Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Cuamba: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
024
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
64 05
YOM:
1978
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the crew missed the runway and landed in a grassy area located along the runway. At least one people on the ground was killed and the aircraft came to rest. There were no casualties/injuries among the passengers and crew. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1993.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Empuriabrava: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1993 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-OVAN
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Empuriabrava - Empuriabrava
MSN:
1892
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Empuriabravia Airfield on a local skydiving mission. After all skydivers jumped, the pilot returned to the airport. On final approach, the pilot encountered engine problems and initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft lost height, struck trees and crashed short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines on final approach caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Gyumri: 35 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1993 at 2057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-26141
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Krasnodar - Gyumri
MSN:
37312903
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
GW5719
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Gyumri Airport, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions and eventually decided to initiate a go-around procedure. But this decision was taken too late and the aircraft stalled and crashed in a river bed located about 2,990 metres past the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while 35 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following factors were reported:
- The visibility (200 metres) was below minimums at the time of the accident,
- The crew's decision to initiate a go-around was taken too late,
- The approach was unstable and the aircraft was not properly aligned with runway centerline,
- The crew failed to follow the approach published procedures,
- The aircraft was overloaded at takeoff and upon landing,
- Two cars stored in the cargo compartment were not properly secured,
- There were 31 passengers on board while only five were mentioned on the manifest.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154B-2 in Grozny

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1993 at 1229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-85296
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Grozny
MSN:
78A296
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
165
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Moscow, the crew completed the approach to Grozny in poor weather conditions. The aircraft landed nose first, causing it to be torn off. The aircraft slid on the ground for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 172 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage in Wilkes-Barre

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1993 at 1745 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N92GP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leesburg - Bedford
MSN:
46-22120
YOM:
1991
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
675
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Aircraft flight hours:
206
Circumstances:
While cruising at FL240, the pilot observed the engine oil pressure gradually decrease from the normal to the caution range and a drop in manifold pressure. He requested and received vectors for a precautionary landing at an airport short of his destination. During the descent, the oil pressure continued to drop to zero and engine power was lost. He was able to locate the airport underneath the overcast, but loss of engine power prevented him from reaching the runway. The airplane impacted trees 1,200 feet from the airport. The 6 engine cylinder assemblies were changed 7 hours prior to the accident. Examination of the engine and turbochargers did not reveal the source of the oil loss.
Probable cause:
The loss of engine oil for undetermined reasons and the subsequent engine failure, resulting in a forced landing and collision with trees.
Final Report:

Crash of an IAI-1124 Westwind II in Santa Ana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1993 at 1733 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N309CK
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
La Verne - Santa Ana
MSN:
350
YOM:
1991
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8228
Captain / Total hours on type:
756.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3027
Circumstances:
A Beech liner, Boeing 757 and Israel Westwind (WW) were vectored for landings on runway 19R. The 757 and WW were sequenced for visual approaches behind the Beech. Before being cleared for visual approach, the WW was closing 3.5 miles from the 757 on a converging course. The 757 and WW crews were told to slow to 150 knots. The 757 slowed below 150 knots and was high on final approach with a 5.6° descent. The WW continued to converge to about 2.1 miles behind the 757 on a 3° approach. ATC did not specifically advise, and was not required by ATC handbook to advise, the WW pilots that they were behind a Boeing 757. Captain discussed possible wake turbulence, flew ILS 1 dot high, noted closeness to the 757 and indicated there should be no problem. While descending thru approximately 1,100 feet msl, the WW encountered wake turbulence from the 757, rolled into a steep descent and crashed. The crew lacked specific wake turbulence training. Chlorpheniramine (common over-the-counter anti-histamine; not approved for flying) detected in pilot's lung tissue (0.094 ug/ml).
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate separation behind the Boeing 757 and/or remain above its flight path during the approach, which resulted in an encounter with wake vortices from the 757. Factors related to the accident were: an inadequacy in the ATC procedure related to visual approaches and VFR operations behind heavier airplanes, and the resultant lack of information to the Westwind pilots for them to determine the relative flight path of their airplane with respect to the boeing 757's flight path.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Naga City: 30 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1993 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4761
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Manila - Naga City
MSN:
4761
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
The descent to Naga City Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On approach, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Manase located 30 km from the airport and disintegrated on impact. All 30 occupants were killed. They were on their way to Naga City on a typhoon relief mission.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the approach below minimum safe altitude in below minima weather conditions.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond IA in Goodland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1993 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N710MB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scott City - Goodland
MSN:
78
YOM:
1984
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
17365
Captain / Total hours on type:
80.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2593
Circumstances:
The flight was cleared for the ILS approach to runway 30. The flying pilot was the pilot-in-command. According to the cockpit voice recorder transcripts, the flying pilot had difficulty making a stabilized approach. During the initial descent the airplane entered an overspeed condition and the airplane flew through the localizer. During his attempt to re-establish the airplane on the localizer, the pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease to the point where the prestall 'stick-shaker' activated. The stick shaker continued until the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted terrain. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies were discovered during the investigation. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's inadvertent stall of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot-in-command's poor ifr procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 200T Super King Air in Ipoh

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1993 at 1540 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9M-CAM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
BT-10 (BB-563)
YOM:
1979
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Ipoh-Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, the twin engine aircraft veered off runway to the right, lost its undercarriage and came to rest near the fire brigade building. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II near Phônsavan: 18 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1993 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34117
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vientiane – Phônsavan
MSN:
0042
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While descending to Phônsavan Airport, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions due to fog. On approach, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a hilly and wooded terrain located 28 km from the airport, bursting into flames. All 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the approach below the minimum safe altitude in below minima weather conditions.