Crash of a Learjet 35A in Greenville

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1997 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N440HM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlanta - Greenville
MSN:
35-294
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
GRA440
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5293
Captain / Total hours on type:
202.00
Circumstances:
The pilot-in-command stated he was cleared for an ILS approach. He had to use spoilers to intercept the glideslope. The landing was extended at the outer marker as the airspeed was slowed through 200 knots. As the airspeed decreased the spoilers were retracted and the flaps were extended to 20-degrees. The airplane was drifting to the right and flaps were lowered to 40-degrees as the drift was corrected. The airplane floated and touched down long. The spoilers, and brakes were applied as well as full reverse. There was no braking due to hydroplaning. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane went off the end of the runway, skidded through 200 feet of sod, vaulted off a 25 foot embankment, skidded across a road, and collided with a ditch.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point on a known wet runway, resulting in a subsequent overrun and on ground collision with a ditch.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.128-6 Skyservant in Kaduna: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NAF017
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kaduna - Kaduna
MSN:
6007
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Kaduna-New Kaduna Airport. On final approach, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that nosed down and crashed in a field located 3 km short of runway. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of an IAI-1124 Westwind II near Guatemala City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1997 at 0306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV-160CP
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lima – Guatemala City
MSN:
211
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While descending to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 14,4 km short of runway. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended below the MDA for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Semipalatinsk

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UN-87233
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9 53 18 42
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed at an excessive speed and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen metres further. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in Huetamo de Núñez

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1997 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1442V
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22503
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was probably involved in an illegal flight when it crashed and burnt while trying to land in a remote area located near Huetamo de Núñez. No one was found in the wreckage and it was later confirmed that the registration N1442V was false.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2C3 in Carajás: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1997 at 1234 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CJO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Marabá – Carajás – Brasília
MSN:
21013
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
RG265
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6138
Captain / Total hours on type:
2478.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1720
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1464
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Belém-Val de Cans Airport on a flight to Brasília with intermediate stops in Marabá and Carajás, carrying 48 passengers and a crew of six. The approach to Carajás-Parauapebas Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with rain falls, clouds down to 120 metres and a limited visibility due to rain and fog. On final the aircraft was unstable and landed hard on runway 10. On touchdown, the right main gear was torn off and the aircraft went out of control. It veered off runway to the right, collided with trees and eventually came to rest in a wooded area. The copilot was killed as the right side of the cockpit was destroyed upon impact. Ten other people were injured and 43 escaped unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Lack of crew coordination,
- The captain was overconfident,
- The copilot showed a lack of self confidence,
- The environment developed in the cockpit on approach allowed the pilots to deviate from the operational tasks primarily related to mutual controls,
- Poor approach and landing planning which required a higher sink rate than normal,
- The crew failed to make an approach briefing,
- Insufficient application of controls,
- The crew completed an unstable approach,
- Weather conditions were below minimums,
- The runway was not equipped with a lighting system but only with PAPIs,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure as the landing was obviously missed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402C II off Charlotte Amalie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1997 at 1932 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N318AB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Christiansted – Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
402C-0318
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
YI319
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
9000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
16085
Circumstances:
As the flight made a visual approach to the airport from the south over the sea, at night, the pilot changed his navigation radio from the VOR to the ILS system for runway 10 and lost DME reading from the VOR located on a hill north of the localizer course. The localizer showed the flight was south of the localizer course, and without DME from the VOR the pilot believed he was much closer to the island and the airport than the aircraft actually was. As the pilot attempted to make visual contact with the airport and maintain clearance from the hills he allowed the aircraft to descend and crash into the sea about 3 miles southwest of the airport. The pilot had not filed a FAA flight plan for the scheduled commuter flight. The pilot had been flying the route for 5 days and had no previous experience in the area. The pilot reported he had no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft systems, flight controls, or engines. No FAA Operations inspectors had conducted surveillance on the company's flight operations in the Caribbean since service had begun in December 1996.
Probable cause:
The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude while making a visual approach at night over water in black hole conditions resulting in the aircraft descending and crashing into the sea. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot and operator to use all available air traffic control and navigational facilities, and the FAA Principle Operations Inspector's inadequate surveillance of the operation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Uruapan

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-HAO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lázaro Cárdenas – Uruapan
MSN:
TC-356
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Uruapan-General Ignacio López Rayón Airport, the crew started the braking procedure and activated the reverse thrust systems when control was lost. The aircraft veered off runway to the right, lost a landing gear and came to rest. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-DO Skymaster in Bronson Creek

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1997 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N44909
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27371
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Bronson Creek Airport, one of the main landing gear struck a snow wall. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1A Bandeirante in Yola: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1997
Operator:
Registration:
5N-AXS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jos – Yola – Maiduguri
MSN:
110-458
YOM:
1984
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While approaching Yola Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The captain decided to abandon the approach and initiated a go-around procedure. The crew followed a holding pattern for about an hour before starting a second attempt to land. On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck tree tops and a powerline before crashing 700 metres short of runway 17. All three crew members and two passengers were killed. The remaining 11 passengers were injured.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach below MDA until the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed.