Crash of an ATR72-212A in Indore

Date & Time: Jul 1, 2007 at 1946 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-JCE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bhopal - Indore
MSN:
640
YOM:
2000
Flight number:
JAI3307
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10169
Circumstances:
The flight up-till approach to land at Indore was normal. On coming to the runway the aircraft touched down moderately hard and bounced high. The pilots were perhaps determined to salvage the abnormal situation and added power to the engines with intention to cushion the sink-rate and settle the runway. On the contrary, the aircraft came hard on the runway and bounced once again. This got followed with a series of bounces in succession. While bouncing the aircraft migrated from the runway and finally came to full halt on right side close to the airport boundary wall. There was no fire in the accident. All 53 occupants evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command in absence of bounce recovery guidance adopted self-perceived technique and kept on adding engine power along with aircraft pitch manipulations to salvage the aircraft from the bounce on landing, and gravely damaged the aircraft structure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I in Conway: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2007 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N771HR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wichita Falls – Conway
MSN:
500-0206
YOM:
1974
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5575
Aircraft flight hours:
4752
Circumstances:
The twin-engine turbojet airplane was attempting to land on a runway with standing water when the accident occurred. Before the landing attempt, the pilot was told that the runway was wet from a recent rain shower. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane on the runway traveling at a high speed and then increase engine power to abort the landing with about 1/4 of the runway remaining. The surviving passenger reported that the runway was "soaked and shiny with water." He stated that the airplane landed hard and fishtailed during the landing roll. During the aborted landing the airplane impacted a jet-blast deflector located off the departure end of the runway. The airplane then proceeded through the airport perimeter fence and impacted a residential structure before coming to a stop. The airplane and residential structure were destroyed during a postaccident fire. An examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal any anomalies associated with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The airplane was not equipped with thrust reversers or an anti-skid braking system. Radar track data analysis indicated that when the airplane was about 1/4 mile from the end of the runway it was approximately 16 knots above its target landing reference speed (Vref) and had a descent rate of 1,150 feet per minute. The runway was 4,875 feet long. The calculated landing distance for a runway with standing water is 4,789 feet.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to fly a stabilized approach and his delayed decision to abort the landing. Contributing to the accident was the standing water on the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Matambwe

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2007 at 1430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5H-WAY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dar es Salaam – Matambwe
MSN:
31-7305096
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Dar es Salaam Airport on a charter flight to Matambwe, in the Selous Game Reserve, carrying five Finnish tourists and one pilot. Upon landing at Matambwe Airstrip, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around procedure when the aircraft collided with trees located past the runway end and crashed, bursting into flames. All six occupants were injured, two seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 in Saltillo

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2007 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SMR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monterrey – Saltillo
MSN:
282-71
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport at 1305LT on a taxi flight to Saltillo, carrying two passengers and two pilots. After landing on runway 35 at Saltillo Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest 50 metres further in a rocky area. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2M2 in M'Banza Congo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 2007 at 1332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TBP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda – M’Banza Congo – Negage – Luanda
MSN:
23220/1084
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
71
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 16/34 (1,800 metres long) at M'Banza Congo Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, collided with cars and two houses and came to rest. A crew member, five passengers and one people on the ground were killed while 25 other passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Nassau

Date & Time: Jun 27, 2007 at 1721 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N133RS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Little White Cay - Nassau
MSN:
606
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
9010
Circumstances:
On June 27, 2007 about 1721 eastern daylight time (2121Z) a Pilatus Britten Norman Islander, N133RS registered to and owned by FYP LTP, and operated by Golden Wings Charter, Windsor Field, Nassau, Bahamas, had crashed short of runway 14. Just prior to crashing, approximately 1718 eastern daylight time (2118Z), the pilot of aircraft N133RS reported the left engine had failed. At approximately 1721 eastern daylight time (2121Z), the pilot reported he was unable to make runway 14 and crashed approximately ½ mile short of Runway 14. The State of Manufacture and State of Design along with the State of Registry were notified of the accident on June 28, 2007. They were invited to participate in the investigation in accordance with Annex 13 and CASR 2001 Schedule 18. Visual Meteorological Conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau [MYNN] to Little Whale Cay, Berry Island [MYBX] and returned to Nassau [MYNN], the incident leg. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The Pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft. The Pilot in Command holds a current United States Commercial Pilot Rating. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported.
Probable cause:
The Flight Standards Inspectorate determined that the probable cause of this accident was Propulsion System Malfunction due to fuel exhaustion of the left engine, followed by inappropriate crew response (fuel mismanagement).
Contributing Factors:
- Pilot’s unfamiliarity with aircraft fuel system.
- Pilot’s limited command experience. (He was a new hire, low time pilot)
- Pilot’s failure to conduct a proper preflight inspection of his aircraft. (did not visually check fuel tanks despite knowing that the gauges were faulty)
- Pilot’s complacency with documentation of defects. (Pilot never advised maintenance or management that the gauges were faulty)
- Pilot’s reliance on indications that he admitted were erroneous.
- Pilot’s lack of situational awareness.
- Pilot’s failure to recognize that his problem was fuel exhaustion and not engine failure and neglected to use cross-feed procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Sihanoukville: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 2007 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XU-U4A
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Siem Reap - Sihanoukville
MSN:
9 99 019 08
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
PMT241
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Siem Reap Airport on a flight to Sihanoukville, carrying 16 passengers (13 South Korean and 3 Czech) and 6 crew members. While descending to Sihanoukville Airport in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Phnom Damrey located in the Elephant Mountain Range, about 50 km northeast of the Sihanoukville Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 22 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a BAe ATP in Chennai

Date & Time: Jun 15, 2007 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-FFB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bombay – Bangalore – Madras
MSN:
2039
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Bombay to Madras with an intermediate stop in Bangalore. On final approach to Madras Airport, the aircraft nosed down and landed nose first. Upon impact, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on its nose for few dozen metres before coming to rest. A fire erupted but was quickly extinguished. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Chandler

Date & Time: Jun 1, 2007 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N8688K
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Chandler - Chandler
MSN:
340A-0619
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2799
Captain / Total hours on type:
62.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4790
Circumstances:
While on downwind the airplane experienced a loss of engine power and collided with houses and other obstacles during a forced landing on a residential neighborhood street. The pilot stated that he took off to troubleshoot a landing gear anomaly. He departed the airport area to the south. He cycled the landing gear and upon getting questionable indications in the cockpit of gear position he requested another aircraft confirm his landing gear configuration. Once he got the confirmation that all three wheels were down he proceeded back to the airport. About 2 miles away and approximately 1,800 feet agl the right engine began to lose power. He troubleshot the engine by attempting a restart, cycling the fuel pump off then on, and selected the right auxiliary fuel tank. The right engine did regain some power. He had lost some altitude during the process of troubleshooting the engine. He raised the landing gear to reduce drag, and entered right hand traffic for runway 17. At this point the left engine lost power, the airplane turned left, and he entered a descent to help maintain airspeed. He put the left propeller in feather, and switched to a new fuel tank, but the engine did not regain power. He did not have any altitude to exchange for airspeed and steered the airplane towards a clear residential street. The airplane impacted the roofs of at least two houses before colliding with the street. The pilot egressed through the rear of the airplane. An FAA inspector that examined the airplane wreckage stated that there was very little evidence of fuel onboard the airplane. The pilot stated that the left engine had failed due to fuel starvation and that he had fuel onboard but it was not in the right places.
Probable cause:
Fuel starvation due to the pilot's failure to adequately manage and monitor his fuel supply.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short C-23 Sherpa in Dodoma

Date & Time: Jun 1, 2007
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JW9036
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sumbawanga – Dodoma
MSN:
3121
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Dodoma Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a cornfield located near the Kizota district. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its nose gear and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 13 occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.