Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Luanda: 27 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1999 at 0508 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EY-ASS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Luanda - Lucapa
MSN:
3 3 409 09
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
Following a night takeoff from Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport, en route on a cargo flight to Lucapa, the captain informed ATC about technical problems with the engine n°1 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the district of Bairro Cazenga, less than 5 km short of runway 25 threshold. The aircraft and several houses were destroyed. All 14 occupants as well as 13 people on the ground were killed. Four other people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°1 that caught fire during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2D6 in Constantine

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VEH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Constantine
MSN:
20955
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
92
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Constantine Airport, the three engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and collided with a snow bank, causing the nose gear to collapse. All 99 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Belleview: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1999 at 1740 LT
Registration:
N919VC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belleview - Belleview
MSN:
560-0290
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1590
Captain / Total hours on type:
298.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5515
Circumstances:
After takeoff, the flight climbed to 1500 feet and the pilot reduced the engine RPM to 3000. The pilot also reported that within seconds of reducing the engine RPM the left engine sputtered. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump in an effort to restore full engine power. Immediately afterward, the right engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot turned on the right engine boost pump again in an effort to restore full power. Attempts by the pilot to restore normal engine operation failed. The pilot selected an area for an emergency landing. The pilot recalled that as he prepared for an emergency landing, the airplane would yaw right and left as the engines momentarily gain and lose power. The airplane collided with tops of several trees. The airplanes subsequently collided with a single family home adjacent to the lake. Examination of the airframe and engine assemblies failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. During the examination of the fuel system, approximately 2 1/2 pints of fuel were recovered. The pilot reported that he thought he had about 50 gallons of fuel when he departed.
Probable cause:
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of the fuel required for the flight that resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power to both engines.
Final Report:

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in Catania

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1999 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-DAVN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Naples - Catane
MSN:
49435
YOM:
1988
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On short final to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport by night, at a height of about 100 feet, the aircraft became unstable. The captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure and increased power on both engines. Unfortunately, the aircraft continued to descent and struck the runway surface with a relative high positive acceleration. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on the runway for few hundred metres before coming to rest. All 84 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew encountered windshear during the last portion of the flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Bluefields: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1999 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Managua - Bluefields
MSN:
142 06
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Managua Airport at 0710LT on a flight to Bluefields, carrying 21 passengers and a crew of seven, among them 15 civilians. On approach, the crew was instructed by ATC to follow a holding pattern because another aircraft was blocking the main runway. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 6 km from the airport. All 28 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Lucapa

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S9-CAN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Lucapa
MSN:
6 3 440 02
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Lucapa Airport, the four engine aircraft skidded off runway and came to rest in a ditch. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander off Cocos Islands: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1999 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-XFF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Horn Island - Cocos Islands
MSN:
763
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2540
Captain / Total hours on type:
197.00
Aircraft flight cycles:
16775
Circumstances:
Uzu Air conducted passenger and freight operations between Horn Island and the island communities in the Torres Strait. It operated single-engine Cessna models 206 and 208 aircraft, and twin-engine Britten Norman Islander aircraft. On the morning of the accident, the pilot flew a company Cessna 206 aircraft from Horn Island to Yam, Coconut, and Badu Islands, and then returned to Horn Island. The total flight time was about 93 minutes. The pilot's schedule during the afternoon was to fly from Horn Island to Coconut, Yam, York, and Coconut Islands and then back to Horn Island, departing at 1330 eastern standard time. The flight was to be conducted in Islander, VH-XFF. Three passengers and about 130 kg freight were to be carried on the Horn Island - Coconut Island sector. Another company pilot had completed three flights in XFF earlier in the day for a total of 1.9 hours. He reported that the aircraft operated normally. Witnesses at Horn Island reported that the preparation for the flight, and the subsequent departure of the aircraft at 1350, proceeded normally. The pilot of another company aircraft heard the pilot of XFF report 15 NM SW of Coconut Island at 3,500 ft. A few minutes later, the pilot reported downwind for runway 27 at Coconut Island. Both transmissions sounded normal. Three members of the Coconut Island community reported that, at about 1410, they were on the beach at the eastern extremity of the island, about 250 m from the runway threshold and close to the extended runway centreline. Their recollections of the progress of the aircraft in the Coconut Island circuit are as follows: the aircraft joined the downwind leg and flew a left circuit for runway 27; the aircraft appeared to fly a normal approach until it passed over their position at an altitude of 200-300 ft; and it then veered left and commenced a shallow climb before suddenly rolling right and descending steeply onto a tidal flat, about 30 m seaward from the high-water mark, and about 200 m from their position. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The pilot initiated a go-around from final approach because of a vehicle on the airstrip.
- The left propeller showed little evidence of rotation damage. The reason for a possible loss of left engine power could not be determined.
- For reasons that could not be established, the pilot lost control of the aircraft at a low height.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air in Cullman: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1999 at 0918 LT
Registration:
N780BF
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Greenville - Cullman
MSN:
FA-70
YOM:
1985
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4100
Aircraft flight hours:
7687
Circumstances:
The airplane descended to 2,600 feet to the NDB, and initiated the approach upon crossing the NDB. As the airplane descended below 1,500 feet MSL, Huntsville lost radar contact. The next communication with the airplane was when the pilot radioed that he was initiating the missed approach. The published missed approach procedure is, 'Climbing lift turn to 2,700 direct CPP NDB and hold.' The airplane made a series of turns within the next one minute and 24 seconds. Additionally, the airplane's altitude varied but it never climbed above the altitude of 1,700 feet. The airplane wreckage was located approximately 3.5 miles north of the airport on a 345 degree heading on the opposite side of the outbound course to the NDB. Witnesses in the immediate area stated that they could hear the airplane flying low over their homes but could not see it due to the foggy conditions. A review of pilot records did not show the pilot having any fixed wing airplane experience.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to adhere to the missed approach procedure resulting in a collision with terrain. Contributing factors were fog and the rotorcraft rated pilot's lack of fixed wing certification/experience.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker at Geilenkirchen AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1999 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-1452
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Geilenkirchen - Geilenkirchen
MSN:
17940
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Geilenkirchen NATO AFB following a refueling mission over Germany on behalf of the 141st Air Refueling Wing in Fairchild, WA. On final approach by night, the crew apparently initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft pitched up to an angle of 7,5°, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control occurred after the runway trim motor failed on approach which was unnoticed by the crew, causing the aircraft to nose up when power was applied. The cause of the runaway motor remains unknown.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV in OIbia

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1999
Registration:
I-NARC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
AT-035
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a landing accident at Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport. Both pilots were uninjured.