Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Warri

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1998 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-PAN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lagos – Lekki – Warri
MSN:
208-0200
YOM:
1991
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
4613
Circumstances:
A float-equipped Cessna Caravan, 5N-PAN, departed Lagos (LOS) on a chartered flight to Warri with a scheduled stop-over at Lekki. The aircraft was airborne at 07:34 hours UTC and was cleared to 1,000 feet by Lagos Tower and landed at Lekki at 07:42 hours UTC. At 08:20 hours UTC, the aircraft departed Lekki and called Lagos Approach which cleared it to 3,500 feet with further instructions for the aircraft to report at TMA. The aircraft reported at TMA and continued its normal flight at 3,500 feet. On contact with Escravos Tower, it requested for a descent from 3,500 feet to 700 feet in order to overfly the Chevron facility at Opuekaba for an aerial inspection. After the inspection, the aircraft was cleared to 2,500 feet to resume its normal flight to Warri. The pilot made an outbound turn to line up for the final approach to runway 03. At about five nm DME from Warri the pilot chose to reduce speed to 120 knots and he selected gear down with flap 15°. At three nautical miles out, the aircraft was about 900 feet high above the approach path, and cleared to land. The aircraft was now configured for landing with flap at 30° and the pilot reduced the speed to between 85 and 90 knots. At about 1.5 miles out, the aircraft was between 350 - 400 feet high, gliding with 400 lb of torque, the pilot felt a small shudder from the engine which was instantaneously followed by a need for power input, so he advanced the throttle but there was no response from the engine. He quickly retracted the flaps and feathered the propeller. Then the pilot re-selected flap 30° and also unfeathered the propeller which restored the engine to full torque. The pilot decided to abandon the approach mainly because of the a building structure ahead, close to the runway threshold. The pilot chose to veer the airplane to the left of the approach path centerline and ditched into the swampy terrain, cutting through some scattered trees and shrubbery.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the little old fractured cotter pin which lodged itself in the orifice and caused the BOV to malfunction at the very critical instance when more power output was demanded from the powerplant. The engine did not completely flameout, because of the position of the BOV valve in partially/fully open position which, could only sustain idle running of the engine.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Río Gallegos

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1998 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-WDV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lago Argentino - Río Gallegos
MSN:
TC-271
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lago Argentino Airport, a red warning light came on in the cockpit panel, informing the crew about the incomplete retraction of the left main gear. The crew proceeded to a visual inspection and after confirmation that the left main gear was properly secured in its wheel well, the crew decided to continue to Río Gallegos. On approach, the left main gear did not deploy. After the crew failed to extend it manually, he raised the other landing gear and completed a belly landing. On short final, just prior to flare, both engines were shut down and their propellers were feathered. The aircraft landed on its belly, slid for few dozen metres and came to rest. All seven occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew completed a belly landing after it was impossible to extend the left main gear due to the deformation and fracture of the brace support of the gear's extension system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The left main gear suffered previous incident,
- Marginal weather conditions with rain falls and unfavorable wind component,
- The crew started operations with know deficiencies,
- Inappropriate maintenance and technical controls.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Victoria: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1998 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9352B
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vancouver - Victoria
MSN:
208-0061
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
RXX434
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1653
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
120
Aircraft flight hours:
6717
Circumstances:
Regency Express Air Operations Flight 434, a Cessna 208 Caravan (serial number 208B0061), was en route from Vancouver International Airport to Victoria International Airport, British Columbia, on a night visual flight rules (VFR) flight when it collided with trees on Saltspring Island, about five nautical miles (nm) north of the Victoria International Airport. The aircraft broke apart on impact and a post-crash fire occurred. The two pilots, who were the sole occupants of the aircraft, sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The accident occurred at 0030 Pacific standard time (PST).
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
A. Although weather information was available by radio from the Vancouver FSS specialists or from the Victoria Terminal controllers, there is no indication that the pilots requested weather updates from either of these units.
B. The crew of RXX434 would have encountered the lower ceiling in the vicinity of Beaver Point. This lower layer of cloud would have restricted the crew's view of the ground lighting and reduced the ambient lighting available to navigate by visual means.
C. With the loss of ground references, it is unlikely that the crew would have been able to perceive the divergence of the aircraft's flight path away from its intended track by visual means.
D. The crew was unable to maintain separation between the aircraft and the terrain by visual means.
E. The published VFR arrival and departure routes for Victoria were not consistent with obstacle clearance requirements for commercial operators.
F. Regency Express Air Operations' crew manual suggested an en route altitude of 1,500 feet for this particular flight. That route and altitude combination is not consistent with published obstacle clearance requirements.
Other Findings:
1. At the time the crew completed their flight planning, the weather at the departure airport of Vancouver and the arrival airport of Victoria was suitable for a night VFR flight.
2. An amended terminal forecast for Victoria indicating the presence of a temporary ceiling at 2,000 feet asl was issued after the crew had completed their preflight planning activities.
3. The regulation requiring GPWS equipment does not apply to air taxi operations because the aircraft used in those operations do not meet weight or propulsion criteria.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Mexico City

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MTX-02
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mexico City - Veracruz
MSN:
24-313
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport, at Vr, the pilot-in-command initiated the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. For unknown reasons, the crew wait few seconds and attempted a second rotation but the aircraft still failed to respond. The captain decided to abort the takeoff and started an emergency braking procedure, deploying the tail parachute. Approaching the end of the runway, the pilot made a left turn then the aircraft veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 150 metres further, bursting into flames. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Monroe

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1998 at 1855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N30ML
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monroe - Dallas
MSN:
414-0005
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
313
Captain / Total hours on type:
54.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6415
Circumstances:
The airplane impacted terrain during takeoff initial climb in dark night conditions with a 100 ft ceiling and 1/4 mile visibility in fog. The instrument rated private pilot sustained serious injuries and does not recall the flight. No discrepancies were found with the aircraft, flight instruments, or engines that would have contributed to the accident. A weather briefing was obtained and an IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot had 312.8 hrs total time (54.2 hrs in this aircraft), 61 hrs night flight time (36.9 hrs in this aircraft) and 26.8 hrs actual instrument time (19.6 hrs in this aircraft). Toxicological findings were positive for benzoylecgonine (metabolite of cocaine), ethanol, and cocaethylene (substance formed when cocaine and alcohol are simultaneously ingested) in a urine sample subpoenaed by the NTSB from the hospital that treated the pilot. Benzoylecgonine can be found in urine for 3 to 5 days after cocaine use. Since blood was not available for analysis, it could not be determined how much of each substance was ingested and when they were ingested. The pilot stated that he was not under the influence of cocaine or alcohol on the day of the crash.
Probable cause:
The pilot's spatial disorientation which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. Factors were fog, low ceilings, and dark night conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon in Koror: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1998
Registration:
RP-C606
Survivors:
No
MSN:
207-0105
YOM:
1969
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was completing a charter flight with seven passengers and two pilots on board. While approaching Koror Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. The crew decided to abandon the approach and made a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned, as well as a third and a fourth attempt. During the fifth approach, the aircraft crashed few km from the airport, killing all nine occupants. It was reported that the crew was trying to land under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Boeing 707-355C in Ostend

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1998 at 0544 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-VRG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ostend - Lagos
MSN:
19664
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
VGO302
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
67790
Aircraft flight cycles:
15984
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ostend Airport at 0328LT on a cargo flight to Lagos, carrying five crew members and a load of 35 tons of electronics. About 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 24,000 feet over the border between Brussels and Paris ARTCC, the crew informed ATC about severe turbulences. Few seconds later, he reported the loss of the engine n°3 that separated and elected to return to Ostend. After being cleared, the crew started a circuit and while descending to Ostend Airport, the hydraulic systems failed. The crew completed a holding pattern to burn fuel and was later cleared to land on runway 26. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage, slid for few dozen metres and eventually came to rest near the localizer antenna. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Laboratory analyses revealed the presence of a fatigue crack on the inner mid spar fitting of the engine n°3. The crack has been present for a reasonable time. The Airworthiness Directive 93-11-02 asks the replacement of the fittings by improved model at least for July 97. The fittings of engine n°3 were from the old design. Due to the non application of AD 93-11-02, the aircraft was in a non-airworthy condition.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Krasnoyarsk: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1998 at 1122 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-12955
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Krasnoyarsk - Mirny
MSN:
8 3 455 06
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
YR9301
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Novosibirsk to MIrny with an intermediate stop in Krasnoyarsk, carrying six passengers, seven crew members and a load of 13,380 kilos of various goods consisting of food, tobacco, clothing and footwear. Weather conditions were marginal with snow falls and icing conditions. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 2,400 metres, the pilot-in-command started the rotation at a speed of 280 km/h. After liftoff, the aircraft started to roll left and right but the crew was able to continue to climb with a rate of about 4 metres per second. During initial climb, at a height of 150 metres and at a speed of 330 km/h, the crew raised the flaps. At this time, the aircraft started to lose height, entered an uncontrolled descent, collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located 5 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the crew raised the flaps due to the presence of severe icing conditions which impaired the controllability of the aircraft and its aerodynamic characteristics. The short distance between the aircraft and the ground did not allow the crew to expect recovery.

Ground collision of an Ilyushin II-62M in Anchorage

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1998 at 0133 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-86564
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Anchorage - San Francisco
MSN:
4934734
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Ilyushin II-62M was parked at gate with its 12 crew members on board, awaiting the passengers for the next leg to San Francisco. An Asiana Boeing 747-400 (HL7414) was taxiing to gate N6 for a refueling stop on the flight Seoul - New York (flight 211). While trying to make a U-turn, the Boeing's n°1 engine struck the wing of the Ilyushin. Then the left winglet struck the base of the Ilyushin's tail. The Asiana crew added more power causing the wing to cut through nearly half of the tail of the Russian aircraft. The maximum ground speed recorded by the on-board recorders was 16 knots, while according to the company flight manual it should have been "10 knots or below (5 knots if wet or slippery)".
Probable cause:
The excessive taxi speed by the pilot of the other aircraft. A factor associated with the accident was the other pilot's inadequate maneuver to avoid the parked airplane.

Crash of a Beechcraft RC-12K Huron near Giebelstadt AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
85-0151
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
FE-5
YOM:
1987
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was approaching Giebelstadt AFB when it crashed in the Sommerhausen zoo located about 8 km northeast of the airfield. Both pilots were killed.