Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Khanty-Mansiysk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1996 at 2044 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-88257
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tyumen - Khanty-Mansiysk
MSN:
9 71 12 52
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
21765
Aircraft flight cycles:
16947
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Tyumen, the aircraft was approaching Khanty-Mansiysk Airport by night and poor weather conditions due to snow falls and a visibility limited to 5,300 metres with a cloud base at 400 metres. On final approach, the aircraft descended below the MDA when it landed at a speed of 190 km/h on an helipad located 159 metres to the left of the runway and 950 metres from its threshold. The aircraft collided with three parked helicopters and crashed. Both pilots, a third crew member and two passengers were killed. The aircraft as well as three helicopter registered RA-22313, RA-25144 and RA-25939 were destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew did not have sufficient information about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination,
- The crew decided to continue the approach in a visibility that was below minimums,
- The power of the ground light system located at the helipad was higher than the runway light system, in conditions of limited visibility, which caused a wrong perception of the crew.

Crash of a Boeing 707-372C in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1996 at 1422 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-LGP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago de Chile - Buenos Aires
MSN:
20077
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
LD5025
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires, carrying eight crew members and a load of 30 tons of fish. On final approach to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport runway 11, at a speed of 151 knots, the crew quickly extended flaps to 14°, 25°, 40° and finally 50°, causing the aircraft to nose down and enter a rapid descent until it struck the ground 750 metres short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the aircraft broke in three and caught fire. Both pilots were killed while six other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Erroneous setting of the air brakes at the same time as the flaps were fully extended during the short final approach,
- Erroneous planning during the descent and approach,
- Failure to use the experience of a similar previous event,
- Insufficient attention to the critical situation in the aircraft operating documentation,
- Failure to conduct a briefing prior to the approach and descent,
- Non-use of the LCP during the entire approach maneuver,
- Insufficient training in CRM.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Puvirnituq

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1996 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GKFS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Grande - Puvirnituq
MSN:
TC-215E
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
PRO450
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
1050.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
350
Circumstances:
Propair flight 450, a Swearingen SA226TC (serial number TC-215E) with 13 persons on board, was on a charter flight from La Grande Rivière, Quebec, to Puvirnituq, Quebec. The co-pilot was in the right-hand seat and was flying the aircraft. Following an instrument approach to runway 19, the aircraft broke through the cloud layer and the co-pilot switched to visual for the final approach. As soon as the nose gear touched down on landing, the aircraft veered left. The co-pilot applied full right rudder and throttled back to GROUND IDLE in preparation for reversing thrust. A short time later, the pilot-in-command took the controls of the aircraft and left the throttle levers on GROUND IDLE. He then observed that the aircraft was drifting further to the left and that, even when he applied full right rudder, he was unable to correct the drift. As a last resort, he pressed the PARK button for the nosewheel steering system, but the aircraft continued its course toward the runway edge and crashed at the bottom of the embankment. The investigation established that the aircraft left the runway about 2,000 feet from the threshold after turning left 90 degrees relative to the runway centre line. The nose gear and main landing gear separated from the aircraft when the aircraft fell from the runway shoulder to the bottom of the embankment.
Probable cause:
The aircraft left the runway during the landing roll because the nosewheel was probably deflected left, for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing to the accident were a lack of communication in the cockpit and the actions taken by the crew to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Charlo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1996 at 1213 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N744W
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port-Menier - Gaspé - Bangor
MSN:
31-7952246
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
3600
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6041
Circumstances:
The aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain (hereafter referred to as a Chieftain), took off at 1113 Atlantic daylight saving time on a charter flight from Port-Menier, Quebec, to Bangor, Maine, with one pilot and seven passengers on board. As the aircraft was approaching Charlo, New Brunswick, the pilot reported to Moncton Air Traffic Control Centre that his aircraft had a rough-running engine, and that he would be making an emergency landing at Charlo airport. While the pilot was apparently manoeuvring to land the aircraft, it crashed three miles west of the runway, in the community of Eel River Crossing. All eight occupants of the aircraft received fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
There was a loss of power from the right engine, and the pilot did not conserve altitude or configure the aircraft for maximum performance following the loss of power. Control of the aircraft was lost, probably as the pilot was attempting to intercept the ILS for runway 13 during a low-level turn. Contributing factors were the overweight condition of the aircraft and the lack of in-flight emergency procedures training received by the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 685 in Eden

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1996 at 1700 LT
Registration:
N58RG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Eden - Eden
MSN:
685-12047
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
993
Captain / Total hours on type:
5.00
Circumstances:
Prior to takeoff from a private turf airstrip (1400'x 90'), the pilot adjusted the left engine's fuel pump. On takeoff roll the left engine began surging. The pilot continued the takeoff. The pilot lifted off at approximately 1000' and pulled back on the yoke to get over the trees on the left side of the airstrip. The airplane drifted to the left. The pilot said he stalled the airplane and should have pushed the yoke forward to gain airspeed. The Pilot Operating Handbook indicted a takeoff roll of approximately 2,500 feet was needed on a dry paved surface.
Probable cause:
A partial loss of engine power due to improper adjustment of the fuel pump by an unqualified person (pilot-in-command) and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which resulted in his selection of unsuitable terrain for the attempted takeoff. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane and the trees were factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in Hampton Court

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8R-GGR
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
230
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing in a wet runway surface, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in October 1996.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control after landing was the consequence of hydroplaning.

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Itaguazurenda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1996 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3333D
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Itaguazurenda - Itaguazurenda
MSN:
LJ-259
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a local post maintenance flight with one pilot and two mechanics on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 210 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. All three occupants were killed. According to the representatives of the owner of the airplane, recent maintenance had been performed on the engines, propellers, and the nose landing gear.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Cuiabá

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CP-1516
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Paz - Cuiabá
MSN:
TC-292
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Cuiabá-Marechal Rondon Airport, the crew started the braking procedure. After few seconds, the crew deactivated the reverse thrust system when control was lost. The aircraft veered off runway to the right, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen metres further. All 15 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-2 Skyservant in Taraira

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1996 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3982
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mitú – La Pedrera
MSN:
4169
YOM:
1973
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20000
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4465
Copilot / Total hours on type:
300
Aircraft flight hours:
3217
Circumstances:
En route from Mitú to La Pedrera, weather conditions deteriorated. As the crew was unable to receive a last weather bulletin for the destination airport, he decided to divert to Taraira. Following a waiting period on the ground, the crew decided to takeoff but the soft runway surface was wet. Unable to gain sufficient speed, the crew abandoned the takeoff procedure but the aircraft overran and came to rest. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Decision by the crew to abort takeoff from an inappropriate field due to the wet conditions and soft surface which produced higher coefficients of friction and a lower acceleration factor that prevented reaching takeoff speed after which the crew determined to discontinue the takeoff without sufficient stopping distance, which led to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Lucapa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-11101
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Lucapa
MSN:
01 347 703
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Luanda to Lucapa on behalf of Hellier International Ltd, carrying 13 passengers, six crew members and a load of 12,6 tons of fish. After touchdown by night at Lucapa Airport, the crew started the braking procedure when the runway light system failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that overran and came to rest against a house located 60 metres further. Six passengers trapped in the cargo hold were killed as well as one people in the house.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the runway light system at Lucapa Airport was functioning intermittently. Also, the airport was closed to traffic at night.