Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

473

YOM:

1975

Location:

Coron-Francisco B. Reyes

Palawan

Country:

Philippines

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea off Coron. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in Little Rock: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1999 at 2350 LT

Type of aircraft:

McDonnell Douglas MD-82

Operator:

Registration:

N215AA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Little Rock-Bill & Hillary Clinton

Schedule:

Dallas – Little Rock

MSN:

49163

YOM:

1983

Flight number:

AA1420

Location:

Arkansas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

139

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10234

Captain / Total hours on type:

5518.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4292

Copilot / Total hours on type:

182

Aircraft flight hours:

49136

Aircraft flight cycles:

27103

Circumstances:

On June 1, 1999, at 2350:44 central daylight time, American Airlines flight 1420, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82), N215AA, crashed after it overran the end of runway 4R during landing at Little Rock National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. Flight 1420 departed from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, about 2240 with 2 flight crewmembers, 4 flight attendants, and 139 passengers aboard and touched down in Little Rock at 2350:20. After departing the end of the runway, the airplane struck several tubes extending outward from the left edge of the instrument landing system localizer array, located 411 feet beyond the end of the runway; passed through a chain link security fence and over a rock embankment to a flood plain, located approximately 15 feet below the runway elevation; and collided with the structure supporting the runway 22L approach lighting system. The captain and 10 passengers were killed; the first officer, the flight attendants, and 105 passengers received serious or minor injuries; and 24 passengers were not injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Flight 1420 was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 on an instrument flight rules flight plan.

Probable cause:

The flight crew's failure to discontinue the approach when severe thunderstorms and their associated hazards to flight operations had moved into the airport area and the flight crew's failure to ensure that the spoilers had extended after touchdown. Contributing to the accident were the flight crew's:
(1) impaired performance resulting from fatigue and the situational stress associated with the intent to land under the circumstances,
(2) continuation of the approach to a landing when the company's maximum crosswind component was exceeded, and
(3) use of reverse thrust greater than 1.3 engine pressure ratio after landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Berberati

Date & Time: May 19, 1999

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

TL-ACO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Schedule:

Bangui – Berberati

MSN:

9 51 16 39

YOM:

1975

Location:

Berberati

Mambéré-Kadéï

Country:

Central African Republic

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Berberati Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest with both wings severely damaged. All 33 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Port Vila: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1999 at 1921 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

YJ-RV9

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Espíritu Santo – Port Vila

MSN:

694

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Port Vila Airport was conducted by night and heavy rain falls. On final, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea about 11 km from the airport, 8 km offshore. Five people were rescued while seven others including the pilot were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot may have lost control of the airplane after suffering a loss of situational awareness after he lost visual contact with the airport lights.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Málaga: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1999 at 1140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2760

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bucaramanga – Málaga

MSN:

777

YOM:

1981

Flight number:

ATK7655

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3820

Captain / Total hours on type:

392.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

966

Copilot / Total hours on type:

599

Aircraft flight hours:

34074

Aircraft flight cycles:

52799

Circumstances:

While descending to Málaga Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with low clouds and strong winds. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed approach path and entered a valley when the crew lost his orientation in clouds. At an altitude of 8,100 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt La Carbonera shrouded in clouds. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Final Report:

Ground fire of an ATR42-320 in Mucuri

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1999 at 1818 LT

Type of aircraft:

ATR42-300

Operator:

Registration:

PT-MFI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

São Paulo – Mucuri

MSN:

302

YOM:

1992

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10500

Captain / Total hours on type:

3550.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

6500

Copilot / Total hours on type:

799

Circumstances:

On approach to Mucuri-Itabatã Airport runway 05, the right engine caught fire. The crew followed the checklist, continued the approach and completed a safe landing. After touchdown, the aircraft slightly deviated to the right and came to rest, bursting into flames. All 14 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the engine fire was the consequence of the failure of a fuel burner.

Final Report:

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 in Pohang

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1999 at 1155 LT

Type of aircraft:

McDonnell Douglas MD-83

Operator:

Registration:

HL7570

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Seoul - Pohang

MSN:

53485

YOM:

1996

Flight number:

KE1533

Location:

Pohang

North Gyeongsang (경상북도)

Country:

South Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

150

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Pohang Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls and strong winds. The captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure and started a second approach few minutes later. On approach to runway 10, the wind component changed and the crew continued the descent with a 20 knots tailwind. At an excessive speed of 158 knots, the aircraft landed 1,500 feet past the runway threshold. On a wet runway surface, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 10 is 7,000 feet long), overran, struck a 3 metres high embankment and came to rest in a ravine, broken in two. All 156 occupants were rescued, among them 60 passengers were injured, two seriously.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- Poor crew action during an approach in poor weather conditions,
- Excessive tailwind component,
- Misuse of brake and thrust reverser systems during the landing roll, about 27 seconds after touchdown only,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure as the landing was obviously missed,
- Poor ground assistance.

Crash of a Boeing 737-228 in Biarritz

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1999 at 2010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

F-GBYA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Paris - Biarritz

MSN:

23000

YOM:

1982

Flight number:

AF7638

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Air France Flight 7638, a Boeing 737-228, operated on a domestic flight from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Biarritz. The co-pilot on the flight was Pilot Flying (PF). While en route, about an hour before arrival, the flight crew listened out the ATIS frequency. The latest report mentioned a visibility of 10 km, a headwind of 15 to 30 kt and rain. When descending towards Biarritz the crew obtained an avoidance heading to bypass a thunderstorm cell. The flight was subsequently cleared for an ILS DME Cat I for runway 27. In the four minutes before landing, the visibility was 1500 metres in a squall, wind 6 kt with gusts to 3 kt, its direction changing from 250° to 290°, with variations up to 330°. The Vref is 129 kt and the Vapp 149 kt. The controller cleared the flight for landing and indicated a wind of 250° at 16 kt, gusts to 30 kt and heavy rain. The first officer disconnected the autopilot and autothrottle at an altitude of approximately 1200 ft, while established on the ILS. As the aircraft descended through 1100 feet, the captain was able to see the runway ahead. On short final, the controller reported a wind of 280° at 15 to 30 kt. The aircraft gradually deviated to the left of the centre line. The captain said: "a little to the left". The aircraft then gradually returned to align with the runway centreline. The PF banked the aircraft to the left as it slightly overshot the runway centreline. The aircraft passed the threshold approximately 4 m to the right of the centreline, parallel to it, with its wings horizontal. The PF started the flare with a slight bank to the left. The thrust reduction occurred a few seconds later. The left main gear touched the runway first at an indicated airspeed of 148 kt, while the aircraft was 12 m to the left of the runway centreline. The aircraft moved 7 m to the left, rolling on the only left main gear for about two seconds. The PF used the control column and the rudder pedals to steer the airplane to the right. The right main gear touched the runway while the left wheels were about 3 m from the edge of the runway. The PF corrected the trajectory using the rudders, without using the full amplitude. The aircraft exited the runway on the left at a speed of 133 kt. The nose gear struck the concrete support of a light and broke. The right gear was damaged and the aircraft rolled approximately 400 m off the runway and came to rest near the runway, 1150 m from the threshold.

Probable cause:

The pilot flying experienced wind rotation below decision altitude without being aware of the crosswind corrections to be made during the flare. He did not have the necessary availability to analyse the reasons for the destabilisation in the short final. Without communication within the crew, the PF acted alone, with few external markers and found himself overloaded during touchdown. The slope of the runway also limited the forward visibility of the pilots.

Crash of a Dornier DO328-110 in Genoa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1999 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO328

Operator:

Registration:

D-CPRR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors: