Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Boende: 33 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2003 at 1516 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9T-TAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Boende – Kinshasa
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Boende to Kinshasa, carrying 18 passengers, six crew members and a load of 672 kilos of various goods. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abandon the procedure and returned to the parking. A second attempt to takeoff was initiated few minutes later. During the takeoff run, at high speed, a tyre burst. The captain rejected takeoff but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,400 metres long). It overran, struck a fence and eventually crashed in a local market. All six crew members and 14 passengers were killed as well as 13 people on the ground. Four passengers and six people on the ground suffered injuries of various degrees.

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Saint Louis

Date & Time: Nov 12, 2003 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N77JL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Louis – North Platte
MSN:
24-286
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9054
Captain / Total hours on type:
760.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
150
Aircraft flight hours:
6653
Aircraft flight cycles:
6504
Circumstances:
The turbojet airplane was destroyed during a forced landing and post accident fire after a loss of power in both engines during takeoff climb. The pilot reported that both engines operated
normally during taxi and pre-takeoff checks. He reported that, "We rotated positive rate gear up, V2 plus 30 flaps up, and at that point we struck birds taking No. 2 engine out. Upon losing No. 2 engine I advanced thrust levers forward and realized that the No. 1 engine was only producing approximately 70% RPM with EGT over read line." He executed a forced landing to a field and the crew and passengers evacuated the burning airplane. The copilot reported, "At approximately 500 to 1,000 ft. above ground level, I observed a large flock of birds straight ahead of us, and then passing just off our nose to the left side. I immediately heard an engine flameout. As I started to go to the checklist for single engine operations, I quickly realized that we were loosing airspeed and unable to maintain altitude. The PIC said we were going down and heading for the best emergency-landing stop." The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) recorded the pilot stating, "We hit a bird," and the copilot stating, "Yep," immediately following the CVR recording a "sound similar to decrease in engine RPM." The inspection of the airplane's fuel system, pneumatic system, engines, fuel controls and fuel pumps revealed no pre-impact anomaly. No physical evidence of bird ingestion was found in either engine. A CVR sound spectrum plot and a flight profile analysis revealed that one engine flamed out almost immediately after the sound of a "thump" on the CVR. The other engine's speed decreased and experienced stalls until the engine speed was reduced to flight idle. The original engine certification tests indicated that compressor stalls occurred when a 2-4 ounce starling was shot ingested into the engine, but physical damage from bird ingestion was very slight due to the all steel construction and geometry of the engine. Engine flameouts, however, were not recorded during the certification tests. A wildlife specialist conducted a bird count at the accident airport two days after the accident occurred, and he reported counting a flock of about 800 European Starlings.
Probable cause:
The total loss of power to the right engine and the partial loss of power to the left engine after the airplane encountered a flock of birds during initial climb out, resulting in impeded ram induction airflow.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3M Variant 100 in Georgetown: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 2003 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8R-GMC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Georgetown – Ekereku
MSN:
1959
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
One minute after takeoff from Georgetown-Ogle Airport runway 24, the pilot declared an emergency after an engine failed. He elected to return for an emergency landing but eventually attempted to land in a sugarcane field when the aircraft crashed near the airport. Five people were seriously injured while two others were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Urimán: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 2003 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-1128C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G238-12
YOM:
1990
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Urimán Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in the Caroni River. The captain was killed and the copilot was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Possible engine failure.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Soto la Marina: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 2003 at 1430 LT
Registration:
N302WB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Soto La Marina - Laredo
MSN:
690-11003
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On September 16, 2003, at 1430 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 690 twin-engine airplane, N302WB was destroyed upon impact with trees and terrain while attempting a takeoff from an airstrip near Soto La Marina, in the State of Tamaulipas, in the Republic of Mexico. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to the QEAT-4 LLC., in Naples, Florida, and was being operated by the MGS Corporation of Laredo, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight for which no flight plan was filed. The flight's destination was reported to be Laredo, Texas. Local authorities reported that the turboprop powered airplane, serial number 11003, had previously sustained some damage to the nose landing gear and the owner had replaced the nose landing gear prior to attempting to depart from the airstrip.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Lankien

Date & Time: Sep 14, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9XR-AL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lankien – Lokichogio
MSN:
81 06 23
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lankien Airstrip, the crew saw a cow entering the active 19 runway. The captain abandoned the takeoff procedure and the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen metres further. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Guadalajara

Date & Time: Sep 13, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TVX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Guadalajara – Zihuatanejo
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine lost height and crashed in a cornfield. All seven occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air off Funchal: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 2003 at 2156 LT
Registration:
N600BV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Funchal – Málaga
MSN:
BB-254
YOM:
1977
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
332
Captain / Total hours on type:
10.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Funchal-Santa Cruz Madeira Airport runway 05 at 2154LT on a charter flight to Málaga, carrying one pilot and nine Spanish passengers, three men, three women and three children aged 2, 4 and 7. During initial climb by night, at an altitude of 2,200 feet, the aircraft entered a cloud then entered a left turn and an uncontrolled descent. Forty seconds later, it crashed in the sea less than one km offshore, northeast of Caniçal. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the pilot lost control of the aircraft following a spatial disorientation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Las Lomitas

Date & Time: Sep 6, 2003
Operator:
Registration:
GN-809
Flight Phase:
Schedule:
Las Lomitas - Las Lomitas
MSN:
807
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Las Lomitas. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Hilton Head: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 2003 at 1529 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N70DL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hilton Head – Myrtle Beach
MSN:
46-8608001
YOM:
1986
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2536
Captain / Total hours on type:
186.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2676
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to the airport for landing. A witness reported it was flying erratically streaming a whitish "vapor trail" from the left wing. Another witness reported the airplane banked abruptly into a steep turn to the left, the nose pitched up, and the airplane sank from view behind the trees. The witness then heard a crash and saw smoke. Examination revealed no evidence of flight control, engine, or propeller malfunction. The left inboard fuel cap was absent from the filler port, and a ground search found the left inboard fuel cap in the grass beside the runway. The JetProp LLC, JetProp DLX Supplemental Flight Manual, Section 4, Normal Procedures Checklist, states, "Left Wing 4.9e, ... Inboard Fuel Tank ... CHECK Supply Visually & SECURE CAP ..." Examination of the JetProp LLC, JetProp DLX Supplemental Flight Manual and the Piper Malibu PA-46-310P Information Manual revealed the following instructions on how to secure the fuel caps: "Replace cap securely." There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction with the fuel cap or the filler port.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a VFR pattern for a precautionary landing, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with terrain. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the aircraft, which resulted in his failure to secure the fuel cap.
Final Report: