Crash of a Beechcraft 1900D in Bir Kalait

Date & Time: Oct 28, 2012
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
TT-ABB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
N'Djamena - Bir Kalait
MSN:
UE-406
YOM:
2000
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed N'Djamena on a flight to Bir Kalait, carrying 15 passengers and two pilots, among them a delegation of the Presidency. On short final, the aircraft named 'Am Djerass' was too low and struck the ground short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off. The aircraft slid on its belly for about 200 metres before coming to rest in a sandy area with all propeller blades separated. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but all 17 occupants escaped uninjured, among the Idriss Déby, President of the Tchad Republic who was flying to Bir Kalait to take part to the Peace and Development Forum for the Borku-Ennedi-Tibesti Region.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Yola

Date & Time: Oct 25, 2012 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-BMJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jalingo – Yola
MSN:
208B-2098
YOM:
2009
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
999
Circumstances:
On the 25th of October, 2012 at 17: 48 h, a Cessna Caravan 208B, 5N-BMJ, departed Jalingo for Yola on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan with four Persons-On-Board (one crew and three passengers). At 18:00 h, the Airport Manager stationed at Jalingo by Taraba State Government, called Yola Control Tower (CT) by phone to advise that the aircraft had departed Jalingo for Yola. At 18:25 h the pilot reported field in sight. CT then advised him to “continue approach and report final, wind calm” and the pilot acknowledged “will continue approach, to report final”. At 18:27 h CT had the aircraft in sight and advised the pilot to report “final, wind calm”, the pilot acknowledged. At 18:30 h, CT lost visual contact with 5N-BMJ and tried to raise her on radio but there was no response. At 18:37 h, information was received from witnesses, regarding a possible plane crash at Yola-Numan road close to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot. This information was subsequently passed to the fire watch room. Rescue team and other security personnel were mobilized to the location of the crash. However, before the arrival of the rescue team from the airport, the locals had rescued the occupants from the wreckage. The occupants were subsequently taken to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola for medical treatment. The accident occurred at dusk. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The Bureau could not conclusively determine the cause of this accident; however, the investigation identified the following factors:
- The pilot was not certified, qualified and not competent to fly the aircraft.
- The decision of the pilot to operate a VFR flight after sunset.
- Inadequate oversight by the Regulatory Authority.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B90 King Air in Sturtevant

Date & Time: Oct 22, 2012 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N821DA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jackson - Sturtevant
MSN:
LJ-406
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2331
Captain / Total hours on type:
1425.00
Aircraft flight hours:
12637
Circumstances:
The aircraft collided with a fence and a ditch when it overran runway 8R (2,272 feet by 38 feet, asphalt) while landing at the Sylvania Airport (C89), Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot was not injured and his passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained damage to its fuselage and both wings. The airplane was registered to Direct Action Aviation LLC, and was operated by Skydive Midwest. The accident flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Jackson County Airport-Reynolds Field (JXN), Jackson, Michigan, about 1800. The pilot reported that the landing approach was normal and when the airplane crossed the runway threshold it floated and he pulled the engine power levers to the stops. He stated that although he did not remember the airplane bouncing, his passenger told him that it had. He pulled the power levers to reverse, but there was no immediate reverse thrust. He applied brakes and felt the airplane accelerate. He recognized that he would not be able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway and attempted to steer it to the north. The airplane left the runway, impacted two ditches and came to rest on a highway. The pilot stated that he should have recognized that braking action would be significantly reduced with the possibility of hydroplaning, that pulling the power levers to the stops before touchdown induced a lag in realization of reverse thrust, and that he should have executed a go-around when the airplane floated before landing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. At 1853, weather conditions reported at the Kenosha regional Airport (ENW), located 6 miles south of the accident site, included heavy rain.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to continue the landing after touching down long and on a wet runway that reduced the airplane’s braking capability, which resulted in an overrun.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB in Shindand

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2012 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK-12112
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
01 347 907
YOM:
1971
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight to the Shindand AFB, carrying a load of 4'700 pounds of voting documents intended to the US soldiers based at Shindand AFB. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard and bounced. On the second touchdown, the left main gear was torn off. The aircraft slid for about 1,750 metres then veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a drainage ditch. While all six occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by impact and a post impact fire. US Federal Voting Assistance Program published a notice on 24OCT2012, informing that mail consisted of voting documents for US soldiers covering the US Presidential Election of 06NOV2012.

Ground fire of a Boeing 737-8KN in Antalya

Date & Time: Oct 14, 2012 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-TJK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Antalya - Trondheim
MSN:
35794/2794
YOM:
2009
Flight number:
CAI773
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
189
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the push back process, the pilots noticed smoke spreading in the cockpit and in the cabin and stopped the aircraft. All 196 occupants were evacuated but some were standing on wings and jumped down to the tarmac. 27 passengers were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to smoke.
Probable cause:
It is believed that a short circuit occurred in the cockpit panel, on the captain side, most probably in the vicinity of the oxygen system.

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F in Campinas

Date & Time: Oct 13, 2012 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N988AR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Campinas
MSN:
48434/476
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
CWC425
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12900
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5198
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1368
Circumstances:
The airplane took off from Miami International Airport (KMIA), destined for Viracopos Airport (SBKP), with two pilots and a mechanic on board, on a non-regular cargo transport flight. The flight was uneventful up to the moment its landing in SBKP. On the approach for landing on runway 15, the crew performed the IFR ILS Z procedure. The weather conditions were VMC, with the wind coming from 140º at 19kt. When the aircraft was granted clearance to land, the wind strength was 20kt, gusting up to 29kt. The copilot was the Pilot Flying (PF), and the captain was the Pilot Monitoring (PM) at the moment of landing. When the aircraft touched down on the runway after the flare, the left main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to skid on the runway for approximately 800 meters before stopping. There was substantial damage to the left main gear assembly, to the left wing, and left engine. The aircraft stopped within the runway limits. All three crew members were uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the “the landing gear failed due to overload in the cylinder structure”. The fracture started in the rear section of the cylinder in a connection hole which served as a tension concentration point, and ended in the front part of the cylinder with its breakage into two parts. Following a failure of the right main gear upon landing in Montevideo on 20 October 2009, the right main landing gear was replaced by VARIG Engineering & Maintenance (VEM), but the organization responsible for the research of damage, the specification of the services necessary for the restoration of airworthiness, and the provision of the services that enabled the restoration of the aircraft to an airworthy condition was not identified. The same aircraft parts were subjected to metallurgical analysis at the Boeing Long Beach Materials, Processing and Physics [MP&P] Laboratories, in Huntington Beach, California, USA; and the technical report issued by Boeing highlighted that in one of the points of origin of the failure, the analysis had identified characteristics similar to a pre-crack point, which would have begun earlier, probably due to overload. In the tasks that led to the restoration of the aircraft airworthiness after the accident in Uruguay in 2009 (Hard-Landing), and also in subsequent periodic inspections, the existence of pre-crack traces resulting from a previous overload condition may not have been identified, something that could have resulted in a point of stress concentration.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beriev Be-12PS Chayka at Kacha NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 2012 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
18 yellow
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kacha NAS - Kacha NAS
MSN:
3602903
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission off the Crimea coast on behalf of the Black Sea Fleet. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to return to Kacha NAS. On short final, the airplane descended fast and landed hard, got airborne and climbed to several meters before stalling and crashing near the runway, bursting into flames. The captain, the copilot and the navigator were killed and the radio operator was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire. The antisubmarine seaplane was also registered RF-12008.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in Saint John's: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 2012 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP-MON
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint John’s – Montserrat
MSN:
82
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
MNT107
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
710
Captain / Total hours on type:
510.00
Aircraft flight hours:
22064
Aircraft flight cycles:
55851
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating a VFR scheduled commercial air transport flight from VC Bird International Airport, Antigua (TAPA), to John A Osborne Airport, Montserrat (TRPG). The accident occurred during the aircraft’s fourth sector of the day. Prior to the accident flight, another pilot had flown two sectors in it, from John A Osborne to VC Bird and return, before going off duty. The accident pilot reported for duty at 1130 hrs, completed pre-flight preparations, and operated the aircraft to VC Bird. After the aircraft’s arrival at VC Bird, the airport closed to VFR traffic because of cumulonimbus activity and heavy rain. The airport re-opened for VFR operations shortly before the aircraft’s departure. A cumulonimbus cloud was present on the approach to Runway 07, and although the surface wind was westerly, Runway 07 was in use for departures. On board the aircraft were the pilot, three passengers, and bags weighing 150 lb. The fuel load on departure was 65 USG of AVGAS. The takeoff mass was shown on the load sheet as 5,540 lb, which was below the structural maximum takeoff weight of 6,600 lb; the performance-regulated takeoff weight at the ambient temperature of 24 °C was greater than the structural limit. The passengers and pilot travelled in a bus from the airport terminal to the aircraft. The passengers boarded the aircraft, and the baggage was loaded into the compartment behind the rear-most seats. The pilot then boarded the aircraft. The pilot was not observed to carry out a drain of the fuel system’s water traps (the operations manual did not stipulate that a drain check should be carried out). The pilot called the VC Bird Ground Movement Control (GMC) controller for permission to start engines, and was instructed to wait while the controller contacted Montserrat ATC to enquire about the weather there. The pilot then asked for surface wind information for VC Bird and was informed it was from 240° at 10 kts. The controller gave permission for start and passed the Montserrat weather, which was suitable for the operation. The pilot was instructed to taxi to holding position Bravo. The pilot contacted the Tower controller and was instructed to enter, backtrack, and line up on Runway 07. The controller described the weather observed from the Tower to the pilot, and the pilot requested a left-hand turn-out after departure. The surface wind was transmitted as from 270° at 10 kts and the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. The aircraft entered the runway at Bravo but did not backtrack. No power checks were carried out (other evidence indicated that power checks were routinely not carried out other than on each pilot’s first flight of the day). The aircraft took off, and the early part of the climb appeared normal. Analysis of the eye witness reports, and consideration of their locations and fields of view, led to a deduction that this normal climb continued to a height of between 200 and 300 ft above the ground. The aircraft then appeared to ‘sink’, losing a small amount of height without yawing or rolling, before yawing to the right, then rolling to the right, and pitching nose down into an incipient spin to the right. The surviving passenger recalled that the stall warning sounded, and its accompanying red light (which was mounted on the right-hand side of the instrument panel and in his line of sight) illuminated throughout this period and until impact. Witnesses described that the (incipient) spin continued until the aircraft struck the ground. ATC staff in the visual control room activated the airport’s crash alarm. The rescue and fire-fighting service (RFFS) responded promptly from their station; the crew of one RFFS vehicle, working on the airport, observed the accident and responded directly to it. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured on impact. Another passenger succumbed to her injuries before she could be extricated from the wreckage, and the third passenger, who had sustained serious injuries, was taken to hospital.
Probable cause:
The investigation identified the following causal factors:
1. Significant rainfall, and anomalies in the aircraft’s fuel filler neck and cap, led to the presence of water in the right-hand fuel tank,
2. Shortly after takeoff, the water in the right-hand fuel tank entered the engine fuel system causing the engine to stop running,
3. Control of the aircraft was not retained after the right-hand engine stopped.
Contributing factors:
1. No pre-flight water drain check was carried out; such a check would have allowed the presence of water in the right-hand fuel tank to be detected and corrective action taken.
2. It is possible that performance-reducing windshear, encountered during the downwind departure, contributed to a reduction in airspeed shortly before the aircraft stalled.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO228-202 in Kathmandu: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 2012 at 0618 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AHA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Lukla
MSN:
8123
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
SIT601
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
8308
Captain / Total hours on type:
7112.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
772
Copilot / Total hours on type:
519
Circumstances:
A Dornier 228 aircraft, registration 9N-AHA, was planned to operate a flight from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu, to Tensing/Hillary Airport, Lukla with 16 passengers and 3 crews. The Commander was the Pilot Flying (PF) which was in accordance with common practice for flight crews operating this route. The 0020Z METAR for TIA reported calm wind, 3,000 m visibility in mist, scattered cloud at 2,000 ft AAL, broken cloud at 10,000 ft AAL, a temperature of 19° C and a QNH of 1017 HPa. ATC broadcast a change in the QNH to 1018 HPa at 0029 hrs. At 0028 hrs (0613 am), the Co-pilot asked ATC for taxi clearance and 9N-AHA taxied towards Intersection 2 for Runway 20. While taxiing towards the runway the flight crew carried out the before takeoff checklist during which the Commander confirmed that Flaps 1 was set and all four booster pumps were ON. There was no emergency brief or discussion about the reference speeds to be used during the takeoff. The flight crew changed frequency and contacted the tower controller who gave them clearance to enter Runway 20 from the intersection and wait for clearance to takeoff. The Commander asked for the line-up checks to be completed during which the Speed Lever was selected to HIGH. After lining up, the Commander said "THERE IS A BIRD" and, three seconds later "I WILL TAKE FLAPS TWO" which was acknowledged by the co-pilot. The aircraft was cleared for departure and began its takeoff run at 0032 hrs. Two seconds after beginning the takeoff roll, the Commander said "WATCH OUT THE BIRD". The Co-pilot called "50 KNOTS " as the aircraft approached 50 kt and the Commander replied "CHECK". Two seconds later, the co-pilot called "BIRD CLEAR SIR" as the aircraft accelerated through 58 kt. Approaching 70 kt, approximately 13 kt below V1 and Vr , the first officer called "VEE ONE ROTATE". The aircraft began to rotate but did not lift off the ground and the nose was briefly lowered again. As the aircraft reached 86 kt, it lifted off the ground and the landing gear was raised immediately. As the aircraft began to climb, it accelerated to 89 kt over approximately 2 seconds. It continued to climb to 100 ft above the runway over the next 11 seconds but, during this time, the speed decreased to 77 kt. The aircraft then flew level for 14 seconds during which time the following occurred: the speed decreased to 69 kt; the air traffic controller asked "ANY TECHNICAL?" to which the pilot replied "[uncertain]….DUE BIRD HIT"; it's heading changed slowly from 200 °M to approximately 173 °M; and the stall warning was triggered for three seconds as the aircraft decelerated through 71 kt. Two seconds after the stall warning ended, it was triggered again for approximately six seconds with the airspeed at 69 kt. The aircraft began a gentle descent at 69 kt with the stall warning sounding and the rate of turn to the left increased rapidly. It departed controlled flight, most probably left wing low, and crashed into a small open area 420 m south-east of the end of Runway 20. A runway inspection found the remains of a bird, identified as a "Black Kite", at a position 408 m from Intersection 2. No bird strike was reported in relation to any other departure.
Probable cause:
Causal Factors:
The investigation identified the following causal factors:
1. During level flight phase of the aircraft, the drag on the aircraft was greater than the power available and the aircraft decelerated. That resulted in excessive drag in such critical phase of ascent lowering the required thrust. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the reduced thrust.
2. The flight crew did not maintain the airspeed above the stall speed and there was insufficient height available to recover when the aircraft departed controlled flight.
Contributory Factors:
The investigation identified the following contributory factors:
1. The flight crew did not maintain V2 during the climb and so the power required to maintain the level flight was greater than it would otherwise have been.
2. The flight crew did not maintain the runway centreline which removed the option of landing the aircraft on the runway remaining.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Constanza: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 2012 at 1545 LT
Registration:
N711WX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Constanza - Santo Domingo
MSN:
31-7552131
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Constanza-14 de Junio Airport, bound to Las Américas Airport in Santo Domingo, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The burnt wreckage was found near the village of Tireo, about 3 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. The exact circumstances of the accident are unclear. It is believed that the flight was illegal and that a load of 11 of cocaine was found at the crash site.