Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Johannesburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1996
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-KBY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
31-7852067
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Johannesburg-Oliver Reginald Tambo Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near Boksburg, about 5 km south of the airport. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Kinshasa: 298 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1996 at 1243 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-26222
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kahemba
MSN:
2301
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
298
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Kahemba, carrying two passengers, four crew members and a load of food and basic necessities. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 204 km/h, the pilot-in-command pulled up the control column to start the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew decided to abort the take off procedure but this decision was taken too late. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,700 metres long), the aircraft overran, rolled for about 240 metres and came to rest in the district of Simbazikita, bursting into flames. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured. On ground, at least 297 people were killed while 253 others were injured, some seriously.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was unable to take off because its total weight at the time of the accident was well above the MTOW. Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the exact value of the excess mass, probably between 2 and 7 tons. Nevertheless, the decision of the crew to abort the takeoff procedure was taken too late and the runway length was insufficient. It was also reported that the aircraft was operated by African Air and leased from Moscow Airways. The flight was operated illegally on behalf of Scibe-Airlift which was not concerned about such operation. The certificate of airworthiness expired last December and the aircraft was not authorized to fly.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Novy Bor

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1995 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-32366
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Novy Bor - Ust-Tsylma
MSN:
1G100-17
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Novy Bor Airfield, while climbing to a height of about 10 metres, the aircraft nosed up. The pilot reduced the engine power when the aircraft stalled and crashed on the runway about 150 metres from its end. All 14 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the CofG was well beyond the aft limit.

Crash of a Casa 212M Aviocar 100 in Rancagua: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
212
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rancagua - Rancagua
MSN:
107
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Rancagua-de la Independencia Airport on a local skydiving mission. During the takeoff roll, the captain noticed a unknown technical problem and abandoned the procedure. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. A passenger was killed.

Crash of a Boeing 747-136 in New York

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1995 at 1136 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N605FF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Miami
MSN:
20271
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
FF041
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
451
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16455
Captain / Total hours on type:
2905.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17734
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4804
Aircraft flight hours:
90456
Aircraft flight cycles:
17726
Circumstances:
The captain initiated a takeoff on runway 04L, which was covered with patches of ice and snow. The wind was from 330 degrees at 11 knots. Before receiving an 80-knot call from the 1st officer, the airplane began to veer to the left. Subsequently, it went off the left side of the runway and collided with signs and an electric transformer. Investigation revealed evidence that the captain had overcontrolled the nosewheel steering through the tiller, then applied insufficient or untimely right rudder inputs to effect a recovery. The captain abandoned an attempt to reject the takeoff, at least temporarily, by restoring forward thrust before the airplane departed the runway. The current Boeing 747 operating procedures provide inadequate guidance to flightcrews regarding the potential for loss of directional control at low speeds on slippery runways with the use of the tiller. Current Boeing 747 flight manual guidance was inadequate about when a pilot should reject a takeoff following some indication of a lack of directional control response. Improvements in the slippery runway handling fidelity of flight simulators used for Boeing 747 pilot training were considered to be both needed and feasible.
Probable cause:
The captain's failure to reject the takeoff in a timely manner when excessive nosewheel steering tiller inputs resulted in a loss of directional control on a slippery runway. Inadequate Boeing 747 slippery runway operating procedures developed by Tower Air, Inc., and the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group and the inadequate fidelity of B-747 flight training simulators for slippery runway operations contributed to the cause of this accident. The captain's reapplication of forward thrust before the airplane departed the left side of the runway contributed to the severity of the runway excursion and damage to the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in Ingleside

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1995 at 1730 LT
Registration:
N231RL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ingleside - Cartagena
MSN:
BB-868
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Circumstances:
On December 18, 1995, at 1730 central standard time, a Beech B200, N231RL, was substantially damaged, during takeoff near Ingleside, Texas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned by R.A. Beeler Leasing Company, of Carrizo Springs, Texas, and operated by Western Airways Inc., of Houston, Texas. The airplane was stolen from the West Houston Airport at 1600. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to U.S. Customs officials, the operator's chief mechanic reported the aircraft stolen as soon as the airplane was broken into by the two occupants. A U.S. Customs airplane was vectored to intercept the stolen airplane. The owner of the airplane reported there was approximately 800 pounds of fuel aboard at the time the airplane was stolen. The airplane was intercepted as it was landing at the T.P. McCampbell Airport, near Ingleside, Texas. The Customs aircraft landed and blocked the single 4,996 foot runway. While attempting to takeoff to evade law enforcement personnel, the airplane impacted a fence, crossed a ditch, and came to rest in a swamp. The two occupants of the airplane jumped out and ran. The pilot's son was captured, but the pilot was not apprehended. The following items were found in the airplane: bolt cutters, 2 masks, loaded weapons, the pilot's wallet, and charts and maps indicating that the planned destination of the flight was near Cartagena, Colombia. The nose landing gear collapsed, the left wing sustained structural damage, and the pressure bulkhead was punctured.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper decision, while evading law enforcement personnel during an illegal/unauthorized operation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Nome

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1995 at 1316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N340K
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nome - Gambell
MSN:
BA-605
YOM:
1962
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8500
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6886
Circumstances:
The pilot was attempting to transport by-pass mail from Nome to Gambell, Alaska. The pilot stated that the takeoff run was normal until he rotated the nose of the airplane to lift off. The pilot said the airplane pitched up and he had to apply full forward control yoke pressure while he adjusted the pitch trim to nose down. The airplane rolled to the left and the pilot used the rudders to level the wings prior to impact. The information provided by the company, the FAA, and the post office, indicate that the airplane weighed 10,114 pounds at the time of the takeoff. The certificated maximum gross weight was 10,100 pounds. A weight and balance calculation, based upon information obtained from the company and the placarded limits on the airplane, showed a center of gravity of 121.9 inches. The center of gravity limits shown in the airplane manual are 113 to 120.5 inches. The wreckage examination showed that the elevator trim indicator was indicating full nose up trim.
Probable cause:
The pilot exceeding the weight and balance limitations of the airplane and improperly utilizing the airplane's elevator trim by selecting full nose up trim.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Jamba: 141 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CRR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jamba - Kinshasa
MSN:
1080
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
139
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
141
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jamba Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in a field located few km from the airfield. The copilot and two passengers survived while 141 other occupants were killed, among them 83 children. The aircraft was completing a charter/humanitarian flight to Kinshasa to repatriate Congolese refugees.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft that was certified to carry a maximum of 97 passengers.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Turbo Beaver III in La Ronge

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1995 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FOEF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1605
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at La Ronge, the single engine aircraft was stolen by a drunk 'pilot' who was able to run the engine but attempted to take off with controls locked. At a speed of about 60 knots, the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed on a hill. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Crashed after being stolen by an intoxicated 'pilot'.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Verona: 49 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1995 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YR-AMR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Verona - Timișoara
MSN:
77303309
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
BZ166
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
49
Captain / Total flying hours:
3645
Captain / Total hours on type:
2345.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6500
Aircraft flight hours:
8913
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Timișoara, the aircraft landed at Verona-Villafranca Airport and remained parked for one hour on the ground. Weather conditions were as follow: wind 290° at 2 knots, horizontal visibility 1,300 metre, RVR 2,000 metres, haze and snow falls, overcast 500 feet, OAT 0° C, dew point below zero, QNH 1010. Despite snow falls, the crew decided to takeoff without proceeding to a pre-departure deicing/anti-icing of the aircraft. After liftoff from runway 23, the crew initiated a slight turn to the right heading 239° when 25 seconds later, the aircraft's speed dropped to 179 km/h. The crew selected elevator down so the speed increased to 185 km/h but when elevators were selected up again, the speed dropped to 155 km/h. The aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 67° then lost height and crashed in a field located 1,500 metres from the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 49 occupants were killed, among them 31 Italian businessmen, 4 Serbs and 14 Romanians including all crew membres. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operated by Banat Air and leased from Romavia.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb due to the loss of aerodynamic properties consequently to the decision of the crew to not proceed to any deicing or anti-icing procedure prior to departure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Excessive accumulation of snow and frost on wings, tail, elevators, stabs and fuselage,
- The crew underestimated and exercised poor judgment about weather conditions,
- The pilot-in-command probably suffered a spatial disorientation during initial climb because of the unusual attitude of the aircraft caused by the loss of aerodynamic properties, combined with snow falls, the lack of visibility due to the night and a possible optical illusion caused by the headlights on,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 2 tons above the MTOW,
- The weight & balance sheet could not be checked prior to takeoff because the crew failed to transmit such document that was not requested by ground personnel,
- A slight loss of power occurred on the right engine shortly after liftoff.
Final Report: