Crash of a Boeing 707-366C in Bangkok: 73 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1976 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AXA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Rome - Cairo - Bombay - Bangkok - Manila - Tokyo
MSN:
20763/871
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
MS864
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
73
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Bombay, the crew started the descent to Bangkok-Don Mueang Airport by night. On approach, the pilot reported runway in sight and was cleared to land on runway 21L. On short final, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the four engine airplane struck the roof of a building and crashed in flames on a spinning factory located 2 km short of runway. The aircraft and several buildings were killed. All 53 occupants on board the B707 were killed as well as 20 people working in the factory. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 4 km.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of several errors on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude until impact with ground.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 690A in Culver City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1976 at 1423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N568H
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Santa Barbara – Culver City
MSN:
690-11027
YOM:
1972
Location:
Culver City
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
13785
Captain / Total hours on type:
972.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Culver City Airport on a flight from Santa Barbara, the twin engine airplane collided with a Beechcraft 35-C33 registered N21TH and owned by Steven I. Fendrik. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a residential area in Culver City. Both aircraft were destroyed as well as several cars and building. Both pilots on both aircraft were killed while there were no casualties on the ground. Both aircraft were under radar contact and flying in the vicinity of a controlled airport.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision in traffic pattern after the pilot failed to see and avoid other aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Pilot of other aircraft,
- Mid-air collision on downwind for runway 23.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-131F in Santa Cruz: 113 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1976 at 1332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
N730JP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - Miami
MSN:
17671
YOM:
1959
Location:
Santa Cruz-El Trompillo
Santa Cruz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
113
Circumstances:
After a long takeoff roll, the airplane took off from runway 32 but encountered serious difficulties to gain sufficient height. After liftoff, the airplane continued at a height of about six metres then struck successively trees, houses and power cables before crashing in a huge explosion on a soccer field located about 560 metres past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and several houses and buildings were destroyed. All three crew members were killed as well as 110 people on the ground. 32 others were injured, most of them seriously. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as marginal but did not contribute to the mishap.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was unserviceable at the time of the accident while the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) contained only few information as the main cockpit mike was inoperative. Investigators confirmed that the accident was not caused by any engine failure, flight control malfunction or any structural failure. It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a poor flight preparation and wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew who failed to select the correct takeoff speed. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Crew fatigue,
- Wrong interpretation of the takeoff situation,
- Non interruption of the takeoff procedure.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2P in Novosibirsk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1976 at 0816 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79868
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
1 163 473 12
YOM:
1961
Location:
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
14812
Circumstances:
The pilot decided to commit suicide due to marital problems and took off alone from Novosibirsk-Severny Airport and directed his aircraft into the 4 floor building where his wife and his son were living (ul. Stepnaya, d. 43/1). A strong fire erupted in the staircase and some 30 flats were damaged. The pilot was killed as well as 4 people in the building, among them three children. 11 other were injured, none of them was related to the pilot.
Probable cause:
Pilot suicide.

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Twentynine Palms

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1976 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SR-10 Reliant
Operator:
Registration:
N69747
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Lake Havasu – Chino
MSN:
77-490
Location:
Twentynine Palms
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3600
Captain / Total hours on type:
110.00
Circumstances:
En route, oil temperature got high and the oil pressure got low. Oil spread on windshield. The engine lost power and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck a cabin and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Novgorod: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1975 at 1653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87458
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Syktyvkar – Vologda – Novgorod – Riga
MSN:
9 43 17 36
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SU098L
Location:
Novgorod
Novgorod oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
2002
Aircraft flight cycles:
1500
Circumstances:
The crew encountered poor weather conditions while approaching Novgorod Airport with fog and a visibility below minimums. On final, the crew descended below MDA when the airplane struck the roof of a printing house and crashed in flames on a small residential building (three floors) located three km short of runway. The aircraft and the building were destroyed. All six occupants as well as five people in the building were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to adhere to the published procedure while descending below the MDA in below minima visibility. Due to fog, the crew failed to locate the runway but continued the approach instead of initiating a go-around procedure. Weather information transmitted to the crew did not reflect the truth, which was considered as a contributing factor as well as the lack of ATC assistance.

Crash of a Convair C-131F Samaritan in Galivan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Convair C-131 Samaritan
Operator:
Registration:
141012
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
El Toro - El Toro
MSN:
295
YOM:
1955
Location:
Galivan
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight out from El Toro MCAS. After takeoff, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the garden of the Saddleback College located about 8 miles southeast of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A-235 in Pedro Afonso: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VDN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
São Paulo – Porto Nacional – Pedro Afonso – Belém
MSN:
1625
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
RG236
Location:
Pedro Afonso
Tocantins
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Pedro Afonso, the crew encountered technical problems and decided to return. The approach was completed at a too high speed and the airplane landed too far down the runway, approximately 300 meters from the runway end. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, crossed a street and crashed into a house. A woman and her two children were killed in the house as well as the copilot. A second crew member was injured while 13 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110C Bandeirante in São Paulo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1975 at 0633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SBE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
São Paulo - Bauru - Araçatuba
MSN:
110-021
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
VP640
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 34 at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the crew reported problems with the right engine and attempted to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located in the district of Campo Belo near the airport. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed. There were no victims on the ground.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after takeoff for unknown reason.

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1975 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Agrocom Servicios Aéreos
Registration:
LV-LXW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Location:
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a residential area located in González Catán, about 8 km northwest of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine failure.
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