Crash of a Boeing 707-328C in Bratislava

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1999 at 2344 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9G-ROX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bratislava – N’Djamena
MSN:
19521
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was leased to a Belgian charter broker around June 1998 to operate fish charter flights between Mwanza and Vienna. The aircraft was in fact seen on many other airports, Bratislava, Ostrava and Lubumbashi. At the time of the accident, the plane is understood to have had a long list of 32 faults that needed urgent repair. Problems included a limited EGT of n°1 & 4 engines; n°3 engine constant speed drive (CSD) gearbox was consuming a 'massive amount of oil'; n°1 engine CSD generator missing; n°2 engine required bleed on takeoff and above FL330; left wing leading edge cracked and leaking; n°4 fuel tank and reserve tank gauge not working. Decision to ferry the aircraft to N'Djamena was taken on February 7. During the takeoff roll the n°2 & 3 engines failed. The takeoff was aborted but the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest 200 metres past the runway end. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Luzamba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EL-ANZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Luzamba
MSN:
139 06
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following a visual approach, the aircraft landed too far down the runway which is 1,500 metres long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest in a ravine, bursting into flames. 25 people escaped uninjured while nine others were injured and two passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who was apparently intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Ground fire of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9 Islander in Porto Velho

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1999 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-KNM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porto Velho – Lábrea
MSN:
669
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
260
Captain / Total hours on type:
25.00
Circumstances:
Parked at Porto Velho Airport, the aircraft was prepared for a cargo flight to Lábrea. On board were one passenger, one pilot and a load of foods. When the pilot started the engines, the left engine caught fire. The fire quickly spread to the left wing. Both occupants evacuated the cabin and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The exact cause of the left engine failure and fire remains unknown,
- The pilot was not qualified to fly such type of aircraft,
- The aircraft was not airworthy at the time of the accident,
- The aircraft maintenance was not performed according to published procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-2D6 in Constantine

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VEH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Constantine
MSN:
20955
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
92
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Constantine Airport, the three engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and collided with a snow bank, causing the nose gear to collapse. All 99 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Belleview: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1999 at 1740 LT
Registration:
N919VC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belleview - Belleview
MSN:
560-0290
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1590
Captain / Total hours on type:
298.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5515
Circumstances:
After takeoff, the flight climbed to 1500 feet and the pilot reduced the engine RPM to 3000. The pilot also reported that within seconds of reducing the engine RPM the left engine sputtered. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump in an effort to restore full engine power. Immediately afterward, the right engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot turned on the right engine boost pump again in an effort to restore full power. Attempts by the pilot to restore normal engine operation failed. The pilot selected an area for an emergency landing. The pilot recalled that as he prepared for an emergency landing, the airplane would yaw right and left as the engines momentarily gain and lose power. The airplane collided with tops of several trees. The airplanes subsequently collided with a single family home adjacent to the lake. Examination of the airframe and engine assemblies failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. During the examination of the fuel system, approximately 2 1/2 pints of fuel were recovered. The pilot reported that he thought he had about 50 gallons of fuel when he departed.
Probable cause:
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning of the fuel required for the flight that resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power to both engines.
Final Report:

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in Catania

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1999 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-DAVN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Naples - Catane
MSN:
49435
YOM:
1988
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On short final to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport by night, at a height of about 100 feet, the aircraft became unstable. The captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure and increased power on both engines. Unfortunately, the aircraft continued to descent and struck the runway surface with a relative high positive acceleration. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on the runway for few hundred metres before coming to rest. All 84 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew encountered windshear during the last portion of the flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Bluefields: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1999 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Managua - Bluefields
MSN:
142 06
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Managua Airport at 0710LT on a flight to Bluefields, carrying 21 passengers and a crew of seven, among them 15 civilians. On approach, the crew was instructed by ATC to follow a holding pattern because another aircraft was blocking the main runway. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 6 km from the airport. All 28 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Lucapa

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S9-CAN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Lucapa
MSN:
6 3 440 02
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Lucapa Airport, the four engine aircraft skidded off runway and came to rest in a ditch. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I in Jumla: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1999 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ADA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jumla - Nepalgunj
MSN:
208-0235
YOM:
1993
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jumla Airport, en route to Nepalgunj, the single engine aircraft climbed to a height of 450 feet when it rolled to the left, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field near the airport. One pilot and four passengers were killed while seven other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist,
- The takeoff procedure was initiated with the flaps retracted in the full up position,
- The pilot-in-command started the rotation at an insufficient speed,
- The aircraft stalled during initial climb and the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to expect recovery,
- Winds from 25-35 knots were gusting at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air in Cullman: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1999 at 0918 LT
Registration:
N780BF
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Greenville - Cullman
MSN:
FA-70
YOM:
1985
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4100
Aircraft flight hours:
7687
Circumstances:
The airplane descended to 2,600 feet to the NDB, and initiated the approach upon crossing the NDB. As the airplane descended below 1,500 feet MSL, Huntsville lost radar contact. The next communication with the airplane was when the pilot radioed that he was initiating the missed approach. The published missed approach procedure is, 'Climbing lift turn to 2,700 direct CPP NDB and hold.' The airplane made a series of turns within the next one minute and 24 seconds. Additionally, the airplane's altitude varied but it never climbed above the altitude of 1,700 feet. The airplane wreckage was located approximately 3.5 miles north of the airport on a 345 degree heading on the opposite side of the outbound course to the NDB. Witnesses in the immediate area stated that they could hear the airplane flying low over their homes but could not see it due to the foggy conditions. A review of pilot records did not show the pilot having any fixed wing airplane experience.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to adhere to the missed approach procedure resulting in a collision with terrain. Contributing factors were fog and the rotorcraft rated pilot's lack of fixed wing certification/experience.
Final Report: