Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Teresina - Fortaleza

MSN:

120-076

YOM:

1988

Location:

Fortaleza-Pinto Martins

Ceará

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9100

Captain / Total hours on type:

1500.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

5100

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1300

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Teresina to Fortaleza, carrying one passenger, two pilots and a load of 2,5 tons of medicines. On final approach to Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport, the aircraft was approaching at an excessive speed when flaps and landing gear were selected down. The aircraft became unstable and the captain who was the pilot-in-command continued the approach and the copilot did not intervene to correct the situation. On final, the thrust levers were positioned below the flight idle position, causing the aircraft to lose speed and to enter a right bank. It struck power cables and eventually crashed onto a house. The aircraft and the house were destroyed. The copilot was seriously injured while both other occupants and one people on the ground were killed. Seven other people on the ground were injured. Few hours later, the copilot died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

The following factors were identified:
- In the individual aspect, there were signs of concern of the crew member with prolonged waiting caused by the local traffic in Fortaleza and by another traffic that was approaching the aerodrome and, because of this, accelerated the procedure of the final approach, descending at high speed and triggering the other operational failures that led to the accident; in the same way, there were signs of excessive self-confidence by the pilot.
- The operator's delay in submitting the requested documentation for the aircraft reduced the credibility of the submitted material. The possibility that the secondary stop was deactivated, despite statements to the contrary by a mechanic, would have been caused by inadequate participation of maintenance personnel in the services performed and by non-compliance with the planned AD.
- There are reports from several pilots about this commander's habits of performing unforeseen procedures, including some that avoided flying with him. It was not researched if the other crew members took this fact to the company's management. The company's response was not researched if it was aware of these operational deviations.
- The pilot misused the resources available in the operation of the aircraft, due to ineffective management of the tasks related to the PF and PNF and the noncompliance with operational rules.
- The PNF did not advise the PF during the approach. The PNF accepted the non-stabilized approach and did not react to reverse the situation.
- The crew made the approach above the glide slope and at high speed; thought inappropriately that it could proceed in those conditions and that there would be ways to reduce the speed and make the landing.
- The crew disobeyed the aircraft's operating rules by performing a destabilized approach outside the envelope recommended by the manufacturer and by placing the power levers below the flight idle position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99A Airliner in Missoula

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1998 at 0230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 99 Airliner

Operator:

Registration:

N299GL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Billings - Missoula

MSN:

U-102

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

AIP5010

Location:

Missoula

Montana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4567

Captain / Total hours on type:

667.00

Aircraft flight hours:

39685

Circumstances:

While flying a night visual approach, the co-pilot flared too high above the runway. As the aircraft floated down the runway, the speed decreased, and the pilot-in-command took control. Because he felt the aircraft was approaching a stall, he initiated a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the pilot-in-command found it necessary to keep both hands on the control wheel due to the fact that the aircraft had been trimmed to the full nose-up position during the landing flare. Even with both hands on the control wheel, the aircraft became very difficult to control. Although the co-pilot moved the throttles to maximum power and began retraction of the flaps, the pilot-in-command's remedial action had occurred too late to successfully execute the go-around. It was later discovered that during the operator's initial training, both crew members had been taught to apply full nose-up trim after crossing the runway threshold and reducing the power to idle. This action, which the operator eliminated from the landing sequence procedure after this accident, was inconsistent with the instructions in the Beech 99 Pilots Operating Manual.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command's delayed remedial action in response to the co-pilot's improper landing flare, and the co-pilot's application of excessive (full nose-up) trim during the landing flare as taught in the operator's initial aircrew training program. Factors include the co-pilot's improper flare and his lack of total experience in this type of aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Brainerd

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1998 at 0033 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N138BA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Minneapolis - Brainerd

MSN:

LD-361

YOM:

1967

Location:

Brainerd-Lakes Regional

Minnesota

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4738

Captain / Total hours on type:

1813.00

Aircraft flight hours:

8119

Circumstances:

The pilot said that during the ILS approach he reached a point where he thought he should be seeing the approach lights. He said that he checked the radio to determine if it was on the correct frequency. He said that he realized that the transmit switch was selected to the wrong radio and when he returned his attention to the instruments, he realized that he had allowed the airplane to descend low on the glide path. He said that before he could react, the airplane impacted the terrain.

Probable cause:

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath and his diversion of attention during a critical phase of flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Stord: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1998 at 2325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Jetair Flight Academy

Registration:

OY-BHE

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Aalborg - Stord

MSN:

402A-0062

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Stord-Sørstokken Airport by night, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a rocky area located 180 metres short of runway 33. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed, among them eight naval workers.

Probable cause:

It was determined that both engines failed simultaneously on final approach due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Arusha

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1998 at 1056 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

5H-MPR

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Schedule:

Arusha – Kilimanjaro – Mombasa

MSN:

402B-0113

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7700

Captain / Total hours on type:

252.00

Circumstances:

Prior to departure, the pilot reported to ground mechanics that an unusual noise came from the left main gear. An inspection was conducted but nothing anormal was noted. Nevertheless, the pilot was told to fly directly to Mombasa for further control. After takeoff from runway 09, while climbing, the pilot was contacted by ATC who reported that the left main gear detached and fell away. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing and completed a belly landing few minutes later. The aircraft came to rest on runway and was damaged beyond repair. All four occupants escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the left main gear had undergone a maintenance check on January 3, 1996 and no anomalies had been detected since. Nevertheless, the runway surface at Arusha Airport was in relative poor condition with the presence of several holes. As a result, it is likely that the landing gear suffered a severe impact during a previous landing.

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

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1998 at 0255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3543A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit – Ravenna

MSN:

31-7952242

YOM:

1979

Location:

Ravenna-Portage County

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2370

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Aircraft flight hours:

10112

Circumstances:

The pilot departed on a night multiple-leg flight series with full tanks. On approach for the second landing, the green landing gear lights extinguished. The pilot discovered that if the landing gear was extended the circuit breaker would stay in and if the landing gear was retracted the circuit breaker would pop. The circuit breaker controlled the landing gear lights, the engine oil pressure, and both fuel quantity gauges. The pilot continued on four additional flights in that condition. The fourth flight terminated 5 miles from the runway with a double power loss. Examination revealed the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot had flown the airplane 4.3 hours including 6 takeoffs, one missed approach, and a 20 minute ground run prior to departure with both engines running on the final flight.

Probable cause:

The pilot's improper decision to continue to operate the airplane with inoperative equipment which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors were the inoperative fuel quantity gauges, and the night conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Canaima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1998 at 0945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

YV-611C

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Schedule:

Canaima - Canaima

MSN:

1977

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight over the Salto Angel falls east of the Mt Auyán-Tepui, in the Canaima National Park, carrying 22 tourists and a crew of three. On approach to Canaima Airport, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the right engine lost power. The crew continued the approach when the left engine suffered a loss of power as well. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field located 1,600 metres short of runway. The copilot was killed and three other occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FPL in Palm Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1998 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Desert Aircraft Sales

Registration:

N5YZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Palm Springs - Palm Springs

MSN:

680-1513-22

YOM:

1965

Location:

Palm Springs

California

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3200

Aircraft flight hours:

5420

Circumstances:

While departing on a local area aircraft checkout flight the aircraft stayed low and the pilot advised the tower that he had a fuel problem. The aircraft had been fueled with aviation grade 100LL twice the day before in preparation for a trip. The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but collided with power lines 1.5 miles north. Examination of the engines revealed severe detonation had occurred. A fuel sample was obtained from the aircraft and tested negative for jet fuel contamination. The aircraft had been modified by installation of higher horsepower engines and turbochargers with manual wastegates. During postaccident examination of the aircraft systems the manual wastegates were found partially closed; a position that can provide additional manifold pressure. The engines are restricted to a maximum of 29.5 inHg.

Probable cause:

The pilot's failure to properly use the manual turbocharger wastegates and to monitor the manifold pressure during takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Praia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1998 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

D4-CAX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site: