Crash of a Learjet 75 in Morristown

Date & Time: Apr 2, 2022 at 1119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N877W
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlanta – Morristown
MSN:
45-496
YOM:
2014
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8834
Captain / Total hours on type:
1599.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9582
Copilot / Total hours on type:
5146
Aircraft flight hours:
3290
Circumstances:
The flight crew of the jet obtained weather information for the destination airport, which indicated quartering tailwind conditions for the runway in use at the time, with wind at 3 knots gusting to 16 knots. The crew determined the wind to be within limitations. The cockpit voice recorder transcript and airport surveillance video indicated that the landing approach was normal. The captain, who was the pilot flying, stated that, after touchdown, the thrust reversers were deployed and the airplane turned “sharply to the right.” He reported that remedial control inputs were ineffective in maintaining directional control. Airport surveillance video footage of the landing roll and accident sequence showed that, about 9 seconds into the landing roll, the airplane turned sharply to its right. The airplane departed the runway, its left wingtip struck the ground, the entire wing structure (left wing/right wing/wingbox) separated from the airplane as one assembly, and the fuselage continued a short distance before it came to rest upright. The thrust reversers on each engine were deployed and their extended positions were about equal. A windsock could be seen in the surveillance video footage nearly parallel to the ground, indicating nearly a direct crosswind to the landing runway that would have been towards the airplane’s right side. Recorded wind shortly after the accident was consistent with a 90° right crosswind for the landing runway at 6 knots with gusts to 14 knots. A detailed examination of the airplane and system components revealed that all flight control, steering, and braking systems and their actuator components operated as designed. Although the copilot's yaw force sensor did not meet manufacturer acceptance testing during post accident examination, this would not have affected the directional controllability of the airplane. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot’s compensation for the crosswind conditions was inadequate, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.
Probable cause:
The captain’s inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90A King Air in Cuernavaca: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N426EM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Acapulco – Cuernavaca
MSN:
LJ-1352
YOM:
1993
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport on a private flight to Cuernavaca, carrying six passengers and one pilot. On final approach to Cuernavaca Airport runway 20, the airplane crashed on a supermarket located in Temixco, some 2 km short of runway. The pilot and two passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9 Islander in Culebra

Date & Time: Feb 15, 2022 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N821RR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Culebra
MSN:
338
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16550
Captain / Total hours on type:
0.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
5000
Aircraft flight hours:
2864
Circumstances:
The pilot was receiving flight training as a new hire, and the accident occurred during his first flight in the airplane and the first landing. The pilot stated the approach was flown at the upper end of the allowable approach speed, and about 100 ft above the normal glidepath. During the landing, all three of the airplane’s landing gear touched down at the same time, the airplane immediately veered right, and continued off the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing structure. The flight instructor chose an airport with a challenging approach that required a special training program prior to the first landing. The approach procedure requires a left 40° turn then rolling wings level just before touchdown. It is likely that the airplane’s descent rate during landing exceeded the airplane’s capability, which resulted in a hard landing and failure of the right-wing structure.
Probable cause:
The flight crew’s failure to arrest the descent rate during the non-standard approach, which resulted in a hard landing and failure of the right-wing structure. Contributing was the flight instructor’s selection of a challenging approach for initial training.
Final Report:

Ground fire of a Let L-410UVP-E3 in Bukavu

Date & Time: Feb 14, 2022 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GFA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu - Lulingu Tschionka
MSN:
87 19 21
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport on a cargo flight to Lulingu Tschionka, carrying two pilots and a load of 1,600 kilos of various goods. Few minutes after takeoff, a fire erupted in the cargo compartment and the crew elected to return for an emergency landing. The crew landed normally and was able to stop the airplane and the runway and to evacuate safely. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft 350 Super King Air in Thunder Bay

Date & Time: Jan 31, 2022 at 1222 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GEAS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Trenton - Thunder Bay
MSN:
FL-17
YOM:
1990
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from RCAF Trenton on behalf of the RCAF, the twin engine aircraft apparently landed hard at Thunder Bay Airport. After touchdown on runway 25, it went out of control and veered off runway into a snow covered area. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft suffered severe damages to wings and tail. The fuselage also broke in two.

Crash of a Socata TBM-700 in Brasília

Date & Time: Jan 31, 2022 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-INQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bahia - Brasília
MSN:
558
YOM:
2010
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Brasília-Nelson Piquet Airport, the single engine airplane went out of control and veered off runway. It went down into a ravine and came to rest into trees. All five occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot reported he encountered strong winds upon landing.

Crash of a Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 in Heraklion

Date & Time: Jan 27, 2022 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2-SLOW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oxford - Heraklion
MSN:
5422
YOM:
1999
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Oxford-Kidlington Airport, the airplane landed at night on runway 27 at Heraklion-Nikos Kazantzakis Airport. After touchdown, the nose gear failed and the airplane slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was later considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL in Tekin

Date & Time: Jan 26, 2022 at 0943 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-BWC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kiunga – Oksapmin
MSN:
136
YOM:
2007
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14129
Captain / Total hours on type:
3625.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6752
Aircraft flight cycles:
13861
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a VFR charter flight from Kiunga Airport, Western Province to Tekin Airstrip, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea. During the landing roll aircraft sustained a left main landing gear assembly collapse and subsequent runway excursion. There were seven persons onboard: one pilot and six passengers. At 09:06, P2-BWC departed Kiunga Airport and arrived at Tekin circuit area at 09:40. The pilot established the aircraft on the final approach profile, he configured the aircraft for landing by fully extending the flaps and maintained an airspeed of about 80 knots (kts). The pilot also stated that he experienced a downdraft prior to touch down. The aircraft landed at 09:43 with an airspeed of 75 knots as recalled by the pilot. The aircraft touched down about 3m short of the airstrip edge boundary. The investigation determined that due to reduced damping effect of the oleo and/or the tyre of the left main landing gear, the landing gear attachment bolts sustained significant impact stress from the landing impact force and snapped, causing the gear assembly to collapse and separate from the aircraft. Subsequently, the left wing abruptly dropped, and the aircraft began veering to the left, towards the eastern edge of the airstrip. The aircraft continued veering to the left and subsequently the left wingtip struck the outer edge of the extended right-hand flap of P2-BWE, a wreckage of the same aircraft type owned and operated by NASL that was involved in a similar accident on 18 January 2022, causing P2-BWC to abruptly veer further left and skid across the airstrip boundary as the nose-wheel and right main wheel bogged into the ground. The pilot immediately shut down the engine and evacuated the passengers with the assistance of one of the Operator’s personnel who was also a passenger on board. There were no reported injuries and the aircraft sustained significant damage.
Probable cause:
During the landing at Tekin Airstrip, the pilot encountered downdraft and touchdown about 4 metres short of the designated landing threshold. Due to less damping effect on the oleo or the tyre, the landing impact force could have transferred up through the structure and concurrently causing the left main landing gear to collapse. Subsequently, the left wing abruptly dropped and began veering to the left, towards the eastern edge of the airstrip. The aircraft continued veering to the left and subsequently the left wingtip struck the outer edge of the extended right-side flap of P2-BWE, causing it to abruptly veer further left and skid across the airstrip boundary as the nose-wheel and right main wheel bogged into the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL in Tekin

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2022 at 0926 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-BWE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kiunga – Oksapmin
MSN:
161
YOM:
2009
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9305
Captain / Total hours on type:
332.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7549
Aircraft flight cycles:
11178
Circumstances:
The airplane was conducting a single pilot VFR charter flight from Kiunga Airport, Western Province to Tekin Airstrip, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea when during the landing roll, the aircraft sustained a left Main Landing Gear (MLG) assembly collapse and subsequent runway excursion. There were eight persons onboard: one pilot and seven passengers. At 08:43, P2-BWE departed Kiunga Airport and arrived at Tekin Airstrip circuit at 09:18. The pilot then tracked towards the Northwest of the airstrip and made a left base turn for approach. The pilot stated that he established the aircraft on final approach with an airspeed of 120 kts. He subsequently configured the aircraft for landing; propeller pitch set to full fine, power set to maintain nominated approach speed, and full flap. The pilot indicated that he reduced airspeed while on approach and maintained an airspeed between 85 and 90 kts. As he flared the aircraft to land, the airspeed was between 75 to 80 kts. The touchdown speed, as he recalled, was 75 kts. The aircraft touched down two metres short of the designated landing threshold of runway18, which had an elevation of 15cm. Reviewing the flight records of the pilot, and from his interview, the AIC deduced that the pilot was not adequately familiar with Tekin Airstrip. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged. All the passengers and pilot evacuated the aircraft without injuries.
Probable cause:
The investigation identified that during touchdown, the aircraft’s main landing gear tyre hit the 15cm elevation at the edge of runway18, resulting in the left MLG assembly weakening. The investigation determined that due to less damping effect on the oleo or the tyre, the landing impact force could have transferred up through the structure and concurrently causing the left MLG assembly to collapse. Following the collapse of the left MLG assembly, the left-wing assembly dropped and hit the ground, the flap detached and began to drag on the surface of the strip creating markings. The aircraft immediately began veering left, towards the edge (boundary) of the airstrip and impacted the drainage ditch adjacent to the runway where it came to rest.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B off Chub Cay

Date & Time: Jan 5, 2022 at 0832 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N145TT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Chub Cay
MSN:
402B-1333
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed the Opa Locka Executive Airport (KOPF), Opa Locka, Florida, USA at 7:52 AM EST (1252 UTC) with 2 persons on board enroute to the Chub Cay Int’l Airport. The aircraft was operated by Airway Air Charter INC (Venture Air Solutions INC), a Part 135 certificate holder under Title 14 US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Investigations revealed that the pilot in command arrived at the Opa Locka Airport at approximately 6:30 AM EST and conducted a pre-flight check of the aircraft, subsequently adding 66.5 gallons of 100LL avgas fuel to the main fuel tanks of the aircraft. No fuel was added to the auxiliary tanks. After completion of all pre-flight checks, and gaining clearance from Air Traffic Control, the aircraft departed at approximately 7:52 AM EST. Investigations revealed that the flight was uneventful, until descending into Chub Cay, at about 2,500 feet, when the left engine began to “sputter”. At this point the pilot executed the engine failure checklist, but shortly thereafter, the right engine began to “sputter” also. The pilot then contacted Miami air traffic center and advised of loss of power to both engines, which resulted in the aircraft crashing into waters. The United States Coast Guard along with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Police Force (RBPF) were alerted. Joint aerial and marine assets were dispatched and additional assistance was provided by local mariners and pilots flying in the area to conduct search and rescue. Both occupants were located and rescued. They were later airlifted to the United States to receive further medical attention for minor injuries. Image from Google Earth of accident site and distance from Chub Cay Airport The location where the aircraft crashed was identified at coordinates 25° 24.884’ N and 077° 58.030’ W, approximately 4.48 NM west of the Chub Cay International Airport (MYBC), Berry Islands, Bahamas.
Probable cause:
The AAIA has determined the probable cause of this accident to be dual system component failure – powerplant. A contributing factor was a loss of engine power as a result of mismanagement of available fuel.
Final Report: