Crash of a Learjet 31 in Aberdeen

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1997 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N71JC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Madison - Aberdeen
MSN:
31-008
YOM:
1989
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19947
Captain / Total hours on type:
1860.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1845
Circumstances:
According to the pilot, the airplane was high and fast on final approach, because of restricted visibility in haze, and he executed a go-around. The pilot and copilot do not recall retracting the landing gear. During the second approach, the pilot stated he did not extended the gear because he was 'sure in his mind that the gear was already down'. The airplane landed with the gear retracted. The airplane slid approximately 3,000 feet. Following the landing, the airplane caught fire under the right wing root, and the fire could not be extinguished with hand held fire extinguishers. Both pilots safely evacuated the airplane.
Probable cause:
The flightcrew's failure to extend the landing gear.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing EC-135C at Pope AFB

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-8053
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pope - Pope
MSN:
18701
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Pope AFB. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed very hard, causing the nose gear to collapse. The aircraft was stopped on the runway and all 11 occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Puerto Inírida: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1997 at 1900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1115
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Felipe – Puerto Inírida
MSN:
820
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
3300
Circumstances:
On approach to Puerto Inírida Airport, the single engine airplane collided with a private Cessna 206 registered OB-1450 and carrying two passengers and one pilot. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed about 5 km from the airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 727-251A in San Cristóbal

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1997 at 1438 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BVU
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Guayaquil – San Cristóbal
MSN:
21322
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
EH800
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Guayaquil to San Cristóbal, the crew encountered technical problems with the antiskid system. It was decided to perform a low approach to runway 16 to land on the first metres of the runway. On short final, the aircraft was too low, struck approach lights and landed 36 metres short of runway 16 threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft skidded for about 700 metres before coming to rest. All 56 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Bamyan: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mazari Sharif - Bamyan
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
After landing at Bamyan Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and crashed in a ravine. Two people survived while 13 others were killed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Des Moines

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1997 at 2221 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N224AM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wichita - Des Moines
MSN:
TC-227
YOM:
1977
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2436
Captain / Total hours on type:
93.00
Aircraft flight hours:
51119
Circumstances:
During a landing approach, the pilot noted that the right engine remained at a high power setting, when he moved the power levers to reduce power. He executed a missed approach and had difficulty keeping the airplane straight and level. The pilot maneuvered for a second approach to land. After landing, he could not maintain directional control of the airplane and tried to go around, but the airplane went off the end of the runway and impacted the localizer antenna. The pilot did not advise ATC of the problem nor did he declare an emergency. The Pilot's Operating Handbook stated that for a power plant control malfunction, the affected engine should be shut down, and a single engine landing should be made. The power control cable was found disconnected from the anchoring point. A safety tab was broken off the housing, allowing it to unscrew. About one month before the accident, maintenance had been performed on the right engine to correct a discrepancy about the right engine power lever being stiff. The mechanic re-rigged the right engine power cable.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to perform the emergency procedure for shut-down of the right engine. Factors relating to the accident were: the power lever cable became disconnected from the fuel control unit, due to improper maintenance; and reduced directional control of the airplane, when one engine remained at a high power setting.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-23F in Lucapa

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TJC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19180
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Lucapa Airport. All four crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Dalton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1997 at 0611 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N74EJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Athens - Dalton
MSN:
BB-340
YOM:
1978
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2398
Captain / Total hours on type:
103.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6328
Circumstances:
The pilot was cleared for a localizer approach by Atlanta Center and told to maintain 5,000 feet until crossing the final approach fix (FAF). Normal altitude at the FAF was 2,700 feet. The pilot was unable to land from this approach and performed a missed approach. He was handed off to Chattanooga Approach, then was cleared to cross the FAF at 3,000 feet and perform another localizer approach. About one mile from the FAF, the pilot was told to change to the airport advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged, then there was no further communication with the aircraft. A short time later, witnesses heard the aircraft crash near the approach end of the runway. Examination of the crash site showed the aircraft had touched down in a grass area about 1,100 feet from the end of the runway, while on the localizer. Propeller slash marks showed both engines were operating at approach power and the aircraft was at approach speed. No evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the aircraft structure, flight controls, systems, engines, or propellers was found. The 0621 weather was in part: 300 feet overcast and 1/2 mile visibility with fog. Minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the localizer approach was 1,180 feet msl; airport elevation was 710 feet. The pilot had flown 8 flight hours, was on duty for 13.6 hours the day before the accident, was off duty for about 6 hrs, and had about 4 hours of sleep before the accident flight.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper IFR procedure, by failing to maintain the minimum descent altitude (MDA) during the ILS localizer approach, until the runway environment was in sight, which resulted in a collision with terrain short of the runway. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, pilot fatigue, and improper scheduling by the aircraft operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Semarang

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-BBI
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Semarang-Ahmad Yani Airport runway 31, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the district of Bongsari, less than 3 km from the airport. All seven occupants were injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C in Seattle

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1997 at 1913 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3172A
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Portland - Seattle
MSN:
UB-47
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
AMF262
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6370
Captain / Total hours on type:
106.00
Aircraft flight hours:
23892
Circumstances:
The Beech 1900C cargo aircraft was loaded with more than 4,962 pounds of cargo during an approximate 20 minute period. No scale was available at the aircraft, forcing loaders to rely on tallying either waybill weights or estimates of total cargo weight and center of gravity (CG) during the brief loading period. Additionally, a strike had shut down a major cargo competitor at the time with substantial cargo overflow to the operator. Post-crash examination determined the cargo load was 656 pounds greater than that documented on the pilot's load manifest, and the CG was between 6.8 and 11.3 inches aft of the aft limit. The airplane behaved normally, according to the pilot, until he initiated full flaps for landing approaching the threshold of runway 34L at the Seattle-Tacoma International airport. At this time, the aircraft's airspeed began to decay rapidly and a high sink rate developed as the aircraft entered into a stall/mush condition. The aircraft then landed hard, overloading the nose and left-main landing gear which collapsed. A post-impact fuel system leak during the ground slide led to a post-crash fire.
Probable cause:
A stall/mush condition resulting from an aft center of gravity which was inaccurately provided to the pilot-in-command by contractual cargo-loading personnel. Additional causes were overloading of the aircraft's landing gear and fuel leakage resulting in a post-crash fire. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's improper lowering of flaps in an aft CG situation and the inadequate company procedures for cargo loading.
Final Report: