Crash of a Boeing 737-2H4 in Caracas

Date & Time: Oct 16, 2008 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV162T
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Ordaz – Caracas
MSN:
23055/970
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 28R at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, the aircraft deviated to the left. It eventually veered off runway to the left and went down a slope, coming to rest with its nose gear torn off. All 54 occupants evacuated safely and aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft 100 King Air in Bauru: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 2008
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N525ZS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bauru – Sorocaba
MSN:
B-66
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bauru Airport, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to maintain a positive rate of climb. It then descended until it impacted ground about 5 km from the airport. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was supposed to deliver the aircraft at Sorocaba Airport.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Quito

Date & Time: Sep 22, 2008 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-CDT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quito – Coca
MSN:
11222
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
ICD504
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
62
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9292
Captain / Total hours on type:
109.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3889
Copilot / Total hours on type:
380
Aircraft flight hours:
42422
Aircraft flight cycles:
47727
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from runway 25 at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew noted a fire alarm connected to the forward cargo compartment. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with the ILS antenna, went down an embankment then impacted a brick wall and came to rest 300 metres past the runway end. All 66 occupants were rescued, among them eight passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to follow the published procedures following a fire alarm, as stated in the Operations Manual and the late application of the procedures once the decision to abort the takeoff was taken.
Contributing factors:
- Complacency on part of the crew who failed to proceed with a pre-takeoff briefing,
- A fact that influenced the lack of appropriate action from the crew to successfully tackle any emergency,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- The braking coefficient was low because the runway surface was wet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-291 near Toacaso: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2008 at 2103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV102T
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Caracas – Latacunga
MSN:
21545/525
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
9018
Captain / Total hours on type:
5915.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
989
Aircraft flight hours:
60117
Aircraft flight cycles:
52091
Circumstances:
The aircraft was parked at Caracas Airport for a while and had just been sold to an Ecuadorian operator. A crew of three departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport in the evening on a delivery flight to Latacunga, Ecuador. After being cleared to descend to FL180, FL150 then FL130, the crew was flying over a mountainous area when the GPWS alarm sounded. The crew apparently elected to gain height but the alarm sounded for 22 seconds when the aircraft collided with the Iliniza Volcano. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed. The wreckage was found the following day at an altitude of 3,992 metres.
Probable cause:
Non-compliance by the crew of the technical procedures, configuration, speed and bank angle of the aircraft required for the completion of the initial turn of the Instrument Approach Procedure n°4 published in the AIP Ecuador, to Latacunga Airport, a failure that placed the aircraft outside of the protected area (published pattern), leading to high elevation mountainous terrain.
Contributing factors:
- Ignorance of the crew of the area which was under the approach path.
- Lack of documentation and procedures of the airline that govern the conduct of flights to non-scheduled and special airports.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-301 in Barranquilla

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2008 at 1715 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3952
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Willemstad – Barranquilla
MSN:
169
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
ARE051
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7003
Captain / Total hours on type:
6691.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
781
Aircraft flight hours:
31260
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Willemstad-Hato Airport, the crew started the approach to Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport runway 23. The aircraft landed 770 metres past the runway threshold. After touchdown, the crew noticed vibrations coming from the right side of the aircraft when the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest on the main runway. All 31 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fracture of the ring of the mechanical stop of the shock absorber on the right main gear, turning the whole gear into a solid structure incapable of absorbing the landing loads, due to the non-incorporation of the Airworthiness Directive AD-2006-14 in the general repair of the main gear.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Poesoegroenoe

Date & Time: Aug 21, 2008
Registration:
PZ-TRR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Poesoegroenoe – Paramaribo
MSN:
207-0313
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Poesoegroenoe Airstrip, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area. All six occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of an engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor off San Andrés

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2008 at 1052 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XB-JBD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Salvador – San Andrés – Barranquilla
MSN:
414-0253
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1196
Aircraft flight hours:
4480
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San Salvador-Ilopango Airport on a private flight to Barranquilla with an intermediate stop in San Andrés Island, carrying one passenger and one pilot. On final approach to San Andrés-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport runway 06, the left engine failed. The pilot increased power on the right engine but the aircraft continued to lose height. The pilot ditched the aircraft near the coast. Both occupants evacuated safely and were quickly rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on final due to fuel exhaustion. It remained a total of 3 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and 23 gallons in the right main tank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft BeechJet 400A in São José dos Campos

Date & Time: Jul 15, 2008 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-WHF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo - São José dos Campos
MSN:
RK-82
YOM:
1994
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4300
Captain / Total hours on type:
2811.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
540
Copilot / Total hours on type:
35
Circumstances:
The crew departed São Paulo-Congonhas Airport on a positioning flight to São José dos Campos. While descending to São José dos Campos, the captain led the controls to the copilot who was still under instruction. On final, the aircraft was too high on the glide. The captain took over controls but his reaction was excessive. The aircraft suddenly rolled to the right, causing the right wing to struck the ground few dozen metres short of runway 15 threshold. The aircraft landed and came to rest on the main runway. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The captain did not conduct a preflight briefing and then improvised during the descent by deciding to leave the controls to the copilot while he was still under instruction.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The copilot who was pilot-in-command on final was in his initial training process,
- The captain authorized the copilot to be the PIC while he was still under initial training,
- The captain was not qualified to operate as an instructor,
- The captain did not make any simulator training for more than two years,
- The copilot had never completed any simulator training since the beginning of his training,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Poor judgment on part of the captain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99A Airliner in Puerto Montt: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 2008 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CFM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Puerto Montt - Melinka
MSN:
U-145
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
17145
Captain / Total hours on type:
563.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the pilot declared an emergency after the left engine cowling accidentally opened. He decided to return for an emergency landing and completed a turn. While on final, the pilot elected to maintain 200 feet but the aircraft stalled and crashed 1,500 metres short of runway 01. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Operational error of the pilot in command by not applying normal approach procedures recommended by the manufacturer and loss control of the aircraft (stall) while returning to land with the left engine cowling open.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- During the preflight inspection, the pilot failed to detect that the left engine cowling was unlatched,
- Return with the intention of landing with a speed very close to the stall speed, possibly to avoid the detachment of the engine cowling due to the wind force,
- Probable increased stall speed by altering the left wing aerodynamics due to the engine open cowl,
- Not having high enough altitude to recover from a stall condition,
- Possible decreased physiological capabilities of the commander of the aircraft, due to the presence of alcohol in his system,
- Possible pilot distraction due to weather conditions and the opening of the engine cowling.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 747-209BSF in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 2008 at 0352 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N714CK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Miami
MSN:
22446/519
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8874
Captain / Total hours on type:
2874.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
11373
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2853
Aircraft flight hours:
90613
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing by night, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and was cleared for an immediate return. After the crew realized he could not make it, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with a farm and crashed in an open field. While all 8 crew members were injured (five seriously), two people in the farm were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
The inability of the accident aircraft to maintain flight after the loss of power of two engines.
The following contributing factors were identified:
A non-recoverable surge on the engine n°4 during the rotation, resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the surge were the combined effects of the inefficient high pressure turbine, excessive blade-tip clearance, reduced cord of the fan blades and of the leading edges and the effects of high altitude. An undetermined anomaly in the engine n°1, which manifested itself during the extra power, resulted in loss of engine power. Contributing to the loss of engine power was inadequate n°1 operation to maintain the proper speed during the ascent of the aircraft, resulting in extra power use and, in turn, exposing the anomaly of the engine.
Final Report: