Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Manila

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1996 at 1919 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1154
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
El Nido Palawan - Manila
MSN:
177
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a flight from El Nido Palawan, the crew of the Twin Otter landed at Manila-Ninoy Aquino Airport and was instructed to taxi via F1 to reach his parking place. At the same time, a Boeing 737-3Y0 operated by Philippine Airlines (flight PR1370 from Manila to Bacolod) was taking off from runway 13 so the crew of the Twin Otter was instructed to hold on taxiway F1. For unknown reasons, the crew misinterpreted this instruction and started to cross the runway when the Boeing 737 collided with the DHC-6 that was dragged for 130 metres. The Boeing was slightly damaged on its nose while the Twin Otter was destroyed. Both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to follow ATC instruction, starting to cross the runway in use while a Boeing 737 was taking off at the same time.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Villavicencio

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1996 at 0835 LT
Registration:
HK-2497
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Villavicencio - La Macarena
MSN:
15634/27079
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2107
Copilot / Total hours on type:
353
Aircraft flight hours:
20486
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,900 feet, the captain reported severe vibrations with the left engine and was cleared to return. The crew shut down the left engine and started the approach to runway 22. But on final, he realized he could reach the airport so he completed a belly landing one km short of runway threshold. The aircraft came to rest in a field and was damaged beyond repair. All 20 occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the vibrations and the subsequent failure of the left engine was the consequence of a bad adjustment of the intake valves on cylinders n°8 and 9, which remained stuck in open position, causing high temperature and a loss of power.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-222 in Arequipa: 123 killed

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1996 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1451
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lima – Arequipa – Tacna
MSN:
19072
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
CF251
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
117
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
123
Circumstances:
The approach to Arequipa-Rodríguez Ballón Airport was completed by night and poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck a hill and crashed 6,3 km from runway 09 threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 123 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. It was reported that during his last communication with ATC, the pilot reported his altitude at 9,500 feet while the real altitude of the aircraft was 8,644 feet. It is believed that the accident may have been caused by an altimeter misreading or a wrong altimeter setting. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Banlung

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XU-314
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phnom Penh - Banlung
MSN:
1 73 070 01
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Banlung Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and eventually collided with a building. All 42 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the braking systems failed and at least one tyre burst after touchdown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Houston

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1996 at 0904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N10556
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Washington DC - Houston
MSN:
47423
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
CO1943
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
82
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
17500
Captain / Total hours on type:
5000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2200
Copilot / Total hours on type:
575
Aircraft flight hours:
63132
Aircraft flight cycles:
58913
Circumstances:
The airplane landed wheels up and slid 6,850 feet before coming to rest in grass about 140 feet left of the runway centerline. The cabin began to fill with smoke, and the airplane was evacuated. Investigation showed that because the captain had omitted the 'Hydraulics' item on the in-range checklist and the first officer failed to detect the the error, hydraulic pressure was not available to lower the landing gear and deploy the flaps. Both the captain and the first officer recognized that the flaps had not extended after the flaps were selected to 15°. The pilots then failed to perform the landing checklist and to detect the numerous cues alerting them to the status of the landing gear because of their focus on coping with the flap extension problem and the high level of workload as a result of the rapid sequence of events in the final minute of flight. The first officer attempted to communicate his concern about the excessive speed of the approach to the captain. There were deficiencies in Continental Airlines' (COA) oversight of its pilots and the principal operations inspector's oversight of COA. COA was aware of inconsistencies in flightcrew adherence to standard operating procedures within the airline; however, corrective actions taken before the accident had not resolved this problem.
Probable cause:
The captain's decision to continue the approach contrary to Continental Airlines (COA) standard operating procedures that mandate a go-around when an approach is unstabilized below 500 feet or a ground proximity warning system alert continues below 200 feet above field elevation. The following factors contributed to the accident:
(1) the flightcrew's failure to properly complete the in-range checklist, which resulted in a lack of hydraulic pressure to lower the landing gear and deploy the flaps;
(2) the flightcrew's failure to perform the landing checklist and confirm that the landing gear was extended;
(3) the inadequate remedial actions by COA to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures; and
(4) the Federal Aviation Administration's inadequate oversight of COA to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a GAF Nomad N.24A in Port-au-Prince: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1996 at 1201 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N224E
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port-au-Prince – Cap Haïtien
MSN:
62
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On February 12, 1996, about 1201 eastern standard time, a Rockwell Australian Nomad N24A, N224E, registered to Four Eagles Aviation Inc., operated by Haiti Express Airways, crashed on takeoff from Port-Au-Prince International Airport, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. The flight was a scheduled domestic passenger flight bound for Cap-Haïten, Haiti. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport pilot-in-command, airline transport second-in-command, and nine passengers were fatally injured. Four passengers sustained serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The DGAC stated the airplane was on takeoff from runway 27. The airplane appeared to lose power on the right engine and the pilot made a forced landing northwest of runway 27. On touchdown the airplane nosed over and was consumed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I in Picton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1996 at 1627 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-SFA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wellington - Picton
MSN:
208-0051
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1937
Captain / Total hours on type:
322.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Wellington, the pilot started the descent to Picton-Koromiko Airport in good weather conditions. On final, at an altitude of 1,700 feet, the single engine aircraft entered clouds and struck the slope of Mt Robertson located 10 nm northeast of Blenheim. All five occupants were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The following causal factors were reported:
- The decision by the pilot to descend beneath the cloud layer.
- Illusions, created by the conditions, producing misleading visual references.
- The pilot's misidentification of distant terrain features.
- An undetected heading error, and loss of "positional awareness".
- Insufficient forward visibility, during the later stages of the descent.
- The high speed of the aircraft.
- The decision making by the pilot: the delayed decision to descend beneath the cloud layer; continued flight into deteriorating conditions.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot's familiarity with the area, creating a false sense of security.
- Improved general weather conditions, causing the pilot to relax.
- A possible false horizon, created by a sloping cloud base.
- The absence of documented procedures to ensure pilots crossed the coast south of Rarangi.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Rincón de Los Sauces

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1996 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-AOR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chos Malal - Rincón de Los Sauces
MSN:
AC-478
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
NEQ413
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rincón de Los Sauces Airport, the aircraft struck the ground short of runway threshold. The left main gear collapsed and the airplane slid for few dozen metres then veered off runway and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew was approaching the airport at an insufficient altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the operator to consider the restrictions at the destination airport,
- Possible windshear on short final.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 off Bridgetown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J8-VAK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Union Island - Bridgetown
MSN:
436
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Union Island to Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot informed ATC about his situation on position and reduced his altitude to ditch the aircraft about 30 km southeast of Bridgetown. A passenger was killed while nine other occupants were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Chachapoyas

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1604
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2604
YOM:
1990
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard at Chachapoyas Airport. Upon touchdown, the right main gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest few dozen metres further, bursting into flames. All 44 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.