Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Mt Awakapa Tepuy: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 2004 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
YV-O-CBL-7
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar – Uonquén
MSN:
208B-0926
YOM:
2001
Location:
Mt Awakapa Tepuy (Chimanta)
Bolívar
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Ciudad Bolívar at 1016LT on a flight to Uonquén, State of Bolívar. En route, around 1100LT, the pilot reported flying at 11,500 feet in poor weather conditions. About 45 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Awakapa Tepuy located in the Chimanta Mountain Range. All seven occupants were killed, among them two church women.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30F in Bogotá

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2004 at 0356 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-10
Operator:
Registration:
N189AX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Bogotá
MSN:
48277
YOM:
1981
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
77864
Aircraft flight cycles:
12224
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Miami-Intl Airport on behalf of Lineas Aéreas Suramericanas, the crew started a night approach to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. On final, the aircraft was unstable and too low when the GPWS alarm sounded five times. The captain increased engine power and elected to gain height, causing the aircraft to continue over the glide. At an excessive speed of 180 knots, the aircraft landed 1,500 feet past the runway 13L threshold (runway 13L is 3,800 metres long). After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran. It lost its undercarriage, collided with the ILS equipment, lost both engines n°1 and 3 and eventually came to rest few hundred metres further in a grassy area. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Departure from runway 13 left the El Dorado airport as a result of a landing with a speed of 180 knots and 1500 feet from the threshold, during which the spoilers were not used and in which there was hydroplaning by the main landing gear making the braking action less than expected. The decision of the crew to continue the approach despite the fact that this was not stabilized in accordance with the criteria described in the manual of operations of the airline. The omission of points in the checklist and call out from the crew that resulted in a lower alert situation facing the parameters of the approach and monitoring the operation of key systems such as the extension of spoilers after the landing. The non-response to the ground proximity warning system that is sounded for at least five times during the final approach in two different modes.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 500 in Melo

Date & Time: Apr 27, 2004 at 0415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
N715FE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Porto Alegre – Campinas
MSN:
10468
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
FDX7145
Location:
Melo
Cerro Largo
Country:
Uruguay
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport on a night cargo service to Campinas-Viracopos with an intermediate stop in Porto Alegre. While cruising at an altitude of 17,000 feet, smoke was detected in the cargo compartment. The crew elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The crew contacted ATC, declared an emergency and attempted to divert to Montevideo Airport but ATC suggested the crew to divert to Melo which was the nearest airport. As this airfield was closed to traffic at this time, ATC contacted a night guard who switched on the runway lights and alerted the local emergency services. The aircraft landed 340 metres past the runway 07 threshold and stopped 640 metres further. The crew evacuated via the cockpit windows and was uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Numerous oil samples, plant tissues, and several animals that were transported, would have reacted on contact with an exothermic chemical reaction and associated combustion. The event originated with the spilling of liquid from containers not suitable for differential pressure, with little excess capacity for expansion and filled with indiscriminate materials. Low stringency in filling forms for description of product delivered for shipment in company offices and little control or careless handling of the load would have contributed to the occurrence of the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Puerto Esperenza

Date & Time: Apr 4, 2004
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Registration:
EP-837
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
35 06
YOM:
1995
Location:
Puerto Esperenza
Ucayali
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft B80 Queen Air near Maracaibo

Date & Time: Mar 29, 2004 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
OB-952
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Maracaibo – Boa Vista
MSN:
LD-348
YOM:
1967
Location:
Maracaibo
Zulia
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Maracaibo while completing a flight from Maracaibo to Boa Vista. No trace of the crew was found and it is believed that the flight was illegal.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-2 Skyservant near Guayaquil

Date & Time: Mar 5, 2004 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.28D Skyservant
Operator:
Aeropacsa - Aerolineas del Pacifico
Registration:
HC-CBK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Machala – Guayaquil
MSN:
4080
YOM:
1971
Location:
Guayaquil
Guayas
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
2977
Circumstances:
En route from Machala to Guayaquil, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet in rain showers, the left engine lost power. The crew shut down the engine and feathered the propeller then decided to continue at an altitude of 600 feet and a speed of 80 knots. Several attempts to restart the left engine were unsuccessful when the right engine lost power as well. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a river, some 23 km south of Guayaquil. All 14 occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
A possible failure of the hydraulic pump on the left engine due to poor maintenance.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-820C Navajo in Monsenhor Gil: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 2004 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-820 Navajo/Carajá
Operator:
Bem-Te-Vi Táxi Aéreo
Registration:
PT-EBU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Picos – Teresina
MSN:
820-005
YOM:
1975
Location:
Monsenhor Gil
Piauí
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following several flights during the last days, the crew departed Picos on the last leg to Teresina. While descending to Teresina-Senador Petrônio Portella Airport, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and reduced his altitude to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft struck a tree and crashed in an open field located about 800 metres from a road. The wreckage was found 51 km southeast of Teresina Airport. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine due to fuel exhaustion. The following findings were identified:
- Poor flight preparation,
- Complacency, overconfidence,
- Contempt for published procedures and poor judgment,
- The copilot's licence and medical documents were expired.
Final Report:
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