Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander in Rio Sidra: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HP-986PS
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Panama City – Rio Sidra
MSN:
178
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport at 0643LT on a flight to Rio Sidra, carrying nine passengers and one pilot. On approach to Rio Sidra, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the aircraft struck the ground 6,5 km short of runway and crashed 62 minutes after its departure. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed, among them four US citizens.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Harare

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
801
Flight Type:
MSN:
293
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Harare Airport. Crew fate unknown. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in 1997.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Trinidad

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-2321
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Trinidad - La Paz
MSN:
AC-643
YOM:
1986
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 20 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Watertown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1997 at 1817 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N5087Q
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Watertown – Marshall
MSN:
402B-0565
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot landed at Watertown, loaded and off-loaded cargo, and departed without getting out of the airplane. A witness reported seeing the airplane over the runway at an altitude of about 50 feet agl. The airplane was described to be bouncing and buffeting. Another witness reported the weather as overcast with occasional snow flakes. The airplane then descended, impacted the terrain and exploded. Post accident inspection revealed a 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick ridge of rime ice along the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer. Pieces of arc shaped ice were located along the wreckage path. Inspection of the wreckage failed to reveal any preimpact failure/malfunction of the engine or airframe which would have prevented flight.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to perform an aircraft preflight and to remove the ice which had accumulated on the airframe. A factor involved in the accident was the icing weather conditions which existed and the ice which accumulated on the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 in DuPage: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1997 at 1705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N999WB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
DuPage - DuPage
MSN:
530
YOM:
1971
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1175
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4094
Copilot / Total hours on type:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
6275
Circumstances:
The airplane departed runway 1L and radar data indicated the airplane maintained about a 110 knot ground speed for 37 seconds as it climbed to 1,400 feet msl (642 feet agl) with a 008 degree heading. The last radar 14 seconds later indicated the airplane's heading was 342 degrees and had a 130 knot ground speed. The winds were 290/11. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low and slow, and then it made a turn like a "barrel roll" to the left before impacting the ground. Examination of the engines and airframe revealed no pre-existent anomalies. The left and right propellers exhibited leading edge damage and chordwise abrasions. The pilot had a total of about 1,175 flight hours with about 250 hours in the type and model aircraft. The copilot had 4,094 total hours, but had 10 hours of turbine time and no flight time in the type and model of aircraft. The pilot had indicated he was practicing simulated single engine failures. The gear was fully retracted. The trim settings were set for a right engine out situation. The flap selector was set to "UP" flaps, but the flaps were found in transit at approximately 2 degrees of flaps. The Airplane Flight Manual indicated that during "Engine Failure in Takeoff-Gear Fully Retracted" stated that the required airspeed before selecting flaps to 5 degrees was 140 KCAS. The Pilot's Operating Handbook stated the flaps take approximately 31 seconds to retract from 20 to 0 flaps, or 21 seconds to retract from 5 to 0 flaps.
Probable cause:
The pilot in command failed to maintain control of the aircraft. A factor was the lack of experience of the pilot and copilot in the type and model of aircraft. An additional factor was the pilot did not follow the proper procedure when the flaps were raised before 140 knots was attained during a simulated single engine failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Elkins

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1997 at 1340 LT
Registration:
N1348T
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Elkins - Orlando
MSN:
421C-1059
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Captain / Total hours on type:
60.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3593
Circumstances:
The pilot/owner and a flight instructor had flown in to pick-up passengers. The owner was not multiengine rated and was receiving instruction from the instructor. The airplane was fueled and two adults and three children were boarded about 1 hour later. The owner was the flying pilot in the left seat. The owner stated that the 4,500 foot long runway was covered with 2 1/2 to 3 inches of snow and slush. He further stated that during the takeoff roll, 'The snow was so bad we could not get off the ground...' The pilot estimated that he aborted the takeoff at 100 mph, the braking action was zero, and the airplane went off the end of the runway. According to a witness, the five passengers arrived with 'lots of heavy bags.' After the accident, the baggage was removed before it could be weighed. An estimated airplane takeoff weight of 7,856 pounds was computed without baggage, based upon weights from the airplane weight and balance form, the police report, and FAA records. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the maximum takeoff weight was published at 7,560 pounds.
Probable cause:
The flight instructor's failure to identify an unsafe runway condition and his delay in aborting the takeoff. Contributing was the aircraft's maximum takeoff weight exceeded, and a snow covered runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 near Bani Walid

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-DBO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Siirt - Tripoli
MSN:
10513
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Siirt on a cloud-seeding flight to Tripoli. It is believed that the crew encountered technical problems enroute and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a sandy area located 15 km south of Bani Walid and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Sylhet

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1997 at 2236 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S2-ACJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dhaka - Sylhet
MSN:
11180
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
BG609
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
85
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Sylhet Airport, the crew encountered foggy conditions. Due to poor visibility, the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the approach and runway lights so the decision was taken to initiate a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was abandoned for the same reason. The captain insisted and elected to make another approach. On final, the aircraft descended below the MDA and struck the ground 3 km short of runway threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft came to rest in a waterlogged area, broken in two. All 89 occupants were rescued, among them 50 were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent below MDA without visual contact with the ground until the aircraft impacted terrain.

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in Colorado Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1997 at 0626 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N100BE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eden Prairie - Colorado Springs
MSN:
BB-221
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3400
Captain / Total hours on type:
65.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8651
Circumstances:
The pilot was cleared for an ILS DME approach to runway 17L. During the final stage of the approach, the aircraft entered fog and disappeared from view of the control tower personnel. Radar and radio communications were lost also. After searching for 31 minutes, the aircraft was found by airport operations personnel over half way down the runway and 600 feet east of the runway. There was no evidence the aircraft touched down on the runway. The aircraft was configured with the landing gear up and the flaps deployed. Missed approach procedures require the flaps and landing gear to be retracted after initiating the procedure. The decision
height for the approach is 6,384 feet msl (200 feet above ground level) and the required RVR for a 14 CFR Part 135 flight to commence and approach is 2400 (1/2 mile). When on the glide slope, the decision height is 0.4 miles from the runway touchdown zone. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to follow IFR Procedures and maintain the minimum descent altitude (MDA). A related factor was fog.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1997 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-75554
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Johannesburg - Bujumbura
MSN:
185 0084 04
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
RMY202
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
18766
Aircraft flight cycles:
7040
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll un runway 03L at Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, the pilot-in-command started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The captain decided to reject takeoff and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck a concrete block, rolled for 200 metres then lost its left main gear and engine n°1 before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was five tons above MTOW while the CofG was too far forward, out of the envelope. In such conditions, the aircraft was not properly configured and a takeoff was impossible.