Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Aldan

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1996 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-87423
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tynda - Aldan
MSN:
9 42 19 34
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Twenty-three minutes after takeoff from Tynda Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 5,700 metres, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine n°2 (central engine). Due to an excessive temperature of the turbine, the captain decided to shut this engine down (the engine n°2 is equipped with a thrust reverser system). While descending to Aldan Airport, the aircraft approached in a nose down attitude and struck the ground 90 metres short of runway threshold with a positive acceleration of 4 g. On impact, the nose gear collapsed, the aircraft bounced several times then slid for 800 metres before coming to rest on the runway. All 11 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew took the wrong decision to fly to Aldan Airport instead of the alternate,
- The approach was continued with excessive gap related to the approach speed and altitude,
- On final, the aircraft was in an excessive nose down attitude,
- The crew failed to identify and correct the wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Tunduru

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1996 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5H-RAZ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
402C-0205
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8700
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on its belly and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing because a pin on the lock mechanism was broken.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Cafunfo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1996 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
UR-26197
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Cafunfo
MSN:
12609
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Cafunfo Airport, following an uneventful cargo flight from Luanda, the crew encountered bad weather conditions with thunderstorm. On short final, the pilot reported a minor technical problem with the left engine and initiated a go-around procedure. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while initiating a go-around procedure due to a stall consecutive to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11-109 in Naga City

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1981
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2032
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed hard with its right main gear first. Out of control, it slid on runway for few dozen metres and came to rest, bursting into flames. All 34 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II in Shanghai: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1996 at 1704 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-3822
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dalian - Shanghai
MSN:
0001
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Dalian, the crew started the descent to Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions. While completing a last turn to join the approach path, the twin engine aircraft crashed on the top of a hill located about 3 km short of runway. A pilot and a passenger were killed while 10 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew initiated the last turn prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the MDA in limited visibility. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated 3 km to the right of the approach path. Lack of visibility was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Swearingen SA26T Merlin IIA in Whale Cove

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1996 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GTHN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
T26-016
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Whale Cove Airport, the aircraft deviated to the left after a course of about 1,600 feet. It veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft deviated from the runway centerline after landing due to strong crosswinds gusting up to 31 knots. The certification limit for the aircraft in such conditions was 22 knots.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII in Jos: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1996 at 0736 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VR-BLJ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kaduna - Jos
MSN:
40
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an executive flight from Kaduna to Jos, carrying four crew members and eight passengers, among them Colonel Mohammed Wase. On approach to Jos Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions when the aircraft collided with a telecommunication antenna and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The antenna has been recently installed by the company Nitel in a prohibited area,
- The crew was unable to see and avoid the obstacles due to poor weather conditions,
- The aircraft was not properly aligned on the approach path due to a wrong calibration of the Jos VOR by 10°.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Dayton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1996 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N62852
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berrien Springs - Dayton
MSN:
31-7612089
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1198
Captain / Total hours on type:
701.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3252
Circumstances:
The parents of the pilot/owner stated that he arrived late in the afternoon prior to the accident. They stayed up with their son until approximately 0100 the morning of the accident. They stated that their son was a doctor and kept a busy schedule. The son told the parents that he had to fly back in order to have new fuel cells installed in the airplane and to work at his clinic. The pilot was airborne by 0700. The weather at his destination had low ceilings and fog restricting the visibility. The pilot was cleared by ATC to fly the localizer approach to the runway. The pilot called his position at the outer marker on the unicom frequency and no further transmissions were heard. Witnesses on the airport heard and saw the bottom of the airplane and stated that the airplane's engines sounded normal as it went overhead. Radar data showed that the airplane's altitude fluctuated and ground speed decreased significantly during the missed approach flight path. The airplane impacted the ground in approximately 40- degree nose-low, right wing down attitude. The toxicology report revealed 0.005 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marihuana) in the blood, and 0.013 ug/ml and 0.017 ug/ml Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marihuana) in the blood and kidney fluid respectively.
Probable cause:
The pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to drugs which led to spatial disorientation and a loss of aircraft control. The weather was a factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 400 in Hoogeveen

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FDI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hoogeveen - Hoogeveen
MSN:
1869
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched at Hoogeveen Airport to perform local skydiving missions. While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew ordered the skydivers to bail out and decided to return for an emergency landing. On final, the crew realized he could not make it and eventually completed an emergency landing in a potato field located about 500 metres short of runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the crew miscalculated the necessary fuel quantity for the all mission as the accident occurred after 6 rotations.

Crash of a Boeing 727-286 in Rasht: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1996 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EP-IRU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rasht - Rasht
MSN:
21079
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tehran-Mehrabad Airport at 1233LT on a training flight to Rasht. Following 14 touch-and-go manoeuvres completed successfully, the crew approached the airport but forgot to lower the landing gear. The aircraft landed on its belly and slid on runway 09 for a period of 30 seconds and on a distance of 2,100 metres. Despite the situation, the crew decided to take off again and continued to climb when the rear fuselage caught fire. The crew declared an emergency, extended the undercarriage manually and was cleared to land on runway 09. On final approach, the aircraft became unstable, lost height and crashed in a field located 5 km short of runway. Four crew members were killed while three others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. §
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew failed to follow the approach checklist,
- The crew forgot to lower the landing gear,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- Wrong decision on part of the crew to take off following a belly landing,
- Following the belly landing, the aircraft suffered a fire and was not fit to fly.