Crash of a Douglas C-47B in Charlotte

Date & Time: Sep 26, 2000 at 0635 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N12907
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Anderson - Charlotte
MSN:
15742/27187
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10500
Captain / Total hours on type:
7500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
17425
Circumstances:
After an approach to runway 5, and touched down at 85 knots, the airplane yawed right, exited the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that a right main wheel brake had locked up, and the landing gear had collapsed. Inspection of the right main landing gear assembly and all associated components could not provide any determination as to what caused the main wheel brake to lockup. The brake assembly was broken down into its component parts and inspected. No evidence of malfunction could be detected. No contamination of the hydraulic fluid was evident.
Probable cause:
The right main brake locked after touchdown causing the airplane to yaw and depart the runway, resulting in the landing gear collapsing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Greenville

Date & Time: Sep 23, 2000 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N590TA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bangor - Greenville
MSN:
208B-0590
YOM:
1997
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5350
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2671
Circumstances:
According to the pilot, he was conducting a GPS approach during occasional low ceilings, reduced visibility and rain. At the minimum descent altitude, the ground was 'occasionally' visible through fog and rain. Near the missed approach point, the runway lights were visible, so he continued the descent. He lost visual contact with the runway, and began a missed approach, but collided with trees. The accident site was 2 miles prior to the runway, on rising terrain, 200 feet below the runway elevation. The missed approach point was over the approach end of the runway.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue his descent without visual contact with the runway, and his inattention to his altitude, in relation to the airport elevation.
Final Report:

Ground fire of a Boeing 767-2B7ER in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Sep 22, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N654US
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
25225/375
YOM:
1991
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft experienced an uncontained failure of the high pressure turbine stage 1 disk in the No. 1 engine during a high-power ground run for maintenance. Because of a report of an in-flight loss of oil, US Airways mechanics had replaced a seal on the n°1 engine’s integral drive generator and were performing the high-power engine run to check for any oil leakage. For the maintenance check, the mechanics had taxied the airplane to a remote taxiway on the airport and had performed three runups for which no anomalies were noted. During the fourth excursion to high power, at around 93 percent N1 rpm, there was a loud explosion followed by a fire under the left wing of the airplane. The mechanics shut down the engines, discharged both fire bottles into the No. 1 engine nacelle, and evacuated the airplane. Although both fire bottles were discharged, the fire continued until it was extinguished by airport fire department personnel. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 707312B in Niamey

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2000 at 2050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5V-TAG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Valencia - Niamey
MSN:
19739
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on a flight to Valencia, Spain, where members of the chorus of the University of Bénin-Togo were dropped off. At the end of the afternoon, the crew departed Valencia on the final leg of the day to Lomé, Togo. While in cruising altitude over the Niger territory, the crew informed ATC about smoke spreading in the cockpit and was cleared for an emergency descent and landing at Niamey-Diori Hamani Airport. On approach, due to the failure of the hydraulic systems, the crew was unable to lower the undercarriage so a belly landing was completed. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the in-flight smoke and fire was the consequence of an electrical short-circuit.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Jeffersonville

Date & Time: Sep 20, 2000 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N63706
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Elizabethtown - Jeffersonville
MSN:
31-7712035
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2117
Captain / Total hours on type:
889.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3910
Circumstances:
The pilot said that he 'landed properly' on the runway, touching down at about 700 feet from the approach end. He said that he 'applied brakes, which had no effect, ran out of runway, and turned to the right to avoid trees. [The] Grassy field should have worked out, except for the drainage ditch.' The pilot said that later he was told that there was a tail wind estimated at 45 knots, when he landed. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. Approximately 34 minutes before the accident, the weather observation at Louisville, Kentucky, 11 miles south of the accident site, reported winds of 320 degrees at 16 knots, with gusts to 20 knots.
Probable cause:
The pilot's inadequate normal braking and the pilot's inability to stop the airplane on the runway. Factors relating to this accident were the hydroplaning conditions, wet runway, the tailwind, the trees, and the ravine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in 47 Mile Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 2000 at 0615 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N42472
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
47 Mile Creek – Aniak
MSN:
207-0148
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1788
Captain / Total hours on type:
900.00
Circumstances:
The air taxi pilot had flown to a remote airstrip and lodge in a company airplane to go hunting. He was scheduled the next morning for a flight from his company's base of operations, his original departure airport. According to a hunting guide at the lodge, the pilot departed the lodge's airstrip about 0608, with a load of revenue cargo. A few minutes later, the guide heard the sound of an airplane, and then a loud impact. The guide could not see the wreckage because it was too dark outside. He departed in his own airplane, but entered clouds shortly after takeoff, and had to return. The guide commented he thought the accident pilot was trying to return to the lodge airstrip because of the poor weather and darkness. The wreckage was located on a nearby mountain in daylight hours after the cloud cover had dissipated. Post accident inspection disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Official sunrise was 0813; official civil twilight was 0730. The time of the accident was approximately 0615.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to initiate visual flight into dark night instrument meteorological conditions. Factors associated with the accident are a low ceiling, a dark night, the pilot's failure to follow regulatory procedures and directives, and his self-induced pressure to return to base to take another flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Tigil

Date & Time: Sep 19, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-28950
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tigil – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
1AJ009-16
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from a waterlogged and unpaved runway in Tigil, the crew decided to abort as the aircraft was unable to reach a sufficient speed. Despite the situation, the crew attempted a second takeoff manoeuvre during which control was lost. The aircraft deviated to the left, veered off runway and struck an embankment before coming to rest in a ditch. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T3-T1040 Cheyenne in Nuiqsut: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 2000 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N220CS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Deadhorse – Nuiqsut
MSN:
31-8275013
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
6C181
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2517
Captain / Total hours on type:
165.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10157
Circumstances:
The airline transport certificated pilot was landing at a remote village on a scheduled domestic commuter flight with nine passengers. The accident airplane, a twin-engine turboprop certified for single-pilot operations, was equipped with a fuselage-mounted belly cargo pod. Witnesses saw the airplane touch down on the gravel runway with the landing gear retracted. The belly pod lightly scraped the runway for about 40 feet before the airplane transitioned to a climb. The propeller tips did not contact the runway. As the airplane began climbing away from the runway, the landing gear was extended. The airplane climbed to about 100 to 150 feet above the ground, and then began a descending left turn, colliding with tundra-covered terrain. A postcrash fire destroyed the fuselage, right wing, and the right engine. The flaps were found extended to 40 degrees. The balked landing procedure for the airplane states, in part: "power levers to maximum, flaps to 15 degrees, landing gear up, and then retract the flaps." Five passengers seated in the rear of the airplane survived the crash. The survivors did not recall hearing a gear warning horn before ground contact. The airplane was landed gear-up eight months before the accident. The airplane was nearly landed gear-up four months before the accident. Each time, a landing gear warning horn was not heard by the pilot or passengers. A postcrash examination of the airplane and engines did not locate any preimpact mechanical malfunction. The FAA's Fairbanks, Alaska, FSDO conducted an inspection of the operator six months before the accident, and recommended the operator utilize two pilots in the accident airplane. Following the accident, the Fairbanks FSDO required the operator to utilize two pilots for passenger flights in the accident airplane make and model.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear, his improper aborted landing procedure, and inadvertent stall/mush. Factors in the accident were an improper adjustment of the landing gear warning horn system by company maintenance personnel, and the failure of the pilot to utilize the pre-landing checklist.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-2 Skyservant in San Pablo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 2000 at 1751 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BNT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manta - San Pablo
MSN:
4342
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
6234
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Manta-Eloy Alfaro Airport at 1711LT on a cargo flight to San Pablo, carrying one passenger, two pilots (among them an instructor) and a Load consisting of 70 boxes of shrimp larvae. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the right engine suffered power fluctuations. The instructor pilot switched on the auxiliary fuel pump and changed the fuel mixture but the engine problems persisted. On final approach to San Pablo, the right engine failed and the crew continued the approach on one engine. Following a high approach, the aircraft landed too far down the runway, about 292 metres from the runway end. It bounced and landed firmly six metres further. Realizing that the runway distance available was insufficient, the instructor pilot decided to initiate a go-around procedure. The aircraft climbed to a height of about 20 metres then impacted ground 140 metres to the right of the runway centreline and 26 metres past the runway end. The copilot was killed and both other occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The instructor pilot's decision to initiate a go-around procedure after landing in the last third portion of the runway with the right engine inoperative, an insufficient runway length and an aircraft's weight that required to stay on the ground. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The decision of the crew to continue the flight after the failure of the right engine that required an immediate landing,
- The crew failed to follow the checklist,
- Failure of the instructor pilot to proceed to an adequate approach briefing,
- Wrong approach configuration,
- Lack of awareness about the runway's characteristics on part of the pilot-in-command,
- The total weight of the aircraft was above the permissible limit,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- The crew mistakenly feathered the left propeller.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Montpellier: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Montpellier-Candillargues Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot lost control of the airplane following a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.