Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C-1 in Moanda: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 2000 at 0947 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LFK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Libreville - Moanda
MSN:
UC-133
YOM:
1990
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Libreville on a charter flight to Moanda, carrying employees of the Société d’Électricité et d’Énergie du Gabon (S.E.E.G.). While approaching Moanda, the crew was cleared to descent to 4,100 feet and encountered poor visibility due to fog. On short final, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 1,600 metres short of runway 14. A pilot and two passengers were killed while seven other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the approach after passing the MDA until the aircraft impacted ground. Poor visibility due to foggy conditions was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor in Monroe

Date & Time: May 14, 2000 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6082
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pell City - Monroe
MSN:
5512
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1302
Captain / Total hours on type:
37.00
Circumstances:
The airplane bounced on landing and started to swerve on the landing roll. The pilot attempted a go-around. The left engine hesitated and the right engine developed power. The pilot lost directional control, the airplane went off the left side of the runway and collapsed the left main landing gear.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around, resulting in a loss of directional control, and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear after the airplane departed the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 65 in Molokai: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 2000 at 2031 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N241H
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Papeete – Christmas Island – Kahului – Molokai
MSN:
465-5
YOM:
1979
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
12775
Captain / Total hours on type:
1370.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1725
Aircraft flight hours:
7934
Circumstances:
The airplane collided with mountainous terrain after the flight crew terminated the instrument approach and proceeded visually at night. The flight crew failed to brief or review the instrument approach procedure prior to takeoff and exhibited various cognitive task deficiencies during the approach. These cognitive task deficiencies included selection of the wrong frequency for pilot controlled lighting, concluding that the airport was obscured by clouds despite weather information to the contrary, stating inaccurate information regarding instrument approach headings and descent altitudes, and descending below appropriate altitudes during the approach. This resulted in the crew's lack of awareness regarding terrain in the approach path. Pilots approaching a runway over a dark featureless terrain may experience an illusion that the airplane is at a higher altitude that it actually is. In response to this illusion, referred to as the featureless terrain illusion or black hole phenomenon, a pilot may fly a lower than normal approach potentially compromising terrain clearance requirements. The dark visual scene on the approach path and the absence of a visual glideslope indicator were conducive to producing a false perception that the airplane was at a higher altitude. A ground proximity warning device may have alerted the crew prior to impact. However, the amount of advanced warning that may have been provided by such a device was not determined. Although the flight crew's performance was consistent with fatigue-related impairment, based on available information, the Safety Board staff was unable to determine to what extent the cognitive task deficiencies exhibited by the flight crew were attributable to fatigue and decreased alertness.
Probable cause:
Inadequate crew coordination led to the captain's decision to discontinue the instrument approach procedure and initiate a maneuvering descent solely by visual references at night in an area of mountainous terrain. The crew failed to review the instrument approach procedure and the copilot failed to provide accurate information regarding terrain clearance and let down procedures during the instrument approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Bocas del Toro

Date & Time: May 10, 2000 at 1009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1364MAM
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
TC-324
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Bocas del Toro, in unclear circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and veered off runway. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a sugarcane field. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye at Point Mugu NAS

Date & Time: May 9, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
164354
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Point Mugu NAS - Point Mugu NAS
MSN:
A147
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from Point Mugu NAS, the aircraft collided with a flock of pelicans. The crew attempted an emergency landing and the aircraft belly landed before coming to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced belly landing following a collision with pelicans after takeoff.

Crash of a Cessna T303 Crusader in Rottweil

Date & Time: May 7, 2000 at 1859 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-IFKL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Schwenningen - Rottweil
MSN:
303-00261
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Rottweil-Zepfenhan Airport, during the last segment, at a height of about 5-10 metres, the aircraft rolled to the left. The pilot initiated a go-around procedure when control was lost. The aircraft crashed and burned. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Lyon: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 2000 at 1439 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-MURI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Farnborough - Nice
MSN:
35-646
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
NEX4B
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4954
Captain / Total hours on type:
2113.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1068
Copilot / Total hours on type:
850
Aircraft flight hours:
4291
Aircraft flight cycles:
3637
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Farnborough Airport at 11h22 on a charter flight to Nice with two pilots and three passengers on board, among them the F1 driver David Coulthard. At 12h22, cruising at FL390, the left engine of the aircraft suffered a failure. The crew shut down and began to descend. They declared an emergency and asked to fly to the nearest aerodrome with a runway longer than one thousand six hundred metres. Lyon-Satolas Airport, located about 62 NM away left abeam of the aircraft, was proposed. The descent with one engine shut down towards Lyon-Satolas was undertaken under radar guidance, at a high speed and with a high rate of descent. At 12h35, the pilot stabilised the aircraft at 3,000 feet, intercepted the runway 36L ILS and was cleared to land. The final was started at 233 knots according to radar data and the slow down progressive. At 12h36 min 45 s, the flaps were extended to 8°. According to the radar data, the aircraft was then at 2,400 feet, 4,4 NM from the runway threshold and at a speed of 184 knots. At 12h36 min 58 s, the landing gear was extended. At 12h37 in 03 s, the flaps were set to 20°. According to the radar data, the aircraft was then at 2,100 feet, 3,5 NM from the runway threshold at a speed of 180 knots. No malfunctions or additional problems were announced to the ATC by the crew during the final approach. At 12h38 min 08 s, the copilot told the captain that the aircraft was a little low. According to the radar data, the aircraft was then at 1,100 feet, 0,9 NM from the runway threshold at a speed of 155 knots. At 12h38 min 17 s, he repeated his warning and announced a speed 10 knots above the approach reference speed. At 12h38 min 22 s, the copilot again stated that the aircraft was a little low on the approach path and immediately afterwards asked the captain to increase the thrust. According to the radar data, the aircraft was then at 900 feet, 0,1 NM from the runway threshold at a speed of 150 knots. At 12h38 min 24 s, the captain indicated that he was losing control of the aircraft. The aircraft, over the runway threshold, banked sharply to the left, touched the ground with its wing, crashed and caught fire. Both pilots were killed while all three passengers evacuated with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of yaw and then roll control which appears to be due to a failure of monitor flight symmetry at the time of the thrust increase on the right engine. The hastiness exhibited by the captain, and his difficulty in coping with the stress following the engine failure, contributed to this situation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45J Expeditor in Urbana

Date & Time: Apr 29, 2000 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3482
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rantoul - Urbana
MSN:
7073
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1800
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
The pilot said he performed three-point touchdown, landing to the east on a grass airstrip. He said, '... as we landed, the tail wanted to come up, so I pulled the stick all the way back and held
it back ... while I was reaching to lift the flaps off.' The pilot said that before he got the flaps retracted, he noticed the tail was coming up again. He ensured that the power was off and his feet were off the brakes. 'The airplane came up on its nose. We were almost stopped before we flipped on our back over the nose.' The pilot said that when he later returned to the airplane, he noticed the 'T-handle brake lever was 3/4 engaged.' Examination of the airplane revealed heavy longitudinally running grass rubbing on both tires. The brake discs were free and the wheels rotated freely. An examination of the field showed a pair of parallel-running tire marks moving toward the north side of the landing strip, and 11 succeeding slashes in the ground running perpendicular to the parallel tire tracks on the airplane's left side. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Wind conditions, reported 14 minutes after the accident, were 010° at 7 knots.
Probable cause:
The pilot not maintaining directional control on the ground and the abrupt brake application during the landing roll.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander in Bapi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ISA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
703
YOM:
1973
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the Bapi grassy runway 14/32 which is 495 metres long, the twin engine aircraft collided with trees and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. It is believed that the pilot completed the rotation too late.

Crash of an Avro RJ70 in Siirt

Date & Time: Apr 22, 2000 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-THL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ankara – Siirt
MSN:
E1249
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
TK774
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7200
Aircraft flight cycles:
6200
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Ankara, the aircraft landed at Siirt Airport runway 24/06 which is 1,660 metres long. After touchdown on a wet runway, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest few dozen metres further. All 46 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All conditions were not met for a safe landing and the braking action was moderate to poor. Aquaplaning was suspected.