Landing (descent or approach)

The aircraft was approaching Vila de Sena Airstrip following a cargo flight from Beira, carrying a load of various goods. As the airfield was located in an area subject to combats, the crew completed a low approach to avoid any hostile action. On approach to a grassy airfield, the aircraft drifted to the right so the captain elected to correct the deviation when the aircraft struck trees, stalled and crashed in the Zambezi River. Two crew members were rescued while a third was killed.

On the leg from Kungrad to the KS-7 Airfield at Komsomolsk-na-Ustyurte of a flight from Kungrad to Karakalpakiya with 2 unauthorized passengers on board, when the crew encountered below minima weather conditions (poor visibility) upon arrival. The crew failed to return, lost visual contact with the ground and deviated from the approach path so the aircraft collided at a height of 35 metres with a 52 metres high drilling tower, crashed and caught fire. A pilot and a passenger were killed while both survivors were seriously injured.

The accident airplane collided with trees and terrain after being cleared for a non precision instrument approach. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The minimum descent altitude for the approach profile from an intermediate intersection to the missed approach point is 1,460 feet. The elevation of destination airport is 745 feet. The elevation of the accident site is 880 feet. Two persons witnessed the accident sequence. Both persons saw the airplane in level, low altitude flight with the landing gear down before it struck the tree tops. They described how the airplane pulled up and then rolled before it struck the ground. One witness described how the airplane was flying at the base of the clouds. All three occupants were killed.

The copilot was the pilot-in-command on approach to runway 07 at San José-Juan Santamaría Airport. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog and was unable to locate the runway and its lighting system. On short final, the captain realized that the aircraft was not properly aligned on the glide and took over controls. He attempted to correct the trajectory but the unstable aircraft continued to descend and landed to the right of the runway. The aircraft rolled for about 1,500 metres when it struck a drainage ditch. Both main landing gears were torn off and the aircraft came to rest on its belly in a grassy area. All 42 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The four engine aircraft departed Ostafyevo AFB on a flight to Tiksi with intermediate stops in Ryazan and Vorkuta, carrying 15 passengers, seven crew members and a load of 6 tons of plumbing and communication equipments. En route from Ryazan to Vorkuta, the crew was diverted to Amderma due to poor weather conditions. But on approach to Amderma, the crew also encountered poor weather conditions and initiated the descent prematurely. On final, the aircraft struck an ammunition depot and crashed in a snow covered field located 1,500 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. Two passengers were seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed.

The pilot contacted approach control and was given the weather as sky partly obscured, ceiling 100 feet, visibility 1/16 mile with fog, wind calm. The pilot then requested a surveillance radar approach to runway 14, to be followed by a surveillance approach to runway 32, in the event of a missed approach from runway 14. The published approach minimums were 1-1/4 mile visibility, ceiling 460 feet msl (438 feet agl). The radar control observed an altitude readout that was below the published minimums and advised the pilot to execute a missed approach. No response was received from the pilot. The aircraft was found floating in the bay approximately 2 miles from the end of the runway. Another pilot (based at the same facility) stated that the two pilots had, on numerous occasions, attempted the approach at times when the weather was reported to be less than that required for the approach. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The crew was completing a test flight from Toussus-le-Noble to Epinal. On approach to Epinal-Mirecourt Airport, visibility was below minimums. On final, as the crew was unable to locate the runway, he decided to initiate a go-around procedure and increased engine power. The aircraft rolled to the left, causing the left wing and the engine to struck the runway surface. Power was reduced and the aircraft bounced and eventually came to rest 400 metres further. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach the pilot reported an engine failure. He said he was putting the landing gear down. The airplane crashed 3 miles from the airport. Examination of the engines revealed no discrepancies. The pilot did not feather the propeller after the engine failure. He had no training in this airplane or any other multi-engine airplane in over 5 years. His last before was in a Cessna 172. It was reported that the pilot did not manage the airplane fuel system in the recommended manner. A witness said the pilot used fuel from the main tanks until they were nearly empty. He ignored forecasts of light icing conditions and during his flight he reported ice accumulation. All five occupants were killed.

After touchdown at Geneina Airport, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The descent to Makhachkala was started in poor weather conditions. While over mountainous terrain, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when, at an altitude of 550 metres and at a speed of 366 km/h, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Kukurtbash (980 metres high) located 23 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 51 occupants were killed.