Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD in Ürümqi: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 2004 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
4K-AZ27
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taiyuan – Ürümqi – Baku – Riga
MSN:
00534 60827
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Taiyuan to Riga with intermediate stops in Ürümqi and Baku, carrying seven crew members and a load of clothes. Two minutes after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed near a farm located 10 km from the airport. The aircraft was partially destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed. Weather conditions were good at the time of the accident with a wind from 170 at 36 km/h.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Jiech: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 2004 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9XR-EF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jiech – Ayod
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was chartered by a Sudanese Development Unit to deliver medics and other supplies to a school project in Ayod. Shortly after takeoff from Jiech Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed. One pilot and five passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured. Both pilots were New Zealand's citizens. It seems that the cargo shifted after takeoff, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Nampula: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 2004
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-NVD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
404-0667
YOM:
1980
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Nampula Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing both occupants. They were engaged in a geological mission on behalf of the Mozambican government in the north part of the country.

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air off Papeete

Date & Time: Apr 16, 2004 at 1450 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-OHJL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Papeete - Papeete
MSN:
BB-1592
YOM:
1997
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Papeete-Faaa on a local post maintenance flight with one engineer and one pilot on board. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC about control problems and elected to return. Unable to maintain control, he decided to ditch the aircraft few hundred metres offshore. The aircraft sank by a depth of 21 metres and both occupants were able to swim to shore.

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

Date & Time: Apr 5, 2004 at 1526 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N869CC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Johns Island - Charleston
MSN:
61-0235-035
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2007
Captain / Total hours on type:
35.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3805
Circumstances:
A witness at a nearby maintenance facility stated the pilot telephoned him and told him that, during engine start, one engine sputtered and abruptly stopped. The witness stated the pilot told him he wanted to fly the airplane over to have the problem looked at. A witness, who was an airline transport-rated corporate pilot, observed the airplane on takeoff roll and stated the airplane rotated "really late," using approximately 4,000 feet of runway. He stated the airplane climbed to about 400 or 500 feet, then descended in a left spin into the trees. The airplane collided with the ground and caught fire. Examination of the right engine revealed external fire damage and no evidence of mechanical malfunction. Examination of the left engine revealed external fire damage. Disassembly examination of the left engine revealed the rear side of the No. 5 piston from top to bottom was eroded away with characteristics consistent with detonation. The spark plugs displayed "normal" deposits and wear, except the No. 5 bottom plug was contaminated with a fragment of piston ring material, the No. 5 top plug had a dark sooty appearance, and the nose core of the No. 2 bottom plug was fragmented. Flow bench examination of the left fuel servo revealed no abnormalities. The fuel flow manifold diaphragm was heat-damaged. Flow bench examination of the fuel injector lines and nozzles on a serviceable fuel flow manifold revealed the lines and nozzles were free of obstruction. A review of Emergency Operating Procedures for the Aerostar 601P revealed the following: "Normal procedures do not require operation below the single engine minimum control speed, however, should this condition inadvertently arise and engine failure occur, power on the operating engine should immediately be reduced and the nose lowered to attain a speed above ... the single engine minimum control speed."
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during emergency descent, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and uncontrolled descent into trees and terrain. A factor was the loss of engine power in one engine due to pre-ignition/detonation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-366C in Cairo

Date & Time: Apr 2, 2004 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AVZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo - Ostend
MSN:
20762
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
MHS200
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During a night takeoff from Cairo-Intl Airport runway 23L, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the right and came to rest few hundred metres further with both right engines n°3 & 4 torn off. All seven occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Lake Manyara

Date & Time: Mar 17, 2004 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-MUA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arusha – Lake Manyara – Klein’s Camp – Grumet – Seronera – Lake Manyara – Arusha
MSN:
208B-0487
YOM:
1995
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating a scheduled flight starting from its base at Arusha. It was to call at Lake Manyara, Klein’s Camp, Grumet and Seronera before returning to Arusha via Lake Manyara. 5H-MUA took off from Arusha at 0530 hours. It was carrying one pilot and 3 passengers. The VFR flight to Lake Manyara was uneventful and the aircraft landed at Lake Manyara at 0555 hours. Five more passengers joined the flight here and 5H-MUA subsequently took off for Klein’s Camp at 0615 hours. During initial climb, the engine failed. The pilot feathered the propeller and attempted an emergency landing on a road. But he was forced to make an evasive manoeuvre because of a truck. The aircraft lost speed and height, collided with a stone wall beside the road and came tor rest. All nine occupants were rescued, among them five were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD in Baku: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 2004 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-ZVA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ankara – Bakou – Kabul
MSN:
00634 68036
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ankara, Turkey, on a cargo flight to Kabul, Afghanistan, with an intermediate stop in Baku, Azerbaijan. In Ankara, the airplane was loaded with 39,980 kg of cargo. At Baku Airport, 47 tons of fuel were added, bringing the takeoff weight to 189 tons, and the centre of gravity to 29,3% MAC, which was within the prescribed limits. During the eight-hour stopover the crew decided to rest in the aircraft instead of a hotel. As the aircraft started taxiing to the runway the flight engineer was heard saying that he would select the flaps at 30 degrees and slats at 14 degrees for takeoff. This however was not done. Prior to takeoff the position of the flaps was not verified by any of the crew members. Takeoff was thus commenced with flaps and slats retracted and the stabilizer trimmed at the takeoff position -4 degrees (corresponding to actual takeoff weight, CofG and flaps at 30°). At a speed of 210 km/h the pilot pulled on the control column to lift off the nose gear. At a calculated unstick speed of 265 km/h the angle of attack reached 9 degrees but the plane did not lift off the runway. Accelerating through 290 km/h the angle of attack of the aircraft reached 14,5 degrees, setting off the angle of attack warning on the flight deck. Some 1750 meters down the runway, the aft fuselage struck the runway. Seventy meters further on, at a speed of 300 km/h and an angle of attack of 19,4°, the Ilyushin lifted off the runway. The air traffic controller who witnessed the departure advised the crew to abort the takeoff, but the captain apparently continued. The airplane rolled to the left until the wing contacted the runway. Then the flight engineer noted his error and, without informing the captain, began extending the flaps and slats. Again without informing the captain, the flight engineer brought back the power levers of the four engines to idle. After three seconds he moved them from idle to the 'engine shutdown' position. The captain three times yelled "takeoff" but the engines were already shut down. After flying for 490 meters the aircraft struck the ground and crashed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the flight engineer to extend flaps and slats prior to takeoff. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor crew coordination,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Crew fatigue.

Crash of an Airbus A300B4-203 in Jeddah

Date & Time: Mar 1, 2004 at 0140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AP-BBA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jeddah - Quetta
MSN:
114
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
PK2002
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
261
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 34 at Jeddah-King Abdulaziz Airport, ATC informed the crew about a fire on the left main gear. The captain rejected takeoff and was able to stop the aircraft within the remaining distance. All 273 occupants evacuated safely but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both tyres on the left main gear burst during the takeoff roll. Debris punctured a fuel tank in the left wing and other parts were ingested by the left engine.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Linz

Date & Time: Feb 13, 2004 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FRW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Linz - Stuttgart
MSN:
414-0825
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2527
Captain / Total hours on type:
830.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
522
Copilot / Total hours on type:
250
Aircraft flight hours:
4463
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Linz-Hörsching Airport on a taxi flight to Stuttgart with five passengers and two pilots on board. During the takeoff roll on runway 27, at a speed of 105 knots, the crew started the rotation. Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft adopted a high nose attitude with an excessive angle of attack. It rolled to the left, causing the left gear door and the left propeller to struck the runway surface, followed shortly later by the right propeller. After the speed dropped, the aircraft stalled and crash landed on the runway. It slid for few dozen metres and came to rest 2,752 metres past the runway threshold. All seven occupants were evacuated, one passenger suffered serious injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The loss of control immediately after liftoff was the consequence of an aircraft contaminated with ice, resulting in an excessive weight, a loss of lift and a consequent stall. The following factors were identified:
- Poor flight preparation,
- The crew failed to follow the SOP procedures prior to takeoff,
- The aircraft has not been deiced prior to takeoff, increasing the total weight of the aircraft by 231 kilos, 8% above the MTOW,
- This situation caused the CofG to be out of the permissible limits,
- Poor judgment on part of the crew when the undercarriage were lowered.