Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise in Hillsboro: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 2005 at 1752 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N312MA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hillsboro – Salem
MSN:
266
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2170
Captain / Total hours on type:
551.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3970
Circumstances:
Witnesses observed the aircraft perform a rolling takeoff and it was airborne by the crossing runway (1,300 feet down the 6,600 foot runway). The aircraft entered an approximate 40 degree nose high climb rate to about 1,000 feet. The aircraft then entered a steep left hand banking turn. The nose dropped and the aircraft rotated up to about 4 times before colliding with the flat terrain adjacent to the departure end of the runway threshold. On site documentation of the airframe found no evidence of a flight control malfunction. An engine examination and teardown found that the gearbox section of the left engine experienced a high cycle fatigue failure of the high speed pinion journal bearing oil supply tube and subsequent degradation of the high speed pinion journal bearings. This failure resulted in a partial power loss to the left engine. The pilot had recently purchased this aircraft and he had accumulated approximately 11 hours since the purchase. The pilot had stated to personnel at the place where he purchased the aircraft that he had not received, nor did he need recurrent training in this aircraft as he had several thousand hours in the aircraft. Flight logs provided by the family indicated that the pilot had accumulated about 551 hours in a Mitsubishi, however, the last time that the pilot had flown this make and model was 14 years prior to the accident. Logbook entries indicated that only a few hours of flight time had been accumulated in all aircraft during the approximately 2 years prior to the accident. Personnel that flew with the pilot in the make and model aircraft involved in the accident described the pilot as "proficiency lacking." Normal takeoff calculations for the aircraft with the flaps configured to 5 degrees, indicated a ground run of 2,900 feet, with a rotation speed of 106 KCAS, and 125 KCAS for the climb out. A maximum pitch attitude of 13 degrees maximum is indicated. Performance calculations indicated that the aircraft was capable of lifting off where the witnesses observed and climbing to 1,000 feet agl by the end of the runway. To achieve this performance the aircraft would have rotated at approximately 84 KCAS and climbed at an airspeed below Vmc (100 KCAS) and close to power-off stall speed (86 KCAS) with 5 degrees of flaps. The airplane's flight manual indicated that if an engine failure occurs in the takeoff climb and the landing gear is fully retracted, the emergency procedures is to maintain 140 KCAS, flaps to 5 degrees, the failed engine condition lever to EMERGENCY STOP, and failed engine power lever to TAKEOFF. On site documentation found the left side condition lever in the takeoff/land position and the power lever was found half-way between takeoff and flight idle.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to obtain minimum controllable airspeed during the takeoff climb, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control when the left engine lost partial power. A fatigue failure to an oil tube, which resulted in the partial power loss to the left engine, procedures/directives not followed by the pilot, and the pilot's lack of recent experience and no recurrent training in the type of aircraft were factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12 II in Mongu: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 2005 at 1328 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AF-216
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mongu - Lusaka
MSN:
0089
YOM:
1994
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched in Mongu where the crew delivered foods to a drought-stricken part of Zambia. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Barradas: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 2005 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C3216
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barradas - Barradas
MSN:
207-0333
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Barradas Airport located near Tanauan (Batangas), while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. It stalled and crashed in a coconut grove located in the village of Santor, near the airfield. The pilot and three passengers were killed while two others were seriously injured. All occupants were completing a local skydiving mission. Witnesses reported that the engine emitted white smoke shortly after rotation.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Verkhnyaya Khava

Date & Time: Apr 25, 2005 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-40490
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Verkhnyaya Khava - Verkhnyaya Khava
MSN:
1G225-07
YOM:
1987
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew elected to takeoff from a terrain located about 4 km north of Verkhnyaya Khava with a tailwind component and crosswinds. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft became uncontrollable and veered to the right, causing the right main gear to be torn off after it rolled in soft ground. Out of control, the aircraft came to rest upside down. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to take off with an excessive tailwind component and crosswinds without sufficient correction during the takeoff procedure.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Sennoi-Baranovka

Date & Time: Apr 24, 2005 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was engaged in a crop spraying flight in the Sennoi area. During the takeoff roll, the left wheel separated. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the left and collided with a parked truck, bursting into flames. Both pilots were injured, the captain seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Al Mukalla

Date & Time: Mar 31, 2005 at 1902 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
UN-11007
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Al Mukalla – Sharjah
MSN:
9 3 465 09
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
BIS6311
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
35115
Aircraft flight cycles:
13125
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Al Mukalla to Sharjah with eight crew members on board and a load consisting of 7 tons of fish. During the takeoff roll on runway 06, at a speed of 225 km/h, the nose gear collapsed. The captain initiated an emergency braking procedure. To avoid a collision with the radio-technical equipment car, he steered the aircraft to the left. After it veered off runway, the aircraft rolled for about 400 metres and came to rest in a sandy area about 30 metres to the left of the extended centerline. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the flight engineer retracted the landing gear prematurely during the takeoff procedure without any instruction from the captain. Actions of flight engineer in violation of technology of standard operating procedures, by fixing of landing gear switch to 'retract position' after that to "neutral" without report to the Captain leaded to rise and development of occurrence.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Kampene: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 2005
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
3C-ZZY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kampene – Goma
MSN:
1AJ005-23
YOM:
1989
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kampene Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engines failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed. Both pilots and one passenger were killed while the second passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons. It was reported that the aircraft was parked somewhere in DRC for almost 2 years without flying. The aircraft was sent to fetch some cargo from Kampene without having undergone the required maintenance.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D-40 in Caracas

Date & Time: Mar 28, 2005 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T1539
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – Havana
MSN:
296 4017 102
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
CRN4311
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
87
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 09, the captain decided to reject takeoff for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest on the top of a hill with the n°1 engine torn off. All 97 occupants were rescued, among them 16 were injured, some seriously.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in El Embrujo: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 2005 at 0951 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4146
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
El Embrujo – San Andrés
MSN:
90 24 26
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
YH9955
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
6038
Captain / Total hours on type:
145.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
868
Copilot / Total hours on type:
653
Aircraft flight hours:
6901
Circumstances:
The crew already completed four round trips the same morning on the same routing. During the takeoff roll from runway 35 at El Embrujo Airport, around V1 speed, the left engine speed. The crew continued the takeoff procedure while the speed dropped. Shortly after rotation, the aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 135° then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded area located 117 metres past the runway end. Both pilots and seven passengers were killed while five others passengers were injured.
Probable cause:
The non-observance of the procedures described for an engine failure after V1, especially those relating to the maintenance of safe takeoff speed of 84 knots, the retraction of the flaps, automatic operation of the landing gear lever and the use of contingency power. The erroneous operation of the fuel-flow-control lever (FCL) of engine number one, the move from the open to the closed position during the chain of events, which left the plane and the inappropriate use of the fuel-flow-control lever (FCL) of engine number two, to bring it to the MAX NG position in an attempt to obtain performance of the engine. Maintaining an attitude of the plane on take-off after nr. 2 engine failure with the consequent reduction of speed and then maintaining the aircraft in a climbing attitude, after an engine shutdown, which came at stall speed and the subsequent lack of control of the aircraft. The failure of the engine for undetermined reasons during the takeoff roll, after V1, which forced the crew to perform a series of emergency procedures to deal with the fault and continue with the initial climb. The absence or failure of resource management among flight crew members during the sequence of events. The unmeasurable reduction in the situational awareness of the crew as a result of the financial situation of the company and the divorce in which the Captain of the aircraft was involved.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD off Mwanza: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 2005 at 2305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-IBR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mwanza – Khartoum – Benghazi – Osijek
MSN:
0043 4546 23
YOM:
1984
Flight number:
RIN982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
11609
Captain / Total hours on type:
8939.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4769
Aircraft flight hours:
2615
Aircraft flight cycles:
1548
Circumstances:
On 23 March 2005 at 0533 hours an Ilyushin IL-76 cargo jet with the Republic of Moldova registration letters ER-IBR landed at Mwanza on a flight from Benghazi, Libya. It was carrying a crew of 8 including 2 ground engineers. All the 8 crew members were later involved in the accident. While at Mwanza, some 50,000 kg of fish was uplifted. At 1930 hours the commander filed a flight plan for Khartoum. The endurance was 0450 hours. The cargo manifest showed that ER-IBR was operating Air Trans Inc. Flight RIN 982 from Mwanza to Osijek, Croatia, with refueling stops at Khartoum and Benghazi. At 2000 hours the aircraft was given information relevant for take off as well as the departure clearance. ER-IBR subsequently advised that he was starting the take-off roll. This was the last communication received from the aircraft. The aircraft was observed to execute a normal take-off roll from runway 30. This runway ends 120m short of Lake Victoria. After observing that the aircraft was airborne, the controller who was handling the flight reported that he turned to complete the flight progress strip. Having done so, he lost visual contact with the aircraft that was supposed to be in a climb profile over the lake. Efforts to raise the aircraft on the radio failed. In about two minutes from the time that the aircraft was airborne, he saw a fire tender speeding along runway 30. It was then that he realized that the flight may have crashed. The Mwanza Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services were not equipped for operations in the lake. They were therefore unable to reach the aircraft, which was more than 1 km away from the shore. It was the fishermen at the lake shore near Mwanza airport who saw the aircraft going down in the lake. They proceeded to the crash site in fishing boats and brought back some documents (flight manuals and wiring diagrams) which they found floating near the wreckage.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by aircraft colliding with the water surface shortly after take off. While the aircraft had gathered sufficient energy to sustain climb, the crew failed to monitor altitude and react correctly in the short time that the aircraft was airborne. This resulted in the aircraft going into descent till it reached an altitude where recovery was not possible. The possibility of crew fatigue as a contributory factor in this accident cannot be ruled out.
Final Report: