Crash of a Fokker F28 Friendship 4000 in Singapore

Date & Time: May 16, 1998 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-VFY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jakarta - Singapore
MSN:
11179
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Jakarta-Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on a charter flight to Singapore, carrying expatriates who were leaving Indonesia due to political unrest. On approach to Singapore-Seletar Airport, the copilot followed the checklist but failed to arm the lift dumper which affected the antiskid system that could not be used. After landing on a wet runway surface, the crew started the braking procedure but this was insufficient so the captain applied emergency brakes which is not recommended when hydroplaning is suspected. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its left wing and left main gear before coming to rest. All 80 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Friendship 4000 in Kendari

Date & Time: May 15, 1998 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-MGT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kendari - Ujung Pandang
MSN:
11193
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
MZ715
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Kendari-Wolter Monginsidi Airport, at Vr speed, the cargo door warning light illuminated on the cockpit panel. The captain decided to abort and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 200 metres further. All 64 occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in La Grande-3

Date & Time: May 14, 1998 at 0947 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GUVK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montreal – Rouyn – La Grande Rivière
MSN:
31-7405451
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1560
Captain / Total hours on type:
60.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
265
Copilot / Total hours on type:
15
Circumstances:
At 0525 eastern daylight time, a Piper Navajo PA-31, registration C-GUVK, serial number 31-7405451, with two pilots on board, took off from Dorval Airport, Quebec, on a three-day charter flight. Two passengers boarded at Rouyn, Quebec, travelling to La Grande Rivière, Quebec. All flight segments over the three-day period were planned in accordance with instrument flight rules. At La Grande Rivière, the aircraft completed a VOR/DME approach to runway 31, but could not land due to weather. A missed approach was executed, and the aircraft proceeded toward the alternate airport, La Grande 4. About 15 nautical miles north of La Grande 3, the engines misfired. The fuel selector lever was reselected, and the engines operated normally for about five minutes, and then stopped. The pilot-in-command declared an emergency and proceeded toward La Grande 3 Airport for an LOC/DME approach to runway 29. The aircraft broke through the cloud layer at approximately 300 feet above ground level and the pilot set the aircraft down in some trees beside a small lake, four nautical miles southeast of La Grande 3 Airport. The accident occurred at 0957. One of the two passengers sustained minor leg injuries. The other occupants were uninjured. They were rescued by helicopter approximately 45 minutes later. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Probable cause:
The crew did not refuel at Rouyn as planned, and did not have sufficient fuel to complete the segment. Contributing to the accident were the following: the crew did not fully understand the flight plan documents and did not calculate fuel consumption en route.
Final Report:

Crash of a Xian Yunsunji Y-7H-500 in Néma: 39 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1998 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5T-MAG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Néma - Nouakchott
MSN:
00 7H 03
YOM:
1996
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Nouakchott with 35 passengers and seven crew members who accompanied the President of the Republic of Mauritania on an official visit of the Hodh Ech Chargui Region. All passengers were members of the Mauritanian Army fanfare. Shortly after a night takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion near the runway end. Three passengers were seriously injured while 39 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after one of the engine failed for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Luanda

Date & Time: May 11, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-12973
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cabinda - Luanda
MSN:
9 3 465 05
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Cabinda to Luanda, carrying a load of 10 tons of various goods and seven crew members. On approach, at a distance of 1,850 metres from the runway threshold, the aircraft was about 13 metres above the glide so the crew increased the rate of descent by 6,6 metres per second, causing the aircraft to descend below the glide at a distance of 1,350 metres from the runway threshold. The aircraft was stabilized at a height of 12 metres at a distance of 290 metres from the runway threshold when it encountered strong winds. The aircraft nosed down while its speed dropped from 260 to 248 km/h and struck the ground short of runway threshold with a positive acceleration of 3,45 g. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All seven crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Vaalwater

Date & Time: May 7, 1998 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
3D-DRV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Durban – Bulawayo – Harare
MSN:
2302
YOM:
1990
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at the altitude of 13,000 feet on the leg from Durban to Bulawayo, the crew informed ATC about smoke spreading in the cockpit and was cleared to reduce his altitude. Shortly later, while flying at low altitude, the pilots open the cockpit windows to allow the smoke to evacuate and elected to make an emergency landing at Vaalwater Aerodrome which offers a grassy runway of 780 metres long and 10 metres wide. After touchdown, the aircraft struck a tree on the left side of the runway, cartwheeled, lost a landing gear and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The smoke that spread in the cockpit was coming from behind the captain's seat as a result of a short circuit in the electrical system supplying the weather radar.

Crash of a Boeing 737-282 in Andoas: 75 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1998 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAP-351
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Iquitos - Andoas
MSN:
23041
YOM:
1983
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
80
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
75
Captain / Total flying hours:
16901
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12066
Aircraft flight hours:
37129
Aircraft flight cycles:
23935
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Iquitos to Andoas on behalf of the Occidental Petroleum Company, carrying eight crew members and 80 employees of this company and their subcontractors. While descending to Andoas-Alferez FAP Alfredo Vladimir Sara Bauer Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rains falls and limited visibility. On final, the aircraft descended below the glide, collided with trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located 5 km short of runway 12. First rescuers arrived on site three hours later. Thirteen occupants included two crew members were seriously injured while 75 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For undetermined reasons, the crew descended below the minimum safe altitude during an approach in IMC conditions until the aircraft impacted the ground.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Lanseria

Date & Time: May 4, 1998
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-JRR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
421C-0141
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lanseria Airport, the crew encountered technical problems and elected to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.

Ground fire of an Ilyushin II-62M in Istanbul

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1998 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YR-IRD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Istanbul - Almaty
MSN:
47 27 5 4 6
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
64
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At Istanbul-Atatürk Airport, while preparing for takeoff, one of the engine caught fire and exploded. All 73 occupants (64 passengers and nine crew members) evacuated the aircraft and were uninjured. A fire erupted, destroying the rear part of the airplane.
Probable cause:
Engine fire and explosion.

Crash of an Embraer C-95B Bandeirante in Resende: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1998 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2321
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Resende - Resende
MSN:
110-433
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Resende Airport with eight paratroopers and three crew members on board. In altitude, the skydivers bailed out and the crew initiated a descent to return to Resende. On short final, the crew aborted the approach and completed a low pass over the runway. Then the aircraft collided with power cables and crashed near a farm located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. It was reported that the right engine was at idle and its propeller was feathered at the time of impact while the left engine was at full power for unknown reasons.