approach to Manila Intl Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames some 22 km from the runway 24 threshold. A crew member (steward) and a passenger were rescued while 45 other occupants were killed.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Yakutsk

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1969 at 1525 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75791

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: