Crash of an Antonov AN-8 in Kongolo

Date & Time: Jan 22, 2005 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
EL-WVA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Goma – Bukavu – Kindu – Kongolo
MSN:
OG 34 40
YOM:
1960
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kongolo Airport, the aircraft crashed on houses located 100 metres short of runway. All 10 occupants were injured while there were no casualties on the ground. The aircraft was completing a humanitarian mission from Goma with intermediate stops in Bukavu and Kindu on behalf of the French NGO "Solidarités". The leasing contract stipulated that no passengers were authorized to board.

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) near Cornelia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2005 at 1655 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N7478S
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pretoria – Harrismith
MSN:
60-0041-090
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
5929
Circumstances:
On 18 January 2005 at approximately 1340Z, the pilot accompanied by 4 passengers, took off on a private flight from FAWB (Wonderboom Aerodrome) to FAHS (Harrismith aerodrome). However, the pilot advised the FAWB ATC (Wonderboom Air Traffic Controller) that the intended destination was Springs via Delmas. Sometime after 1455Z the aircraft impacted the ground at a high descent rate and high forward speed on a heading of 260˚M in a 15˚ nose-down and 30˚ right-wing low attitude, whilst the nose of the aircraft was facing in a direction of 211˚M, near Cornelia. Partly cloudy weather conditions, with isolated thundershowers prevailed at the time of the accident. Although there were no eyewitnesses to the accident, local inhabitants reported a severe storm in the vicinity of the accident site at the estimated time of the accident. The five occupants were fatally injured and the aircraft destroyed on impact.
Probable cause:
The pilot may have lost control of the aircraft due to adverse weather conditions and entered a spiral whilst descending for landing at Harrismith. According to the official weather report, the most likely weather conditions at the place of the accident were partly cloudy with isolated thundershowers. Although there were no eyewitnesses to the accident, local inhabitants reported a severe storm in the vicinity of the accident site at the estimated time of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 near Entebbe: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 2005 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CIH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Entebbe - Kinshasa
MSN:
4 3 418 03
YOM:
1964
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Entebbe Airport at 1148LT on a cargo flight to Kinshasa, carrying six crew members and a load consisting of two cars, t-shirts and 10 tons of beans. Five minutes after takeoff, the crew informed ATC that one of the engine caught fire and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Seven minutes later, out of control, the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located near Bukalaza, about 11 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The operator did not have a AOC or any licence to fly,
- The operator did not have any maintenance record or quality control program,
- There was no records regarding crew licensing and/or training,
- Poor flight preparation as the aircraft was not properly loaded,
- The CofG was outside the permissible limit (out of enveloppe).

Crash of a Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II in Arusha

Date & Time: Nov 27, 2004 at 1618 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-RAS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arusha – Seronera
MSN:
406-0005
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
80.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was taking off for a scheduled flight from Arusha to Seronera. At 12:15 hours the aircraft taxied from the apron to the threshold of runway 27 at which point take off for Seronera was initiated. The controller, who was handling the flight, said that the initial segment of the take off roll was normal. When the aircraft had covered about 500 metres he saw the left main landing gear collapsing and the aircraft swinging to the left of the runway. It continued to run on its belly pod on a grass hedge parallel to runway 27 and came to rest at the eastern edge of the apron. There was no fire and all the occupants deplaned without injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to propellers, the right wing, the fuselage and underside structure. The cargo pod in the belly was completely destroyed and its debris was scattered along the wreckage trail.
Probable cause:
There does not appear to be any defects in the aircraft, which could have contributed to this accident. The available evidence would point to premature rotation and premature retraction of the landing gear. Much of the pilot’s recent flying was on low speed aircraft. He had flown Cessna 208s and Twin Otters for many years. His experience on the Cessna 406 was 80 hours. In fact he had flown a Twin Otter only hours before switching to the Cessna 406.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Swaziland

Date & Time: Nov 20, 2004 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
3D-DAC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
070
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew just completed a paratroopers mission when weather conditions deteriorated. The crew decided to divert to a remote airstrip located in the southeast part of the country. After weather conditions improved, the crew took off for a back trip to his base. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft failed to get airborne and crashed in a sugar cane field. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the crew elected to takeoff with the control locks still engaged.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E20 in Kilimanjaro

Date & Time: Nov 17, 2004 at 0809 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-PAC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kilimanjaro - Kilimanjaro
MSN:
92 27 11
YOM:
1992
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a base training flight at Kilimanjaro International Airport. At 0410 hrs it was cleared to the local flying area for upper air works, followed by VOR/ILS approaches to runway 09 via NDB KB. 5H-PAC took off and proceeded to the local flying area where the crew members did upper air works for about 30 minutes. According to the commander, these included clean and dirty stalls, level flights at different speeds, 45 degree turns left and right and exercises on unusual attitudes. Subsequent to these they returned to the airport via NDB KB for ILS approach to runway 09. They carried out a missed approach and proceeded to join RH circuits for touch-and-go operations on runway 09. The last operations before the accident was simulated engine failure after take off followed by single engine overshoot, this time using runway 27. This was approved and the commander was reminded that the surface wind was 090 degrees 08 knots. The aircraft turned left and positioned on right base for runway 27. It was subsequently given a landing clearance. The weather at the material time was fine with temperature 23 degrees Celsius. The controller, who was handling the flight, said that the final approach was perfect. The landing gear was down. The aircraft passed the threshold of runway 27 at about 70 feet above the ground and continued to flare on a straight and level attitude with the landing gear retracted. It continued in this attitude for a distance of about one and a half kilometers down the runway subsequent to which it drifted off the runway to the right. The controller asked the pilot to explain his intentions. There was no reply. Instead, the aircraft was observed to yaw violently as it drifted further to the right. Moments later, it impacted the ground on a grass hedge and skidded along the width of taxiway Y before it came to rest. The commander said that he repossessed the controls immediately when the aircraft started yawing but there was no time effect recovery. There was fuel spillage but fire did not break out. The two pilots, who had not put on their shoulder straps, sustained facial injuries.
Probable cause:
Given that the aircraft was practicing a single engine overshoot, the pilot appears to have descended too low for safe recovery. The landing gear should also have been retracted after power had been applied and positive climb achieved. The standard single engine overshoot procedure was not applied.
Final Report:

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Democratic Republic of Congo

Date & Time: Oct 9, 2004
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9XR-KL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chicano - Kigali
MSN:
83 10 17
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Chicano, Angola, on a positioning flight to Kigali. While overflying DRC, the crew encountered severe turbulences. It seems that a fuel tank was broken following a structural failure, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed somewhere in DRC and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 near Kaduqli: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 2004 at 1237 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-SAF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
El Obeid – Juba
MSN:
00 347 606
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from El Obeid to Juba, while cruising at an altitude of 17,000 feet, the crew declared an emergency following the failure of all four engine, and elected to divert to Heglig Airport. Shortly later, the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located about 50 km south of Kaduqli. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Douala

Date & Time: Oct 1, 2004
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-OWO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Douala - Yaoundé
MSN:
110-311
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the left engine failed. Control was lost and the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in George

Date & Time: Sep 10, 2004 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZS-OLS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bloemfontein – George
MSN:
AC-748B
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2465
Captain / Total hours on type:
657.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8760
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a Domestic Charter flight (IFR) from Bloemfontein Aerodrome to George Aerodrome when the crew elected to execute an ILS approach for landing onto Runway 11. At 1,000 feet from the threshold of Runway 11 with the undercarriage selected down and at full flaps for landing at an IAS of 120kt when he advised the copilot that was the flying pilot at the time, to continue visually with the approach for Runway 11. Shortly thereafter they heard a loud impact sound and the right hand engine failed. The aircraft suddenly yawed and banked severely to the right and the flying pilot commented that they had experienced a bird strike on the right hand engine. The pilot-in-command immediately took over the controls and attempted to arrest the yaw to the right but the aircraft kept yawing to the right. He then made a blind transmission on frequency 118.9 MHz and called for a go-around. The co-pilot then selected full power on both engines retracted the undercarriage, whilst the pilot-in-command feathered the right-hand propeller. According to the pilot-in-command, the aircraft continued to yaw to the right and with the stall aural warning sounding with a loss of altitude, he pulled the left-hand engine stop and feather control and was committed to execute a forced landing on a cattle farm The pilot-in-command stated that aircraft was approximately just outside the boundary fence. Both wings collided with the gum poles of a telephone and wire fence causing extensive damage to the wings and fuselage under-surface. Both occupants sustained no injuries.
Probable cause:
The aircraft encountered a bird strike on the right-hand engine prior to landing at George Aerodrome. It appears that the cockpit crew did not apply the correct procedures for a go-around when the aircraft yawed Severely to the right. The aircraft failed to climb and a forced landing was executed on a cattle farm.
Final Report: