Crash of a Tupolev TU-154A in Varna

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BTD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stockholm - Varna
MSN:
74A058
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
LZ7022
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
127
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Varna Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. The aircraft landed too far down a wet runway 27 and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All 134 occupants, most of them Swedish tourists, were evacuated safely, nevertheless several passengers suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Boeing EC-135J Stratotanker at Pope AFB

Date & Time: May 29, 1992 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-3584
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pope AFB - Pope AFB
MSN:
18567
YOM:
1963
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Pope AFB. Apparently following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed too far down the runway and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in two. All 14 occupants were injured.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-36 Marquise at Edwards AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1992 at 1226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N742FN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
China Lake - Edwards AFB
MSN:
670
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a liaison flight from China Lake on behalf of the US Navy, carrying seven US Navy personnels and two pilots. On final approach in good weather conditions, the aircraft struck the ground in a relative flat attitude about 800 metres short of runway 22, slid for about 200 metres and came to rest. All seven passengers were seriously injured and both crew members (Lt David W. Garnett and Aean Lorenzo Rodriguez) were killed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor off Zanzibar: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1992 at 0559 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-TZS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam - Zanzibar
MSN:
414-0951
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Circumstances:
While approaching Zanzibar Airport by night on a positioning flight from Dar es-Salaam, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in the sea off Chenguu Island, few hundred metres offshore. The pilot, sole on board was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Türkmenabat

Date & Time: May 13, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-88235
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ashgabat - Türkmenabat
MSN:
9 64 04 51
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
TUA308
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Türkmenabat Airport following an uneventful flight from Ashgabat, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and limited visibility. On short final, the crew lost visual contact with the runway for few seconds, causing the aircraft to deviate from the approach path to the right. The crew decided to continue when, at a height of 12 metres, the right wing struck a mast. The aircraft caught fire, turned to the right and crashed at a speed of 220 km/h, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found one km from the runway end. All 38 occupants evacuated safely, among them five passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The approach was completed in very bad weather conditions and a first approach was abandoned few minutes prior to the accident. During the second attempt to land, the crew lost visual contact with the runway for few seconds, causing the aircraft to deviate to the right of the approach path. The crew decided to continue the approach in such conditions rather than initiating a new go-around procedure.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sisian

Date & Time: May 9, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87532
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stepanakert – Erevan
MSN:
9 52 16 41
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Stepanakert on a charter flight to Yerevan, carrying 30 refugees and three crew members. While in cruising altitude over the Kalbajar district in south Armenia, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of an Azerbaijani Sukhoi Su-25. Two engines failed and smoke spread in the cabin. The crew initiated an emergency descent and divert to Sisian Airport. The aircraft landed on its belly, slid for few hundred metres then veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 33 occupants evacuated safely, except both pilots who were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Attacked in flight by the pilot of an Azerbaijani Sukhoi Su-25.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Independence

Date & Time: May 2, 1992 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N59781
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemet - Carson City
MSN:
31-7612023
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1800
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1750
Circumstances:
The Piper Navajo had not flown for about 9 months. During preparation for flight the pilot discovered that the battery was dead. The battery was removed for charging by the fixed base operator, the battery box was cleaned and painted. The operator advised that the battery was over 3 years old plus the 9 months of non use rendered the battery non reliable and recommended that it be replaced. The pilot choose not to change the battery. The pilot requested that the main tanks be topped. The pilot flew the airplane for a short time. The next day (day of the accident) the pilot, while preflighting the airplane, discovered that the battery was again dead so he requested an external power cart for starting. About an hour into the cross country flight the pilot stated that both engines quit while on the aux tanks. He stated that he had no electrical power for fuel boost pumps or starters. The airplane collided with electrical power lines during the emergency landing attempt in an alfalfa field.
Probable cause:
Fuel starvation due to
1) the pilots inadequate preflight planning preparation,
2) the pilot's fuel system management, and
3) his operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies in the aircraft electrical system.
Factors in the accident were:
1) the deteriorated condition of the airplane battery, and
2) the pilots lack of recent experience.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Cumuatillo: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-OEF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cali - Cumuatillo
MSN:
35-102
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew attempted a night landing at Cumuatillo-Pajacuarán Airport that was not equipped with any facilities, tower or lighting systems. The aircraft approached in a wrong position relating to the runway direction and struck the ground near the runway threshold in a near perpendicular heading. It went out of control, crashed and came to rest near a road, broken in several pieces. Both pilots were killed. A load of cocaine was found among the debris.
Probable cause:
The crew was completing an illegal flight from Cali, Colombia, carrying a load of cocaine, and attempted to land by night on an airport that was not suitable for such aircraft and operations. No flight plan was filed and the crew entered illegally the Mexican airspace.

Crash of a Boeing 707-351C in Ilorin

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9G-RBO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ilorin - Ilorin
MSN:
18746
YOM:
1964
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Ilorin Airport, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. On final approach, during the last segment, the copilot inadvertently raised the landing gear. The aircraft landed on its belly, slid for few hundred metres and came to rest with both engines n°2 and 3 partially torn off. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Gear-up landing following an inadvertent gear retraction on final approach on part of the crew.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in New Port Richey: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1992 at 1606 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3271Q
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New Port Richey - Gainesville
MSN:
401-0071
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
12600
Circumstances:
The pic departed on a ferry flight in VFR conditions without a ferry permit. Witnesses stated they observed the airplane returning to the airport at about 150 to 500 feet. The airplane was observed to begin a left turn with the landing gear extended. A fire was observed in the vicinity of the left engine exhaust. The airplane continued in a steep descending left turn before it disappeared below the tree line and collided with the terrain. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (vs) while maneuvering for a forced landing following an in flight left engine fire for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot in command's inadvertent shutdown of the wrong engine.
Final Report: