Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Lubbock

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1995 at 0903 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9461R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lubbock - Midland
MSN:
208B-0076
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
MRA817
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2542
Captain / Total hours on type:
514.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3984
Circumstances:
During the night before the accident, freezing rain followed later by snow, fell on the ramp where the airplane was parked. A witness reported that while assisting the pilot in removing snow from the airplane, he noted that 80% of the wing was covered with a coarse layer of ice, from 1/16 to 3/16 in thickness, that was not removed before flight. After the accident, a fireman from the city of lubbock fire department noted ice on the wing approximately 1/16th of an inch thick that had a rough texture that looked as if deposited by freezing rain. The pilot reported that shortly after take off she heard a power decrease and felt surges in the aircraft. The pilot then looked for a place to land. A detailed examination of the engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to remove ice from the airframe prior to takeoff. Factors were freezing rain the night before and the pilots' incomplete preflight inspection.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Kathmandu: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1995 at 1359 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Rumjatar
MSN:
392
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
RA133
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 20 at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, the aircraft failed to get airborne, overran, went through a fence and came to rest in a field. A passenger and a pilot were killed while all other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was composed by two captains. For unknown reasons, the pilot-in-command decided to abort the takeoff procedure but the crew failed to coordinate this decision. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 60 kilos above MTOW.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Augusta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1995 at 0904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N13SE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Swainsboro - Columbia
MSN:
414-0437
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1312
Captain / Total hours on type:
23.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4526
Circumstances:
While climbing through 6,300 feet, the pilot reported the complete loss of power on the right engine. Approx 4 min later, and after the pilot had established an emergency descent for a landing, he reported that the left engine had also lost power. The airplane impacted a driveway and skidded into a building. Examination revealed that the right engine failed due to shifting of the engine case halves. Review of the engine maintenance records indicated that several cylinders had been replaced in recent months; the cylinder through bolts are used to torque the engine case. A reason for the loss of power on the left engine was not determined.
Probable cause:
The loss of power on the left engine for undetermined reasons. A factor was the failure of the right engine due to maintenance personnel's failure to properly torque the cylinder through bolts.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Flagstaff: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1995 at 1805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N746FE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Flagstaff - Phoenix
MSN:
208-0236
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
FDX7551
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2439
Circumstances:
A witness located near the departure end of the runway saw the airplane initially climb in a normal manner, then stay below the clouds and make a shallow bank 180-degree left turn and descend below a tree line. Tower tapes revealed that the pilot twice transmitted that he was "coming back" to the airport during which the background sound of the "fuel selector off" warning horn was heard. The pilot then informed the controller "I've got to get back", and no warning horn was heard. The airplane collided with trees and came to rest about 6,500 feet sse of the runway's end. Prior to departure, the airplane was refueled with 40 gals of jet a (20 gals per tank), which increased the total fuel load to 148 gals. The flight manual required that the fuel balance between the left and right tanks be kept within 200 pounds, and suggested turning off one fuel selector to correct unbalance situations. The condition of one fuel selector turned off will cause the "fuel selector off" warning horn to sound. Exam of the aircraft revealed no evidence of preimpact failures. Prop blade butt signatures indicated it was operating in the governing range, and engine power was being produced at impact.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to properly configure the aircraft fuel system prior to takeoff, and his failure maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while maneuvering to return to the airport. Factors in the accident were the dark night lighting conditions, low ceilings, restricted visibility conditions, and the pilot's diverted attention which resulted from activation of the airplane's fuel selector warning horn system.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Mombasa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5Y-PAL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
402B-0584
YOM:
1974
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mombasa-Daniel Arap Moi Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 20 km south of the airport. Both passengers were seriously injured and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar II in Isfahan: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1995 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1003
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kish - Isfahan - Tehran
MSN:
5203
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Kish Island to Tehran with an intermediate stop in Isfahan. Shortly after takeoff from Isfahan-Shahid Beheshti Airport, while climbing to the altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew reported pressurisation problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Five minutes after its departure, the aircraft went out of control and crashed few km from the airport. All 12 occupants were killed, among them General Mansour Sattari, Chief of the Iranian Air Force.

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in Cuernavaca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
N720EM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cuernavaca - Dallas
MSN:
61-0834-8163441
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near the runway end. Both occupants were killed, among them Eduardo Mata, Mexican conductor and composer. He was accompanied by Marina Anaya and was en route to Dallas, TX.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 310 in Bili

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
P2-IAA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bili - Bili
MSN:
244
YOM:
1969
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Bili Airfield. During the takeoff roll on a grassy airstrip, the crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Trinidad

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-67
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Trinidad - Trinidad
MSN:
3581
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training at Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz Airport. Upon takeoff, the aircraft lost height and crash landed by the runway. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the loss of control occurred at liftoff while the crew was attempting a 3-engine takeoff.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu in Rochester: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1994 at 1152 LT
Registration:
N133MA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rochester - Guntersville
MSN:
46-22133
YOM:
1993
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
96.00
Aircraft flight hours:
106
Circumstances:
The airplane departed on runway 31 in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and turned right to a heading of 090°. Radar contact (arts tag) was acquired about 1 to 2 miles north of the airport. Reportedly, the arts tag would typically be acquired as the airplane climbed through an altitude of about 700 feet agl. Subsequently, the airplane crashed about 2 miles north of the airport. A witness reported hearing a loud engine noise before the plane crashed. The wreckage path was oriented along a westerly heading and over an area of about 380 feet. There was evidence of an in-flight breakup. An outboard portion of the right wing was found about 150 feet from the main impact crater. An examination revealed the right wing had failed near the production seam. The right spar exhibited features 'typical of an upward bending overstress separation.' Examination revealed no other evidence of preimpact aircraft or engine malfunction. The airplane's gross weight was estimated to be about 4,696 pounds; its max limit was 4,300 pounds. The pilot's logbook indicated that he had flown only 2 instrument approaches in the previous 14 months. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, while climbing in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) after takeoff. Factors related to the accident were: fog, low ceiling, the pilot's lack of recent instrument experience, and the excessive gross weight of the airplane.
Final Report: