Landing (descent or approach)

While approaching Bundi Airport on a flight from Madang, the pilot decided to divert to Begesin Airport for unknown reason. On final approach to Begesin Airstrip, he extended the approach and landed too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and crashed in a ravine. The pilot and a passenger were killed.

Following an uneventful flight from Trabzon, the crew started the descent to Krasnodar Airport by night. Upon landing, the aircraft bounced five times and a positive acceleration of 3,3 g was recorded. After the fifth bounce, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 44 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedure and at the time of the accident, the CofG was too far aft, causing the aircraft to be unstable.

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane's left engine started to surge. The airplane also began experiencing intermittent electrical surges which caused the instrument panel lights, cabin lights, and radios to go off and on. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport to land. He did not secure the left engine before landing because it was still developing some usable power. He placed the gear select handle in the down position and observed three green gear-down-and-locked lights. Prior to touchdown, both power levers were positioned to flight idle and no gear warning horn sounded. The airplane landed gear up. Postaccident examination revealed no abnormalities with the landing gear or electrical system. The landing gear emergency extension functioned properly. The landing gear indicating system showed a safe gear indication when the gear was extended during examination. Substantial damage to the gear doors was observed, but no damage to the landing gear was observed.

On December 14, 1995, about 0014 central standard time N503U, an Aero Commander 1121, operated by American Air Network crashed about 10 miles North of Guatemala City, Guatemala, while on a 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand, international, cargo flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot and co-pilot received fatal injuries. The flight had originated from Miami, Florida about 2200 the previous day. The crew executed three instrument approaches to the Guatemala City Airport, and reported to controllers on duty that they were low on fuel and could not proceed to their alternate airport.

On final approach to Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the single engine aircraft struck power cables and crashed in the Oker River, about 3,5 short of runway 08 threshold. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

The pilot departed his home base in VFR conditions without filing a flight plan and did not request or receive a preflight or en route weather briefing from the FAA. While en route, he contacted Southern California TRACON (SOCAL) and requested an ILS runway 26 approach to the destination airport. SOCAL cleared the pilot for the approach and to change to an advisory frequency. There was no current weather report available at the airport because the tower was closed, but another pilot who was on the same frequency stated that the airport weather was 'zero zero.' (An automated weather observation system at the airport recorded 'zero zero' conditions near the time of the accident.) Ground witnesses heard the airplane as the pilot began a missed approach. However, the airplane collided with trees and a snack bar building about 1/4 mile northwest of the departure end of the runway. Impact occurred as the airplane was in a right turn through a heading of 345 degrees, which was the opposite direction of turn for the missed approach procedure. Toxicology test of the pilot's blood showed 1.518 mcg/ml Fenfluramine and 0.678 mcg/ml Phentermine; these are appetite suppressant drugs that are chemically related to amphetamines and have a high incidence of abuse. Neither of these drugs was approved by the FAA for use while flying aircraft. The amount of Fenfluramine in the pilot's blood was above a normal level for control of appetite.

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Magadan to Anadyr on behalf of the Federal Border Guard Aviation Command, carrying 11 passengers, seven crew members and a load consisting of helicopters spare parts. On final approach, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a field located 4 km short of runway. On touchdown, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 18 occupants were rescued, among them four were injured. The aircraft was written off.

For unknown reasons, the aircraft belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

While on a night approach to Douala Airport, at a distance of 3,5 NM, the crew was cleared to land on runway 30. At this time, the aircraft initiated a slight climb and about 15 seconds later, the copilot informed ATC about technical problems. Three seconds later, the aircraft rolled to the left, struck trees and crashed in a mangrove located about 1,700 metres south of runway 30, bursting into flames. Three passengers and two crew members (the copilot and a stewardess) were seriously injured while 71 other occupants were killed.

Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed too far down the runway, about 600 metres from the runway end. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck a concrete wall (45 cm high) and came to rest 450 metres further. All 108 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.