South America

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá - Florencia

MSN:

208B-0402

YOM:

1994

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft was completing a survey flight over the Florencia area on behalf of the US Government, carrying four US citizens and one Colombian taking part to an anti-narcotic program. Eight minutes prior to its arrival in Floriencia, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain located near El Para, bursting into flames. All five occupants survived the accident but when FARC soldiers arrived on the scene, they shot down both pilots and captured all three other occupants. The bodies of both pilots were repatriated to the US few days later while the three hostages were released more than five years later in July 2008.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine failed after the turbine overheated in flight.

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

Date & Time: Feb 6, 2003 at 1539 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Pablo Valencia Iragorri

Registration:

HK-3645P

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guaymaral – Girardot – Popayán

MSN:

60-0159-072

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11169

Captain / Total hours on type:

31.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2169

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was completing a flight from Guaymaral to Popayán with an intermediate stop in Girardot, carrying four passengers and one pilot. The aircraft departed Girardot-Santiago Vila Airport at 1523LT. The pilot contacted Bogotá Control and reported his altitude at 4,200 feet bound to the west. At 1537LT, he received the QNH pressure. Two minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found on Mt San Isidro five days later. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-2M9 in Rio Branco

Date & Time: Jan 26, 2003 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SPJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Rio Branco-Plácido de Castro

Schedule:

Belém – Manaus – Rio Branco

MSN:

21236

YOM:

1976

Location:

Acre

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7120

Captain / Total hours on type:

5271.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1348

Copilot / Total hours on type:

310

Aircraft flight hours:

54989

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Manaus, the crew started the descent to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport runway 06 in marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. After passing the MDA at 1,150 feet, the crew continued the approach with an excessive rate of descent of 1,222 feet per minute. At a height of 57 feet, the aircraft struck trees located 360 metres short of runway 06 threshold. The engines lost power, the aircraft lost speed and height then struck the ground about 100 metres short of runway. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on a distance of 600 metres before coming to rest. All 95 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Poor approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach after passing the MDA at 1,150 feet while the aircraft was not stabilized and the crew did not establish a visual contact with the obstacles on short final. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Following the first impact with trees, branches and pieces of wood entered the engines, causing a loss of power followed by a loss of speed and altitude,
- Complacency on the part of the crew,
- Pressure and stress,
- Visual perception issues,
- Violation of the standard operating procedures,
- Loss of situational awareness,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- Poor approach and landing planning,
- Poor weather conditions,
- Relative low experience of the copilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Quito

Date & Time: Jan 17, 2003 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F28 Fellowship

Operator:

Registration:

HC-BMD

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (City)

Schedule:

Quito – Tulcán – Cali

MSN:

11220

YOM:

1984

Flight number:

EQ120

Location:

Pichincha

Country:

Ecuador

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7085

Captain / Total hours on type:

4103.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1666

Copilot / Total hours on type:

124

Aircraft flight hours:

21547

Aircraft flight cycles:

40084

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on runway 35, at a speed of 125 knots, after a course of 2,110 metres, both tyres on the left main gear burst. The crew rejected the takeoff procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 35 is 3,120 metres long). It overran, causing the nose gear to collapse, and came to rest 81 metres further. All 77 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Lack of a positive actions and reaction on part of the crew following the bursting of both tires on the left main gear, causing the aircraft to overrun the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a BAe 3101 Jetstream 31 in Yacuiba

Date & Time: Jan 17, 2003 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAe Jetstream 31

Operator:

Registration:

CP-2404

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Yacuiba - Santa Cruz

MSN:

680

YOM:

1985

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8194

Copilot / Total flying hours:

832

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Yacuiba Airport, at V2 speed, the right engine lost power. The captain decided to continue the takeoff procedure. During initial climb, decision was taken to return for an emergency landing and the crew shut down the right engine and feathered its propeller. After touchdown on runway 20, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its nose gear and collided with bushes and small trees, coming to rest about 50 metres past the runway end. All 21 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Excessive speed upon landing,
- Delayed application of the brake systems,
- The runway length available was limited according to the conditions in force,
- The total weight of the aircraft upon landing,
- The aircraft configuration,
- The direction and intensity of the wind,
- An inadequate crew training.
Additionally, the exact cause of the loss of power on the right engine was not clearly determined at the time the final report was published.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 near Chachapoyas: 46 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 2003 at 0845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F28 Fellowship

Operator:

Registration:

OB-1396

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lima – Chiclayo – Chachapoyas

MSN:

11100

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

TJ222

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3127

Captain / Total hours on type:

753.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

9255

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1065

Aircraft flight hours:

13121

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Lima on a regular schedule flight to Chachapoyas with an intermediate stop in Chiclayo, carrying 41 passengers and five crew members. Following an uneventful flight from Chiclayo, the crew started the descent to Chachapoyas Airport in poor weather conditions. The crew maintained several radio contacts with ATC and all seemed to be 'normal' on board when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Coloque located 15 km from the airport. Due to poor weather conditions and because the crash site was unaccessible, SAR teams arrived on scene two days later. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 3,300 metres. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 46 occupants were killed. The occupants were respectively 41 Peruvians, two Belgians, one Dutch, one Spanish and one Cuban.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent in zero visibility after suffering a total loss of situational awareness. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew failed to proceed with an approach briefing,
- Overconfidence on part of the flying crew,
- The crew failed to follow the approach checklist,
- The crew failed to comply with the SOP's,
- Poor crew resources management,
- The copilot was tired, stressed and depressive because his father passed away four days prior to the accident,
- The crew was destabilized by a certain pressure from the operator's,
- Poor judgment on part of the flying crew,
- Poor approach planning,
- Inadequate monitoring,
- Poor visual perception,
- Operational complacency,
- The crew was non-compliant with published procedures,
- Disorientation and loss of situational awareness.

Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer C-95A Bandeirante in Curitiba: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 2002 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer C-95 Bandeirante

Operator:

Registration:

2292

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

São Paulo – Florianópolis – Porto Alegre

MSN:

110-174

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Campo de Marte AFB near São Paulo on a flight to Porto Alegre with an intermediate stop in Florianópolis, carrying 13 passengers and three crew members. En route to Florianópolis, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered technical problems, declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Curitiba-Afonso Pena Airport. On final approach to runway 33, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a grassy area located 3,600 metres short of runway. Two passengers and one pilot were killed while 13 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the crew did not prepare the flight according to procedures and took off with an insufficient fuel quantity on board.

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I in Marília

Date & Time: Dec 1, 2002 at 2310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 500 Citation

Operator:

American Virginia

Registration:

PT-LIY

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Goiânia – Marília

MSN:

500-0219

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Captain / Total hours on type:

1200.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1300

Copilot / Total hours on type:

200

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Goiânia-Santa Genoveva Airport, the crew started the descent to Marília Airport by night. Poor weather conditions at destination forced the crew to make a direct approach to runway 03. After landing, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in bushes 143 metres past the runway end. All seven occupants were rescued, among them four were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Poor approach configuration on part of the crew who landed the aircraft 750 metres past the runway threshold, reducing the landing distance available. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew completed an unstabilized approach,
- Poor approach planning,
- Limited visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions,
- The braking action was low because the runway surface was wet,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 60 in Santa Cruz do Sul: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 2002 at 0910 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 60

Operator:

Dwiggins LLC

Registration:

N5027Q

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: