Crash of a Boeing 737-406 in Barcelona

Date & Time: Nov 28, 2004 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH-BTC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam – Barcelona
MSN:
25424
YOM:
1992
Flight number:
KL1673
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
140
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5414
Captain / Total hours on type:
5414.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5117
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1543
Aircraft flight hours:
31756
Aircraft flight cycles:
22156
Circumstances:
At 16:46 KLM Flight 1673 departed Amsterdam for Barcelona. Upon rotation from runway 18L the aircraft suffered a bird strike. A bird collided with the nose gear. The gear was retracted normally and there was no abnormal indication in the cockpit. The crew reported the impact to the ATC and the flight to Barcelona continued normally. The aircraft touched down on Barcelona's runway 25R. After touchdown of the nose landing gear, the aircraft started deviating to the left of the runway centreline. The veering to the left continued and the aircraft left the paved surface of the runway and went through an area of soft sand where some construction works were being carried out. The nose landing gear leg collapsed rearwards and the left main landing gear leg detached from its fittings shortly before the aircraft came to a stop close to the edge of a rain drainage canal. The final position of the aircraft was at a longitudinal distance of approximately 1606 m from runway 25R threshold, and at a lateral distance of approximately 84 m from the runway centreline.
Probable cause:
It is considered that the accident probably happened because during the takeoff a bird strike broke one of the cables of the nose wheel steering system of the aircraft and jammed the other, which made that the nose wheels were rotated to the left during landing, causing a veering to the left that could not be arrested by full rudder deflection as the aircraft decelerated. The subsequent application of brakes and other actions by the crew could not avoid that the aircraft went outside the runway surface. The damages to the aircraft were increased by the condition of the runway strip due to the airport construction works. Contributing to the breaking of the cable was the fact that it was severely worn locally. The wear could be traced back to the incorrect application of grease to the cable system during maintenance. Despite the training and experience of the flight crew, they were unable to quickly recognize the possible cause of the deviation of the aircraft and to keep the aircraft on the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II in Arusha

Date & Time: Nov 27, 2004 at 1618 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-RAS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arusha – Seronera
MSN:
406-0005
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
80.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was taking off for a scheduled flight from Arusha to Seronera. At 12:15 hours the aircraft taxied from the apron to the threshold of runway 27 at which point take off for Seronera was initiated. The controller, who was handling the flight, said that the initial segment of the take off roll was normal. When the aircraft had covered about 500 metres he saw the left main landing gear collapsing and the aircraft swinging to the left of the runway. It continued to run on its belly pod on a grass hedge parallel to runway 27 and came to rest at the eastern edge of the apron. There was no fire and all the occupants deplaned without injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to propellers, the right wing, the fuselage and underside structure. The cargo pod in the belly was completely destroyed and its debris was scattered along the wreckage trail.
Probable cause:
There does not appear to be any defects in the aircraft, which could have contributed to this accident. The available evidence would point to premature rotation and premature retraction of the landing gear. Much of the pilot’s recent flying was on low speed aircraft. He had flown Cessna 208s and Twin Otters for many years. His experience on the Cessna 406 was 80 hours. In fact he had flown a Twin Otter only hours before switching to the Cessna 406.

Crash of a Canadair RegionalJet CRJ-200LR in Baotou: 55 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 2004 at 0820 LT
Operator:
Registration:
B-3072
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Baotou – Shanghai
MSN:
7697
YOM:
2002
Flight number:
CYH5210
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
55
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 13 at Baotou Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered difficulties to maintain a positive rate of climb. It stalled, collided with a small house and eventually crashed in the icy lake of the Nanhai Park. The wreckage was found about 2 km from the airport and all 53 occupants were killed as well as two people in the house.
Probable cause:
Loss of lift and subsequent stall after takeoff due to an excessive accumulation of ice and frost on wings, tail and fuselage. It was determined that the aircraft remained parked outside, on the ramp, all preceding night by negative temperature and that the crew failed to deice the airplane prior to takeoff.

Crash of a BAe 3101 Jetstream 31 in Caracas: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2004 at 1302 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-1083C
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
El Vigía – Caracas
MSN:
762
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
VNE213
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 09, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the right and eventually collided with the fire station located between both runways 08 and 09 at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport. Two female passengers were killed while 19 other occupants suffered injuries of various degrees. Few hours later, a third passenger died from his injuries. Weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident with heavy rain falls, and the runway surface was wet.

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C off Nassau

Date & Time: Oct 22, 2004 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N79YV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arthur’s Town – Nassau
MSN:
UB-41
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
SAC204
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
112.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
568
Copilot / Total hours on type:
178
Aircraft flight hours:
26397
Circumstances:
The occurrence of this accident was notified to the Flight Standards Inspectorate by the Nassau Control Tower. On October 22, 2004 about 1328 eastern daylight time (1828Z) a Beechcraft 1900C, N79YV registered to JODA LLC of Chesterfield Missouri, and operated by Southern Air Charter Limited of Nassau, Bahamas, was ditched. The accident occurred in approximately four (4) feet of water, approximately 82 yards off the southern shoreline of New Providence Island (6.98 nautical miles southeast of the Nassau International Airport). The State of Manufacture of the airframe and engines (United States) was advised of the accident on that day and invited to participate in the investigation. The NTSB as well as the FAA were also notified and subsequently made party to the investigation, as the aircraft was a United States registered aircraft operating on an approved United States 129.14 maintenance program. Visual Meteorological Conditions prevailed at the time and an outbound visual flight plan was on file. N79YV operated as a schedule air commuter on a domestic transport flight. The flight originated from Arthur’s Town, Cat Island Bahamas enroute to Nassau International Airport, Nassau, Bahamas. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The occupants of the aircraft consisted of eight (8) passengers and a crew of two (2). The Pilot in Command held an Airline Transport Pilot rating and the First Officer held a Commercial Pilot rating. Both crews were certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA). No serious injuries or fatalities were reported.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine due to fuel exhaustion. No fuel was found in left or right collector tanks. On October 22, 2004 at 6:35 am, a total of 386 gallons of fuel was uplifted, which brought fuel total to 2800 pounds. A total of 3 flights were conducted lasting 29 minutes, 11 minutes and then 21 minutes (for a total of 61 minutes chock to chock time and a usage of 700 pounds of fuel) which brought fuel total down to 2100 pounds. On October 22, 2004 at 8:42am a further 146 gallons of fuel was uplifted. This additional 146 gallons brought fuel total back to 2800 pounds. No additional fuel slips were produced to show any further uplift of fuel. A total of 8 flights including the fateful flight were conducted with this 2800 pounds of fuel.
Final Report:

Crash of a BAe 3201 Jetstream 32EP in Kirksville: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2004 at 1937 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N875JX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Louis – Kirksville
MSN:
875
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
AA5966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
4234
Captain / Total hours on type:
2510.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2856
Copilot / Total hours on type:
107
Aircraft flight hours:
21979
Aircraft flight cycles:
28973
Circumstances:
On October 19, 2004, about 1937 central daylight time, Corporate Airlines (doing business as American Connection) flight 5966, a BAE Systems BAE-J3201, N875JX, struck trees on final approach and crashed short of runway 36 at Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK), Kirksville, Missouri. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a scheduled passenger flight from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, in St. Louis, Missouri, to IRK. The captain, first officer, and 11 of the 13 passengers were fatally injured, and 2 passengers received serious injuries. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a post impact fire. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan.
Probable cause:
the pilots' failure to follow established procedures and properly conduct a non precision instrument approach at night in IMC, including their descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) before required visual cues were available (which continued unmoderated until the airplane struck the trees) and their failure to adhere to the established division of duties between the flying and non flying (monitoring) pilot.
Contributing to the accident was the pilots' failure to make standard callouts and the current Federal Aviation Regulations that allow pilots to descend below the MDA into a region in which safe obstacle clearance is not assured based upon seeing only the airport approach lights. The pilots' unprofessional behavior during the flight and their fatigue likely contributed to their degraded performance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Sylhet

Date & Time: Oct 8, 2004 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S2-ACH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dhaka - Sylhet
MSN:
11172
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
BG601
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
79
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The flight from Dhaka to Sylhet was delayed for few hours due to poor weather conditions at destination with limited visibility, heavy rain falls, low ceiling and strong winds. Following an uneventful flight, the aircraft landed too far down a wet runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. 30 passengers were slightly injured while all other occupants escaped unhurt. Both pilots were seriously injured as the cockpit was trapped against an earth wall.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to refer to the PAPI's and following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The ILS system was not properly calibrated, causing the aircraft to land about 900 feet past the runway threshold,
- The aircraft was too high on approach,
- The aircraft' speed at touchdown was 20 knots above the reference speed,
- The braking action was considered as low because the runway surface was wet,
- Aquaplaning,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in La Ronge

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2004 at 1410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FIPW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stony Rapids - La Ronge
MSN:
AC-524
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
KA1501
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A Northern Dene Airways Ltd. Metro III (registration C-FIPW, serial number AC524), operating as Norcanair Flight KA1051, departed Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan, with two crew members and nine passengers on a day, visual flight rules flight to La Ronge, Saskatchewan. On arrival in La Ronge, at approximately 1410 central standard time, the crew completed the approach and landing checklists and confirmed the gear-down indication. The aircraft was landed in a crosswind on Runway 18 and touched down firmly, approximately 1000 feet from the threshold. On touchdown, the left wing dropped and the propeller made contact with the runway. The aircraft veered to the left side of the runway, despite full rudder and aileron deflection. The crew applied maximum right braking and shut down both engines. The aircraft departed the runway and travelled approximately 200 feet through the infield before the nose and right main gear were torn rearwards; the left gear collapsed into the wheel well. The aircraft slid on its belly before coming to rest approximately 300 feet off the side of the runway. Three of the passengers suffered minor injuries from the sudden stop associated with the final collapsing of the landing gear; the other passengers and the pilots were not injured.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. An incorrect roller of a smaller diameter and type was installed on the left main landing gear outboard bellcrank assembly, contrary to company and industry practice.
2. The smaller diameter roller reduced the required rigging tolerances for the bellcrank-to-cam assembly in the down-and-locked position and allowed the roller to eventually move beyond the cam cutout position, resulting in the collapse of the left landing gear.
3. A rigging check was not carried out after the replacement of the bellcrank roller. Such a check should have revealed that neither the inboard nor outboard bellcrank assembly met the minimum rigging requirements for proper engagement with the positioning cam.
Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154B-2 near Gluboki: 46 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 2004 at 2253 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-85556
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Sochi
MSN:
82A556
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
SBI1047
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Aircraft flight hours:
30751
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow-Domodedovo Airport at 2140LT on a schedule service to Sochi-Adler Airport. At 2253LT, while cruising at an altitude of 12,100 metres, the aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located near Gluboki. First rescuers arrived on the scene about 8 hours later. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 46 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Federal Safety Board (FSB) reported 3 days later that the accident was the consequence of the explosion of a bomb. Two women flying from Makhatshala landed in Moscow at 1945LT and were able to embark with the explosive device following security deficiencies. Traces of hexogene were found on debris.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A-3 in Buchalki: 44 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 2004 at 2253 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-65080
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Volgograd
MSN:
60065
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
WLG1303
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Aircraft flight hours:
30751
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow-Domodedovo Airport at 2230LT on a regular service to Volgograd with 35 passengers and a crew of nine on board. Some 23 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 8,100 metres, the aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located near Buchalki. The wreckage was found in the middle of the night and all 44 occupants were killed. The accident occurred at the same time of a Tupolev TU-154 operated by Sibir Airlines.
Probable cause:
The Federal Safety Board (FSB) reported 3 days later that the accident was the consequence of the explosion of a bomb. Two women flying from Makhatshala landed in Moscow at 1945LT and were able to embark with the explosive device following security deficiencies.