Scheduled Revenue Flight

On 1 January 2007, a Boeing Company 737-4Q8 aircraft, registered PK-KKW, operated by Adam SkyConnection Airlines (AdamAir) as flight number DHI574, was on a scheduled passenger flight from Surabaya (SUB), East Java to Manado (MDC), Sulawesi, at FL350 (35,000 feet) when it disappeared from radar. The aircraft departed from Djuanda Airport, Surabaya at 05:59 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) under the instrument flight rules (IFR), with an estimated time of arrival (ETA) at Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado of 08:14. The fuel endurance on departure from Surabaya was hours 30 minutes, and the crew had flight planned for an alternate of Gorontalo (GTO). The pilot in command (PIC) was the pilot flying for the sector to Manado and the copilot was the monitoring/support pilot. There were 102 people on board; two pilots, 4 cabin crew, and 96 passengers comprised of 85 adults, 7 children and 4 infants.

On a flight from Puksinka to Vagel, while flying at an altitude of 300 metres, the engine lost power. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Shaburovo, coming to rest hanging in trees about 2 metres above the ground. All 3 crew and 10 passengers survived but the occupants sustained various injuries from jumping down from the plane that was damaged beyond repair.

Following an uneventful flight from Jakarta, the crew started the descent to Makassar (Ujung Pandang) Airport. On approach to runway 31, flaps were selected down from 15° to 30° when the captain observed an asymmetrical condition between both flaps and decided to set back at 15° and to continue the approach in such conditions. The aircraft landed hard to the left of the runway centerline and bounced twice. Out of control, it veered off runway, lost its right main gear and came to rest few dozen metres further. All 164 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair as the left main gear punctured the fuel tank and the fuselage was deformed.

Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway. While contacting soft ground, the left main gear collapsed as well, causing the left propeller to struck the ground. A propeller blade separated and penetrated the fuselage, and the aircraft came to rest on its belly. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The twin engine aircraft departed Canouan Island Airport at 1842LT on a short flight to Kingstown, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, carrying one passenger and one pilot. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot was instructed to report once passing over Bequia Island. Few minutes later, after passing Bequia Island, the pilot contacted ATC and reported he was at the altitude of 1,100 feet with an ETA in Kingstown in four minutes. At 1853LT, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea. The next morning, few debris were found floating on water and no trace of both occupants was ever found. The passenger was the Director of American Eagle for the Canouan Island. All SAR operations were abandoned few days later and the wreckage was not found.

The aircraft was on a flight from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Norway House, Manitoba, with two crew members and seven passengers on board. After touchdown on Runway 05, when propeller reverse was selected, the aircraft veered to the left. The crew attempted to regain directional control; however, the aircraft departed the left side of the runway surface, entered an area of loose snow, traversed a shallow ditch, climbed a rocky embankment, and came to rest on its belly with all three landing gears collapsed. The crew and passengers exited the aircraft through the main door stairway and the over-wing exits. There were no reported injuries. The accident occurred during daylight hours at 0834 central standard time.

The single engine aircraft departed Orange Walk Airport at 0700LT for a 30 miles flight to Corozal, North Belize. After 15 minutes, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to ditch the aircraft about 4 miles south of High Bluff. The aircraft sank in shallow water (about 5 feet deep). All 6 occupants were rescued by the crew of a boat.

On final approach to Punta Pájaros Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (stormy weather). He initiated a go-around and was trying to gain height when the single engine aircraft collided with bushes and crashed in a lagoon. All 14 occupants evacuated with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Weather conditions were marginal at the time of the accident.

The B737-200 aircraft which night-stopped at Calabar on Saturday the 28th of October, 2006, departed for Lagos in the morning of the 29th of October, 2006, and landed in Lagos at 0825 hrs. While on ground in Lagos, it uplifted some fuel. There was only cabin crew change. The aircraft departed Lagos on scheduled passenger service as ADK 063 at 0929 hrs and landed in Abuja at 1020 hrs. The aircraft uplifted 5000 litres of fuel and had 11000kg fuel for departure as ADK 053, a scheduled service to Sokoto. After boarding, it started raining and this compelled the crew to close the aircraft doors. Shortly after the rain had subsided, the doors were opened for the ground personnel to disembark. The crew then requested for start-up clearance. At 1115 hrs the aircraft was given a start up clearance for Sokoto. At 1121 hrs, the aircraft was given taxi clearance to holding position Runway 22. The pilot immediately requested for the wind, which was given as “210 variable at 8 kts”. Shortly after, the Control Tower transmitted the wind as south-westerly at 15 kts. While taxiing, the control tower advised Flight ADK 053 of gusty wind. The wind was initially given as 35 kts and then changed to 28 kts within 1 minute. At 1125 hrs while the aircraft was at the holding point, the crew was again advised of South-Westerly wind at 15 kts. At this juncture, the pilot of Virgin Nigeria 042 was heard on the radio saying “it looks like 35 kts to me” and then stated that he was going to wait for improvement in the weather, which he did. Thereafter, the ADK 053 crew requested for takeoff clearance and was cleared with right turn-out on course. Flight ADK 053 was airborne at 1129 hrs and was transferred to the Approach Control on 119.8MHZ but there was no acknowledgement from the crew. After three unsuccessful attempts to contact the aircraft, the Tower advised the Approach Control to call ADK 053. Other aircraft on the apron (Virgin Nigeria 042 and Trade Wings 2401), which were on that frequency were also asked to assist in contacting the aircraft but all attempts were unsuccessful. Kano and Lagos Area Controls were requested to contact ADK 053, but there was no response from the aircraft. Abuja Flight Communication Centre was then advised to inform National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Kano about the loss of contact with the aircraft. At 1138 hrs, Flight Communication Centre called the Control Tower that someone came from a nearby village (Tungar Madaki) near the radar site and reported that a plane had crashed in their village. A search party from the airport was dispatched and they found and confirmed that the plane had crashed shortly after takeoff. The accident resulted in 96 fatalities out of 105 persons on board (POB). The accident occured at latitude N 08 59.691’ longitude E 007 14.772’ on an elevation of 1123 ft (ASL). The time of the accident was 1130 hrs during daylight and in rain.

On approach to Tarakan-Juwata Airport, the crew was informed of the poor visibility due smoke emanating from forest fire. After touchdown on runway 06/24 which is 1,845 metres long, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and one engine and came to rest. All 110 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reported to be about 400 metres, below minimums.