Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Selitrennoye

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-55706
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
1G48-38
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a crop spraying flight when the engine failed due to problems with the carburetor. At a height of 60 meters, the aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed onto a residential building located in Selitrennoye. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Probable cause:
Engine failure following carburetor problems.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Golden Valley

Date & Time: May 18, 1985 at 0656 LT
Registration:
N91043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Crystal
MSN:
207-0030
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1800
Captain / Total hours on type:
607.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4002
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, on the last leg on it's flight, the engine of the air cargo aircraft started to sputter. The pilot turned the fuel selector handler from the left tank to another position and turned on the boost pump. The engine stopped running and the pilot elected to land in a public park. The left wing was torn off the aircraft during the emergency landing. Investigation revealed that the fuel selector had been turned to the 'off' position, a check of the fuel quantity in each tank showed less than five gallons in the left tank and about twelve gallons in the right tank. Sole on board, the pilot was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid, fuel - starvation
2. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel tank selector position - improper - pilot in command
4. (c) in-flight planning/decision - inadequate - pilot in command
5. (f) procedures/directives - misjudged - pilot in command
6. (f) diverted attention - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
7. (f) object - tree(s)
8. Wing - separation
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601P) in Van Nuys: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1985 at 1858 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N777PL
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Ana – Van Nuys
MSN:
61-0334-111
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1820
Aircraft flight hours:
1490
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed into a residence 2 miles short of the runway after loss of power on the left engine. This engine was feathered, the gear was extended, but the flaps remained up as the aircraft continued the landing approach. Post accident investigation revealed no irregularities in the functioning of the aircraft. The pilot had radioed the report of power loss but had stated that he would not need the emergency equipment. The aircraft crashed in Sepulveda and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - downwind
Findings
1. (f) engine assembly - undetermined
----------
Occurrence #2: undershoot
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
2. (c) planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
3. (f) object - residence
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Paris: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1984 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-GDPJ
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Torino - Paris
MSN:
31-7620006
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was returning to Paris following a charter flight from Torino-Caselle Airport, carrying four journalists, a member of the AFP Agency and two pilots. On final approach to Paris-Le Bourget runway 07 by night, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the approach lights, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the roof of a warehouse and crashed in Garges-lès-Gonesse, less than 2 km short of runway 07 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-55F in Quito: 53 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1984 at 1104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BKN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Miami – Quito – Guayaquil
MSN:
45754
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
2A103
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
53
Aircraft flight hours:
60070
Aircraft flight cycles:
17003
Circumstances:
The DC-8 landed at Quito at 06:52 after a flight from Miami. Shortly after scheduled departure time of 09:00 members of the Ecuadorian Federation of Aircrews (FEDTA) requested and were granted permission to board the aircraft and discuss subjects relating to the aircrews' strike. The four Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos crew members didn't comply with the strike, after consulting AECA management. After a delay of about two hours, the n°4 engine was started. The crew then ordered the aircraft to be towed to the runway, perhaps in order to hasten the departure. The other engines were started during the towing operation. Pre-takeoff checks were not (or improperly) carried out. This caused the 0.5° horizontal stabilizer nose-up to go undetected, while 8° nose-up is required for takeoff. The DC-8 thus barely climbed after a ground run, extended to 48 meters beyond the runway end. The horizontal stabilizer struck the wooden structure of the ILS aerial, 83 meters past the runway 35 end. The aircraft then crashed into houses, 460 meters past the runway end and 35 meters to the right of the extended centreline. A total of 25 houses were demolished. All four crew members as well as 49 people on the ground were killed. At least 50 other people on the ground were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
The incorrect position of the horizontal stabilizer in relation to the aircraft's centre of gravity, which prevented the aircraft from reaching rotation and lift-off speed within the runway distance available. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Clearance of the aircraft from Quito was done incorrectly, since the MTOW permissible for the existing runway, wind and temperature conditions, the real take-off weight, the useful load distribution and the position of the aircraft's centre of gravity were not determined,
- The crew's state of mind may have been a contributing factor in the accident. It is assumed that it prevented the crew from concentrating on all aspects of the operation they were performing.

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Goulburn: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1984 at 2304 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BYB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sydney - Goulburn
MSN:
340A-0411
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Prior to departure the pilot had received a weather forecast which indicated that fog could be expected at the destination. Adequate fuel was carried in the aircraft tanks to allow for a considerable period of holding and/or a diversion to another aerodrome if required. After an apparently normal flight of 35 minutes the aircraft arrived in the Goulburn area and the pilot reported his intention to carry out a standard instrument approach. The manoeuvres associated with this procedure do not involve flight over the city of Goulburn, however witnesses observed the aircraft as it circled over the city several times at a relatively low height. It was then seen to roll and descend steeply before striking two houses. A fierce fire broke out which engulfed the aircraft and both residences. The three persons on board the aircraft and a person in one of the houses received fatal injuries. A detailed inspection of the wreckage revealed that the camshaft of the left engine had failed in flight and the pilot had apparently feathered the propeller. The engine was not operating at the time of impact. No other defect or malfunction was discovered which might have contributed to the development of the accident. It was determined that the particular camshaft had failed from fatigue cracking, resulting from defective manufacture. It was considered likely that when the aircraft arrived over Goulburn, shallow fog obscured all or part of the aerodrome. The lights of the city would have been clearly visible and the pilot probably decided to use the city, rather than the nearby radio navigation aid, as a convenient holding point while waiting for conditions at the aerodrome to improve. During a series of left hand orbits, and after advising his intention to conduct an instrument approach, the pilot experienced a complete failure of the left engine. In order to realise the available single-engine performance of the aircraft the pilot had to perform a series of checks and actions which would result in the applicable propeller being feathered; any unnecessary aerodynamic drag being reduced; and an appropriate airspeed being established. It was determined that although the propeller had probably been feathered, the landing gear, which had evidently been lowered previously, had not been raised to reduce drag. In addition, an analysis of radar returns from the aircraft, recorded at Canberra, indicated that the airspeed at which the aircraft was flying shortly before radar contact was lost, was less than the optimum figure. The final manoeuvre described by witnesses was consistent with that which follows a loss of control in twin engine aircraft when power is being supplied by only one engine and the speed is below the minimum required for full control. The reason the pilot did not raise the landing gear and maintain the required minimum control speed could not be established.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight due to defective manufacture of camshaft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fatigue failure of camshaft,
- Complete loss of power from left engine,
- Aircraft not reconfigured for optimum single engine performance,
- Airspeed fell below minimum for effective control,
- Insufficient height for recovery.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Campo de Marte: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1984 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-IMF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Campo de Marte – São José do Rio Preto – Porto Velho
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a charter flight from Campo de Marte to Porto Velho with an intermediate stop in São José do Rio Preto, carrying six passengers and a crew of two. After takeoff from runway 12, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left, nosed down and crashed into several houses located in the district of Carandiru, bursting into flames. Both pilots, four passengers and one people in the ground were killed while four other passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by the failure of a blade on the left engine.

Crash of a Boeing 707-373C in Medellín: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1983 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2401X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Medellín - Miami
MSN:
18707
YOM:
1963
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Medellín-Rionegro Airport, while in initial climb, the engine n°3 failed. The aircraft banked right, lost height, struck a powerline then crashed onto two factories located past the runway end. All three crew members as well as 22 people working in both factories were killed. The aircraft disintegrated on impact.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°3 during initial climb for unknown reasons. It was reported that engine n°4 suffered a FOD damage during a preceding takeoff from Medellín Airport and it was later decided to ferry the aircraft to Miami for repairs.

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B Victor in Biberach an der Riss: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1983 at 1126 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-GFPH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Stuttgart – Biberach an der Riss
MSN:
166
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Biberach an der Riss Airport on a short flight from Stuttgart, the twin engine airplane collided with a French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) Mirage IIIR registered 342/33-CA. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed onto several houses located between the villages of Assmannshardt and Birkenhardt, north of the airfield. Both occupants of the Partenavia, the pilot of the Mirage and four people on the ground were killed. A dozen other people on the ground were injured, some of them seriously.

Crash of an Avro 748-329-2A in Khartoum: 17 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EL-AIH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Khartoum - Monrovia
MSN:
1755
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Khartoum-Haj Yusuf Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. While completing a turn, the airplane lost height and crashed in a district located about 4 km southeast of the airport. The aircraft and several buildings were destroyed. The flight engineer was seriously injured while eight other occupants and nine people on ground were killed. Eight other people on the ground were injured as well.
Probable cause:
High Pressure fuel pump quillshaft broke due to pump seizure. The remaining engine produced not enough power because the fuel datum trimmer wasn't reset in accordance with the flight manual.