Crash of a Boeing 737-8KV in Sabashahr: 176 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 2020 at 0618 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-PSR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tehran - Kiev
MSN:
38124
YOM:
2016
Flight number:
PS752
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
167
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
176
Captain / Total flying hours:
11590
Captain / Total hours on type:
8428.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7633
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3642
Circumstances:
On Wednesday, January 08, 2020, at 00:53, the inbound flight No. 751 of Ukraine International, Boeing 737-800, UR-PSR, en route to Tehran Imam Khomeini INTL. Airport from Kyiv Boryspyl INTL. Airport was cleared for landing, and after four minutes landed on the IKA runway. After disembarking 58 passengers and refueling, the flight crew went on to check into the hotel located at IKA. From 01:16 to 01:38, the aircraft was refueled with 9510 kg (11800 liters) of fuel. Once the total weight of the cargo received from passengers (310 packages weighing 6794 kg) was determined, in order to comply with the maximum takeoff weight allowed for aircraft, 82 packages in 2094 kg in weight, were separated by Airport Service Company, that is, they were not loaded. Initially, 78 packages of the passenger's luggage were not loaded first, then due to the large volume of passengers' hand luggage, the flight attendants passed some of them on to the Airport Service Company personnel to be placed in the aircraft cargo. After that, 4 packages belonging to the passengers were removed from the aft cargo door, where the hand luggage was placed. At 04:35, the flight crew embarked on the aircraft. After checking the aircraft and cabin, boarding was announced at 04:45, and passengers started to board the plane. Based on the available documents, 167 passengers proceeded to the Airport Services Co. counter at the airport terminal, all of whom went on board. Only one of the passengers who received the boarding pass online the night before the flight, due to the delay in arriving in Tehran from another city did not go to the airport in person, and therefore had been removed from the list of passengers provided by the UIA. At 05:13, the pilot made his first radio contact with the IKA's control tower ground unit and requested the initial clearance for flying, which was issued by the controller subsequently. At 05:48, all the aircraft documents required to start the flight operations were filled out, and all the doors were then closed at 05:49. The flight was initially scheduled for 05:15, and based on the flight coordinator's report form, the reason given for its delay was the aircraft being overweight and the decision not to load the passengers' lugga for reducing the aircraft weight. At 05:51 the pilot notified his position at the airport parking, declared his readiness to exit the parking and start up the aircraft. The IKA tower asked him to wait for receiving the clearance since they wanted to make the coordination required with other relevant units. At 05:52, the IKA tower made the necessary coordination with the Mehrabad approach unit, who contacted Tehran ACC asking for clearance. Accordingly, the controller in ACC made coordination on Ukrainian flight clearance with the CMOCC. The clearance was issued by the CMOCC. At 05:54, the Mehrabad approach unit, received the FL260 clearance for the flight AUI752 from ACC, and forwarded it to IKA via the telecommunication system. Flight no. 752 was detached from the A1 Jet Bridge and at about 05:55 started to leave its parking position, NO 116 on the right, by a pushback truck. Following that, at 05:55 the ground controller cleared the AUI752 flight for startup and exiting the parking, which was read back by the pilot. At 06:12, the aircraft took off from the Runway 29 Right of IKA and was delivered to the Mehrabad approach unit. The pilot contacted the approach unit, and announced the IKA 1A radar procedure as SID procedure. Next, the Mehrabad approach identified and cleared the flight to climb to FL260. The controller instructed the pilot to turn to the right after 6,000 feet, and continue straight to PAROT. After it was read back by the pilot, the controller again instructed the pilot to continue to PAROT point once passing the 6000-foot altitude, which was read back by the pilot. From 06:17 onwards, upon the disappearance of the PS752 information from the radarscope, the controller called the captain repeatedly, but received no response. According to the data extracted from the surveillance systems and FDR, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 8,100 feet; thereafter, the label including the call sign and altitude of aircraft disappeared from the radarscope, yet no radio contact indicating unusual conditions was received from the pilot. FDR recording terminated at 06:14:56. This time corresponds to the termination of Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) and ADS-B information. After the mentioned time, the aircraft was still being detected by the Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR), according to which the aircraft veered right and after approximately three minutes of flying, it disappeared from the PSR at 06:18 too. The aircraft was conducting the flight under the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and the accident occurred around half an hour before the sunset.
Probable cause:
Cause of the Accident:
- The air defense's launching two surface-to-air missiles at the flight PS752, UR-PSR aircraft the detonation of the first missile warhead in proximity of the aircraft caused damage to the aircraft systems and the intensification of damage led the aircraft to crash into the ground and explode instantly.

Other Contributing Factors:
- The mitigating measures and defense layers in risk management proved to be ineffective due to the occurrence of an unanticipated error in threat identifications, and ultimately failed to protect the flight safety against the threats caused by the alertness of defense forces.
Final Report:

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II in Haputale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SCL-857
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wirawila - Colombo
MSN:
0021
YOM:
1990
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Haputale while completing a survey flight from Wirawila to Colombo-Ratmalana Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fokker 100 in Almaty: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 2019 at 0721 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UP-F1007
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Almaty – Nursultan
MSN:
11496
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
Z92100
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
93
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
20141
Captain / Total hours on type:
3956.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
11544
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4144
Aircraft flight hours:
44632
Aircraft flight cycles:
52771
Circumstances:
The Fokker 100 departed Almaty Airport on a regular schedule service (flight Z92100) to Astana-Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport, carrying 93 passengers and a crew of five. During the takeoff roll on runway 05R with flaps at zero, after a course of 36 seconds and at a speed of 148 knots, the crew started the rotation. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane rolled to the right at an angle of 5° then to the left at an angle of 19° without an increase of the indicated airspeed. After reaching the height of 20 feet in a pitch angle of 14°, the airplane started to descend then hit the runway surface with the base of the tail. It landed on its main landing gear and rolled for about 15 seconds with the nose gear still in the air. The airplane took off again at a speed of 138 knots then the crew retracted the landing gear. In a pitch angle of 19°, the airplane lost speed (130 knots), veered to the right, belly landed and slid for about 850 metres, went through a fence and eventually crashed into a house located near the perimeter fence, some 80 metres to the right of the extended center line. 47 occupants were injured, 39 escaped unhurt and 12 others were killed, among them the captain. The aircraft was destroyed. There was not fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an asymmetrical loss of wing lift properties at the stage of takeoff, which resulted in the aircraft crashing down immediately after leaving the runway and rolling to the right on the snowy ground, breaching the airport perimeter fence and colliding with a two-story private building located 9-10 m from the fence. As a result of collision, 11 passengers and one crew member died and 47 passengers received different injuries because of overloading, striking, destruction and crushing of the aircraft structure. The cause of the loss of wing lift properties was most likely the effect of ground icing.
Contributing factors:
- The crew, after analyzing the actual meteorological situation at Almaty airport, may not have drawn sufficient conclusions to better inspect the entire aircraft and especially (tactile method) the leading edge of the wing;
- The Flight Safety Management System (FMS) of Beck Air JSC contains mainly only general provisions and specific actions that were not adapted for implementation, which did not allow timely identification and elimination of existing risks affecting flight safety.
- Collision of the aircraft with a two-storey private structure, which affected the severity of the consequences.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Moo 2: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 2019 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1917
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Surasi - Surasi
MSN:
208-0267
YOM:
1997
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor aged 58 and one pilot under supervision aged 28) departed Surasi Air Base around 0900LT on a training flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the single engine airplane crashed near Moo 2 (Sai Yok district). The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter 400 near Kampung Mamontoga: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 2019 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PK-CDC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Timika - Ilaga
MSN:
950
YOM:
2016
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Timika Airport at 1036LT on a cargo flight to Ilaga, carrying one passenger, a crew of four and a load of 1,7 ton of rice. At 1054LT, the crew gave his ETA at Ilaga Airport when the contact was lost about six minutes later. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated. The wreckage was found four days later in a mountainous terrain, at an altitude of 4,115 meters, about 10 km from Kampung Mamontoga. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft 350 Super King Air in Pansol: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 2019 at 1510 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C2296
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Dipolog - Manila
MSN:
FL-196
YOM:
1998
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane encountered a loss of control in flight while approaching Manila and crashed into a private resort located in Barangay Pansol, Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. It lost radar contact with Manila Approach after being cleared to descent from 9,000 feet for 5,000 feet tracking-in radial 170, 25 DME to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (RPLL). The aircraft wreckage was found in a private resort with coordinates of 14°10’33.62” N and 121°11’34” E and heading approximately 228° with most its fuselage totally burned. All the nine (9) occupants were fatally injured and two (2) other persons on the ground sustained serious injuries. The aircraft took off from Dipolog Principal Airport (RPMG), Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte bound for Manila (RPLL) on a MEDEVAC flight. Instrument Metrological Condition (lMC) prevailed at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The aircraft experienced a loss of control in flight (LOC-I) after encountering adverse and hazardous atmospheric turbulent weather conditions which led to an inflight breakup.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The presence of adverse and potentially hazardous atmospheric conditions on route of the flight.
- Failure of the flight crew to maintain situational awareness.
- Break-down of CRM to apply appropriate emergency procedures to recover the aircraft from the unusual situation they encountered.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Lake Siljan-Kuel: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2019 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-33061
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Us-Khatyn – Suordakh
MSN:
1G218-48
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Captain / Total hours on type:
3806.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3848
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Us-Khatyn on a flight to Suordakh, carrying five passengers, two pilots and a load consisting of 600 kilos of various goods. While cruising at an altitude of about 1,450 metres, the crew encountered moderate atmospheric turbulences and was unable to maintain the altitude. The aircraft lost height and crashed on the rocky slope of amountain located 15 km southeast from the Lake Siljan-Kuel, some 250 km from the destination. Two passengers were killed while five others occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the fact that the PIC did not maintain a safe flight altitude in mountainous terrain, which led to the aircraft getting into strong downdrafts while flying over the leeward side of the ridge, uncontrolled descent and collision with the top of the mountain.
The contributing factors of AP, most likely, were:
- insufficient analysis of meteorological conditions and the possibility of the formation of strong ascending and descending air currents in the mountains;
- Failure of the PIC to take safety measures when flying in the mountains and to act in case of falling into downward air currents when crossing a mountain ridge;
- the use of motor gasoline with an octane rating of less than 95, which led to a decrease in engine power;
- performing a mission on the An-2 aircraft without the procedure for restoring skills and admission to flights on this type after a significant break in flights (about 15 years).
Final Report:

Ground fire of an Airbus A330-343 in Beijing

Date & Time: Aug 27, 2019 at 1648 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-5958
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Beijing - Tokyo
MSN:
1587
YOM:
2014
Flight number:
CA183
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
147
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
19007
Aircraft flight cycles:
4596
Circumstances:
The airplane was parked at gate 530 (Terminal 3) at Beijing Capital and being prepared for flight CA183 to Tokyo-Haneda. 14 crew members were on board as well as 147 passengers when an abnormal sound was heard coming from the L2 door connected to the jetbridge. The cargo smoke alarm came on in the cockpit while smoke spread in the cabin. The pilot declared an emergency and decision was taken to evacuate all 161 occupants and no one was injured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire. The origin of the fire is still under investigation.

Crash of a Cessna 560XL Citation Excel in Aligarh

Date & Time: Aug 27, 2019 at 0840 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AVV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Delhi - Aligarh
MSN:
560-5259
YOM:
2002
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5484
Captain / Total hours on type:
1064.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1365
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1060
Aircraft flight hours:
7688
Circumstances:
On 27 Aug 19, M/s Air Charter Services Pvt Ltd Cessna Citation 560 XL aircraft (VTAVV), while operating a flight from Delhi to Aligarh (Dhanipur Airstrip) was involved in an accident during landing on runway 11.The operator is having a maintenance facility at Aligarh Airport and aircraft was scheduled to undergo ADS-B modification. There were 02 cockpit crew and 04 SOD onboard the aircraft. The aircraft was under the command of a PIC, who was an ATPL holder duly qualified on type with a CPL holder co-pilot, duly qualified on type as Pilot Monitoring. This was the first flight of the day for both pilots. Both, PIC and Co-Pilot had prior experience of operating to Aligarh airport, which is an uncontrolled airport. As per the flight plan, ETD from Delhi was 0800 IST and ETA at Aligarh was 0820 IST. The crew had reported around 0630 IST at Delhi airport and underwent BA test. The MET report to operate the aircraft to Aligarh was well within the VFR conditions. The aircraft Take-off weight was within limits including 1900 Kgs of fuel on board. As per the statement of PIC, the Co-pilot was briefed about pre departure checklists including METAR before approaching the aircraft. Once at the aircraft, prefight checks were carried out by PIC before seeking clearance from Delhi delivery (121.95 MHz). Aircraft was accorded start up clearance by Delhi ground (121.75 Mhz) at 0800 IST.ATC cleared the aircraft to line up on runway 11 and was finally cleared for takeoff at 0821 IST. After takeoff, aircraft changed over to Delhi radar control from tower frequency for further departure instructions. Aircraft was initially cleared by Radar control to climb to FL090 and was given straight routing to Aligarh with final clearance to climb to FL130. Thereafter, aircraft changed to Delhi area control for further instructions. While at approximately 45 Nm from Aligarh, VT-AVV made contact with Aligarh (personnel of M/s Pioneer Flying Club manning radio) on 122.625 MHz. Ground R/T operator informed “wind 100/2-3 Kts, QNH 1005, Runway 11 in use” and that flying of Pioneer Flying Club is in progress. Further, he instructed crew to contact when at 10 Nm inbound. After obtaining initial information from ground R/T operator, VT-AVV requested Delhi area control for descent. The aircraft was cleared for initial descent to FL110 and then further to FL080. On reaching FL080, aircraft was instructed by Delhi area control to change over to Aligarh for further descent instruction in coordination with destination. At approx 10 Nm, VT-AVV contacted ground R/T operator on 122.625 MHz and requested for long finals for runway 11. In turn, ground R/T operator asked crew to report when at 5 Nm inbound. As per PIC, after reaching 5 Nm inbounds, Aligarh cleared VTAVV to descend to circuit altitude and land on runway 11. Aircraft had commenced approach at 5 Nm at an altitude of 2200 ft. Approach and landing checks briefing including wind, runway in use were carried out by PIC. During visual approach, Co-pilot called out to PIC “Slightly low on profile”. As per PIC, Co-pilot call out was duly acknowledged and ROD was corrected. Thereafter, PIC was visual with runway and took over controls on manual. Co-pilot was monitoring instruments and parameters. While PIC was focused on landing, a loud bang from left side of the aircraft was heard by PIC when the aircraft was below 100 feet AGL. Aircraft started pulling towards left and impacted the ground short of runway 11 threshold. After impact, aircraft veered off the runway and its left wing caught fire. The aircraft stopped short of airfield boundary wall. Crew carried out emergency evacuation. Co-pilot opened main exit door from inside of the aircraft for evacuation of passengers. Aircraft was destroyed due to post crash fire. The fire tender reached the crash site after 45 Minutes.
Probable cause:
While landing on runway 11, aircraft main landing gears got entangled in the powerline crossing extended portion of runway , due to which aircraft banked towards left and crash landed on extended portion of runway 11.
Contributory factors:
- It appears that there was a lack of proper pre-flight briefing, planning, preparation and assessment of risk factors.
- Non-Adherence to SOP.
- Sense of complacency seems to have prevailed.
Final Report:

Crash of an Airbus A321-211 in Moscow

Date & Time: Aug 15, 2019 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-BOZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Simferopol
MSN:
2117
YOM:
2003
Flight number:
U6178
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
226
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Moscow-Zukhovski Airport runway 12, while climbing to an altitude of 750 feet in excellent weather conditions, the airplane collided with a flock of birds (sea gulls). Some of them were ingested by both engines that lost power. It was later reported by the crew that the left engine stopped almost immediately while the right engine lost power and run irregularly. Unable to maintain a positive rate of climb, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a cornfield. The airplane belly landed approximately 3,5 km past the runway end and slid for dozen meters before coming to rest with its both engines partially torn off. All 233 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and it is reported that 23 people were slightly injured.