Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Novopokrovskoye: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2016 at 0604 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-33462
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novopokrovskoye - Novopokrovskoye
MSN:
1G228-12
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4398
Captain / Total hours on type:
2140.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3370
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a crop spraying mission, carrying a load of herbicides, one passenger and one pilot. In the early morning, while completing a seventh low pass, at a height of about 20-40 metres, the pilot initiated a left turn when the aircraft descended to the ground and crashed at a speed of 140 km/h in an open field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Fatal accident with Аn-2 RA-33462 agricultural aircraft occurred during aerial works on crop-dusting and was caused most probably by the piloting error consisting in unintentional descent when performing a turn for the next crop-dusting round which resulted in the aircraft controlled flight into terrain.
Most probably, the following factors contributed to the accident:
- The PIC not trained for crop-dusting flight without first officer,
- The PIC conducting the flight with a passenger on first-officer’s seat,
- The presence of alcohol in PIC's and the passenger's bodies,
- A possible transfer of the aircraft control from PIC to the passenger (former An-2 pilot) made by PIC,
- Violations of An-2 AFM and FAR-128 requirements on maintaining heights, bank angles during turns and flight speed while crop-dusting,
- Krasny Kut Civil Aviation Flight School management not controlling crop-dusting operations at the fields.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 in Dervenochoria

Date & Time: Jun 26, 2016 at 1109 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1111
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Volos - Volos
MSN:
1111
YOM:
1990
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Volos-Néa Anchialos Airport in the morning on a firefighting mission over Beotia. En route, the left engine caught fire. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located near Dervenochoria, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post impact fire and both pilots escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Bereke: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 2016
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UP-A0273
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bereke - Bereke
MSN:
1G184-11
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a crop spraying mission in Bereke, northwest of Almaty, carrying one pilot and one passenger, a mechanic. While flying at low height, the engine started to vibrate and lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane hit the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed and the mechanic was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Ferreira do Alentejo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 2016 at 1750 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-FSCB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Figueira dos Cavaleiros - Figueira dos Cavaleiros
MSN:
634
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1400
Captain / Total hours on type:
900.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6556
Circumstances:
On the afternoon of the 19th of June 2016 a Pilatus PC-6 aircraft, German registration DFSCB, took off from the airfield of Figueira dos Cavaleiros (LPFC) for its 17th launch of skydivers that day. On this flight there were 8 persons on board: 1 pilot, 5 skydivers and 2 passengers that were jumping in tandem with two of the skydivers. The meteorology featured a day with clear sky, the wind blew from 040° with 10 kt and the air temperature was around 32° C. The Pilatus took off for a local skydiving training flight and started a climb to an altitude of 14.500 ft. During the initial climb at a rate of 1.000 feet per minute, when crossing 7.000 feet above mean sea level, according to some of the skydivers in the group, a sound similar to the cracking/ripping of a metal structure was heard, and simultaneously the aircraft pitched up to a high nose-up attitude while yawing to the right, causing a severe flight instability. Suddenly, the entire rear fuselage structure disintegrated. According to the reports, some occupants were pushed against the structure of the aircraft before they were thrown outside. During the following seconds the skydivers who did not suffer serious injuries, managed to jump out of the plane and triggered their parachutes. Two of them were seriously injured before leaving the aircraft, their emergency parachutes being automatically deployed by the barometric opening mechanism. As a result, the disintegration of the remaining aircraft parts continued until the impact with the ground. Fragments of the aircraft parts were found over a length of approximately 1.500 meters and a width of about 500 meters and were widely dispersed, with an alignment with the direction of flight from west to east. The pilot was thrown out of the remains of the cockpit and hit the ground at about 400 meters from the impact site of the cabin. He did not trigger his parachute and it was not, nor is it a procedure to be equipped with an emergency parachute with an automatic barometric opening mechanism.
Probable cause:
The investigation considers that, after the fracture of the HT-trim attachment accessory, the horizontal stabilizer was loose, uncontrolled and vibrated, causing the fracture of the left side of the horizontal stabilizer.
Contributing factors:
- Failure on the inspection method by part 145 organization to the critical parts identified on SB 53-001 R1.
- The weakness of regulator (ANAC) oversight to the aircraft operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Stationair 7 near Goodnews Bay

Date & Time: Jun 17, 2016 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N91170
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Quinhagak - Goodnews Bay
MSN:
207-00101
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1150
Captain / Total hours on type:
78.00
Aircraft flight hours:
15089
Circumstances:
During cruise flight through an area of mountainous terrain, the commercial pilot became geographically disoriented and selected the incorrect route through the mountains. Upon realizing it was the incorrect route, he initiated a steep climb while executing a 180° turn. During the steep climbing turn, the airplane inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions, and the airplane subsequently impacted an area of rocky, rising terrain. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to select the correct route through the mountains as a result of geographic disorientation, and his subsequent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in collision with terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 400MPA off Bạch Long Vĩ Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 2016 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8983
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hanoi - Hanoi
MSN:
482
YOM:
2012
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew departed Hanoi-Gia Lam Airport at 0930LT on a SAR mission after a Vietnam Air Force Sukhoi SU-30 was missing since two days. While cruising over the gulf of Tonkin in good weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea, some 22 km southwest of the Bạch Long Vĩ Island. Some debris were found few hours later, floating on water. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Cecina: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 2016 at 1230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
S5-CMB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cecina - Cecina
MSN:
932
YOM:
2000
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
670
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1700
Aircraft flight hours:
6705
Circumstances:
The aircraft, operated by Skydive Kalifornia (aka Skydive Toscana) was involved in a local skydiving flight from Cecina Airfield. When the aircraft reached the assigned altitude, six of the seven skydivers bailed out. When the seventh skydiver elected to jump, his auxiliary parachute accidentally opened while the skydiver was still in the cabin. He was sucked outside and collided with the right horizontal stabilizer that later detached. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both pilots were killed. There was no fire. All seven skydivers were uninjured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident is attributable to the detachment of the horizontal stabilizer following the impact with a skydiver dragged by his auxiliary parachute that accidentally opened while he was still inside the aircraft. This detachment led to the loss of governability of the aircraft.
The following factors contributed to the incident:
- The conformation of the throwing material, with closing flap of the safety flap covering the pin, which, tending to come out of its seat, did not guarantee adequate protection of the locking pin from accidental interference.
- The conformation of the structure of the right front seat, which interferes with the closing system of the auxiliary parachute bag, which determined the opening.
- The non-optimal disposition of the skydivers and the DL on board the aircraft (first skydiver to go out not immediately to the door and DL with his back addressed to the skydiver student).
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 700 in Beaverdell

Date & Time: May 31, 2016 at 2125 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GBCM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boise – Kelowna
MSN:
700-27
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft performed a technical stop in Boise, Idaho, enroute from Arizona to Kelowna. While flying at an altitude of 8,500 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a flat area located near Beaverdell, about 37 miles south of Kelowna. By night, the airplane crash landed in a Christmas tree plantation, hit several trees and a fence and eventually came to rest. All six occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. According to preliminary information, there was still enough fuel in the tanks, and investigations will have to determine the cause of the double engine failure.

Crash of a Piaggio P1.HH HammerHead off Levanzo Island

Date & Time: May 31, 2016 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CPX621
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Trapani - Trapani
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Based on a Piaggio P.180 Avanti, the Piaggio P.1HH HammerHead is a drone prototype. Engaged in a series of test as part of the certification program, the twin engine aircraft left Trapani-Vincenzo Florio Airport at 1120LT for a local test flight. About 20 minutes later, the contact was lost with the ground station and the aircraft crashed into the sea about 8 km north of the Levanzo Island. The aircraft was lost.

Crash of an Airbus A320-232 in the Mediterranean Sea: 66 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 2016 at 0229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-GCC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris – Cairo
MSN:
2088
YOM:
2003
Flight number:
MS804
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
56
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
66
Captain / Total flying hours:
6275
Captain / Total hours on type:
2101.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2675
Aircraft flight hours:
48000
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport at 2321LT on May 18 on an international schedule flight to Cairo. carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew members. The crew maintained radio contacts with the Greek ATC and was transferred to the Egyptian ATC but failed to respond. Two minutes after the airplane left the Greek Airspace, the aircraft descended from FL370 to FL220 in few seconds, apparently making a first turn to the left and then a 360 turn to the right before disappearing from the radar screen at 0229LT while at an altitude of 10'000 feet. It is believed that the aircraft crashed in the Mediterranean sea about 200 km north of Egyptian coast. The crew did not send any mayday message, thereby all assumptions remains open. It appears that some various debris such as luggage were found on May 20 about 290-300 km north of Alexandria. Two days after the accident, it is confirmed that ACARS messages reported smoke on board, apparently in the lavatory and also in a technical compartment located under the cockpit area. Above that, several technical issues were reported by the ACARS system. The CVR has been recovered on June 16, 2016, and the DFDR a day later. As both recorder systems are badly damaged, they will need to be repaired before analyzing any datas. On December 15, 2016, investigators reported that traces of explosives were found on several victims. Egyptian Authorities determined that there had been a malicious act. The formal investigation per ICAO Annex 13 was stopped and further investigation fell within the sole jurisdiction of the judicial authorities. Contradicting the Egyptian finding, the French BEA considered that the most likely hypothesis was that a fire broke out in the cockpit while the aircraft was flying at its cruise altitude and that the fire spread rapidly resulting in the loss of control of the aircraft.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an in-flight fire in the cockpit but investigations were unable to establish the exact origin of the fire. Following the fire that probably resulted from an oxygen leak from the copilot's quick-fit mask system, both pilots left the cockpit in a hurry and were apparently unable to find and use the fire extinguisher. To this determining element, three possible contributory factors have been identified: a blanket charged with static electricity requested by the captain to sleep; fatty substances being part of the meal served to the pilots, and a high probability of a lit cigarette or a cigarette butt burning in an ashtray while the crew smoked regularly in the cockpit. The experts also noted unprofessional behavior by the flight crew who listened to music, made multiple comings and goings in the cockpit as well as a lack of attention about flight monitoring procedures.