Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2T in Most Pyssa: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1996 at 1302 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-40309
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Koslan – Vazgort – Puchkoma – Chuprova – Vazgort – Most Pyssa – Koslan
MSN:
1G221-39
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
410
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While parked at Most Pyssa for a short period of time (a 20 minutes stop), on a flight from Vazgort to Koslan, weather conditions deteriorated with snow falls. The crew failed to remove the snow from the aircraft prior to departure. After takeoff, while climbing, the crew initiated a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The copilot survived while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to takeoff without proceeding to a pre-departure cleaning of the aircraft that was contaminated with snow. At low height and speed, the aircraft stalled during the first turn and crashed.

Crash of a Grumman S-2E Tracker in Bahía Blanca

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
0703/2-AS-24
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bahía Blanca - Bahía Blanca
MSN:
325
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airbase. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed on its belly and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) in New Bern: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1996 at 1139 LT
Registration:
N8239J
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New Bern - New Bern
MSN:
60-0643-7961204
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
382
Captain / Total hours on type:
5.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1888
Circumstances:
The airplane was over gross weight at takeoff but within Weight and Balance at the time of the accident. Witnesses observed the airplane flying low with the landing gear retracted over a wooded area then observed the airplane bank to the left and pitch down. The airplane then pitched nose up and entered what was described as a flat spin to the left. The airplane descended and impacted the ground upright with the landing gear retracted and the flaps symmetrically extended 6 degrees. Examination of the flight control systems, and engines revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. A cabin door ajar indicating light was not illuminated at impact but the gear warning light was illuminated at impact. The pilot recently purchased the aircraft and only accumulated a total of 1 hour 23 minutes during 6 training flights. He accumulated an additional 3 hours 37 minutes after completion of the training flights while flying with other qualified pilots. The accident flight was the first flight in the make and model while flying with no other multiengine-rated pilot aboard.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed (VMC). Contributing to the accident was his lack of total experience in kind of aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Pawtucket

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1996 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N36JM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nantucket – Pawtucket
MSN:
340A-0749
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3213
Captain / Total hours on type:
153.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2058
Circumstances:
The pilot was conducting the localizer approach to runway 15 when the aircraft overran the runway and struck an obstacle. According to the pilot, a loss of power occurred in both engines as he attempted to do a missed approach, and the airspeed subsequently decreased from 105 to 80 knots. The pilot reported that he pushed the nose over to avoid a stall, broke out of the clouds over the mid-point of the runway, landed long and continued off the end of the runway into terrain and a tower structure. A witness reported the 'aircraft broke out of the clouds just above the trees north of runway 5 and west of runway 15. Reportedly, the aircraft as being banked from a right to left to get aligned with runway 5, flaps appeared to be up, and the gear was down. The witness said the engines sounded to be at idle and at high rpm, and the aircraft appeared to be 50 feet above the ground at midfield when it went out of sight behind hangar.' The weather observed at the time of the accident was in part: ceiling 100 feet overcast, visibility 0.5 mile with fog and rain. The published landing minimums for the approach was ceiling 400 feet and visibility 0.75 mile. Recorded radar data of the flight indicated a descent below the minimum descent altitude at a constant airspeed. Both engines started immediately and ran during a postaccident check of the aircraft.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to comply with the published instrument approach procedure, by continuing the ILS approach below the decision height, rather than performing a missed approach; and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point for the continued landing. Factors relating to the accident were: weather below approach minimums, wet runway, and hydroplaning conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Ust-Nera

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-47356
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yakutsk - Khandyga - Ust-Nera
MSN:
67310605
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
SKH017
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Ust-Nera Airport, following an uneventful flight from Khandyga, the crew mistook the new runway 85 (still under construction) for the operational runway 75 in poor visibility. When ATC realized this, they twice ordered the crew to go around but the crew failed to comply and touched down on runway 85. During the landing run, at a speed of 158 km/h, the captain attempted to go around but the check pilot aborted this attempt some seconds later. The confused flight engineer retracted the landing gear and the aircraft came to rest on its belly, suffering substantial damage. All 5 crew and 24 passengers escaped unhurt.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Poor approach and landing planning,
- The crew descended below MDA without visual contact with the runway,
- The crew failed to comply with ATC instructions,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The flight engineer mistakenly raised the landing gear while the aircraft was still on ground.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Gods River

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1996 at 1423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FHOZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Winnipeg – Gods Lake Narrows – Gods River – Winnipeg
MSN:
TC-283
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
PAG207
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gods River Airport runway 27, the right main gear struck a snow berm located 105 metres short of runway threshold. The crew continued the approach and the aircraft landed 99 metres past the runway threshold. On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid fore few dozen metres then veered off runway to the right and came to rest. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Flores: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1996 at 0810 LT
Registration:
TG-TPA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Guatemala - Flores
MSN:
110-313
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The approach to Flores-Santa Elena was completed in poor weather conditions. While descending at an altitude of 900 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km from the runway threshold. All 14 occupants were killed, 13 citizen from Guatemala and one Mexican.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Nizhnevartovsk

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-11851
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4 020 03
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the aircraft lost height and struck the ground short of runway threshold. The undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft bounced before coming to rest few dozen metres further. All 15 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was nine tons above the maximum landing weight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in San Juan

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1996 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N37AP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - San Juan
MSN:
4430
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4242
Captain / Total hours on type:
1256.00
Aircraft flight hours:
16179
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 09, a climbing left turn was made. At about 1,000 feet, the #2 (right) engine backfired, emitted flames, and lost power. The captain instructed the copilot to feather the #2 propeller, which the copilot initiated with the feathering button. When the captain requested gear and flap extension, the copilot released the feathering button which did not remain engaged, contrary to system design. The airplane had arrived on a left downwind abeam the landing area at 500 feet and 95 to 100 knots. The captain turned toward the runway, then he ordered the gear and flaps to be retracted and initiated a go-around by increasing the left throttle without increasing propeller speed. A right turn was then made, and the airplane eventually crashed about 3 miles from the runway. During a postaccident examination, the propellers were found unfeathered, and the right engine fuel selector was in the main tank position. The emergency procedure listed the best single engine speed as 85 knots. The procedure for engine fire/failure was to feather the propeller and to move the respective fuel selector to 'OFF.' Examination revealed the number 11 cylinder on the right engine was cracked. There was evidence of fire, adjacent to the cylinder on the cowling, which consisted of scorching, sooting, and a burned through area of the underside of the right engine cowling. The copilot indicated a previous problem with the feathering system, but maintenance records did not contain any previous discrepancies regarding this anomaly.
Probable cause:
failure of the #11 cylinder on the right (#2) engine, which resulted in an in-flight fire and loss of power in that engine; and a malfunction/failure of the #2 feathering system, which led to a subsequent forced landing before the flight crew could return to the airport. A factor related to the accident was failure of the flight crew to increase the left (#1) engine rpm (in accordance with emergency procedures) after loss of power in the #2 engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Gulfstream GIV in Chicago: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1996 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N23AC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chicago - Burbank
MSN:
1047
YOM:
1988
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
17086
Captain / Total hours on type:
496.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2938
Aircraft flight cycles:
1219
Circumstances:
The flightcrew of a Gulfstream G-IV began taking off on Runway 34 with a crosswind from 280° at 24 knots. About 1,340 feet after the takeoff roll began, the airplane veered left 5.14° to a heading of 335°. It departed the runway, and tire marks indicated no braking action was applied. One of the pilots said, "Reverse," then one said, "No, no, no, go, go, go, go, go." The airplane traversed a shallow ditch that paralleled the runway, which resulted in separation of both main landing gear, the left and right flaps, and a piece of left aileron control cable from the airplane. The airplane became airborne after it encountered a small berm at the departure end of the runway. Reportedly, the left wing fuel tank exploded. The main wreckage was located about 6,650 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. Examination of the airplane indicated no preexisting anomalies of the engines, flight controls, or aircraft systems. The Nose Wheel Steering Select Control Switch was found in the "Handwheel Only" position, and not in the "Normal" position. The pilot-in-command (PIC) routinely flew with the switch in the "Normal" position. The PIC and copilot (pilot-not-flying) comprised a mix crew in accordance with an Interchange Agreement between two companies which operated G-IV's. The companies' operation manuals and the Interchange Agreement did not address mixed crews, procedural differences, or aircraft difference training.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll in a gusty crosswind, his failure to abort the takeoff, and failure of the copilot to adequately monitor and/or take sufficient remedial action to help avoid the occurrence. Factors relating to the accident included the gusty crosswind condition, the drainage ditch, the flight crew's inadequate preflight, the Nose Wheel Steering Control Select Switch in the "Handwheel Only" position, and the lack of standardization of the two companies' operations manuals and Interchange Agreement.
Final Report: