City | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Nha Trang on a flight from Saigon, the pilot informed ATC about an explosion on board and that control was heavy. The hydraulic system failed so the undercarriage must be lowered manually. The captain decided to perform a low pass over the runway to check the landing gear with ATC. That made, the crew completed a nose high and flapless landing shortly later. After touchdown just over the threshold, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems when the airplane became airborne. So the throttles were closed and the aircraft landed again but too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck a concrete pylon and several obstacles before coming to rest in flames in a popular area. Ten passengers and 24 people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that a bomb placed in the front left lavatory exploded in flight, causing a 1,5 m hole in the fuselage and damaging the hydraulic lines.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Recife: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1969 at 0645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

2450

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

London - Recife - Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

4091

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from London to Rio de Janeiro, with an intermediate stop in Recife. After a night stop in Recife, the crew took off from Recife-Guararapes Airport in early morning on the last leg to Rio. Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, while climbing, the crew informed ATC that one of the right engine caught fire and elected to make an emergency landing. The airplane lost height and eventually crashed in flames on a potery located in the district of Apipucos, some 10 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Nei Custódio Adriano, pilot,
Cpt José da Silva, pilot,
1st Lt Luis Pereira da Fonseca,
Lt Milton Pinto da Rocha,
Sgt Edmundo Silva,
Sgt Osvaldo Pereira Davi +1.

Probable cause:

One of the right engine caught fire during initial climb for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair in Miami: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1969 at 1542 LT

Type of aircraft:

Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair

Operator:

Registration:

HI-168

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Miami - Santo Domingo

MSN:

16/10485

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

DO401

Location:

Miami-Intl

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13736

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2333

Copilot / Total hours on type:

476

Aircraft flight hours:

41722

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from 12 at Miami-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the crew reported engine problems and elected to return. He was cleared for an emergency landing on runway 27 and initiated a circuit when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion onto several buildings located about a mile short of runway 27. Few buildings and cars were destroyed. All four occupants on board the Carvair were killed as well as six people on the ground. 12 other people were injured, some of them seriously. It was later reported that white smoke was coming from the engine number two and black fumes from the engine number four.

Probable cause:

The confused action on the part of the crew while attempting to cope with the catastrophic failure of an engine during takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-40-DL Invader in Los Angeles: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1969 at 1117 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

N9405Z

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Los Angeles - Los Angeles

MSN:

7266

YOM:

1941

Location:

Los Angeles

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11131

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames onto a house located in the district of El Segundo, by the airport. The aircraft and the house were totally destroyed and all four crew members were killed as well as two people in the house.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb caused by the following factors:
- Master and connecting rods failure,
- Piston rings failure,
- Material failure,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Complete power loss on left engine,
- Front bank left engine failed,
- Single pilot configuration,
- Left prop not feathered.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Maracaibo: 155 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1969 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AVD

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Caracas – Maracaibo – Miami

MSN:

47243/448

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

VA742

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

155

Circumstances:

After takeoff from runway 04L at Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport, while in initial climb at an altitude of 150 feet, the airplane struck power cables. It lost speed and height then crashed in a huge explosion into the district of La Trinidad located near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 84 occupants were killed as well as 71 people on the ground. More than 20 buildings were destroyed and more than 100 people were injured, some of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Takeoff to Miami was attempted in marginal weather conditions from runway 04L (6,792 feet long). For undetermined reason, the temperature sensors located along the runway transmitted wrong values. Prior to departure, the crew performed the calculations necessary for the takeoff configuration and referred to these wrong values, causing erroneous takeoff performances. Thus, the takeoff roll was longer than expected and the rotation was completed later than normal. After liftoff, the minimum altitude was insufficient to clear the obstacles located past the runway end.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas at Erding AFB: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1969 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Operator:

Registration:

52+57

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Neubiberg – Erding – Cologne

MSN:

D066

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Erding AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls and the captain decided to return. On final, the airplane stalled and crashed onto a house located one km short of runway. Ten crew members as well as a young girl aged 2 1/2 were killed. The captain and the navigator were the sole survivors. The pilot was reportedly later killed in the fatal crash of the Noratlas 52+79 near Königsdorf, November 19, 1970.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Chihuahua: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1969 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Aero Laguna

Registration:

XB-ROI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Chihuahua - Chihuahua

MSN:

AF-859

YOM:

1954

Location:

Chihuahua

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in an aerial photography mission, carrying two pilots and five photographers/filmmaker. En route, the twin engine aircraft collided in unknown circumstances with a North American T-6 Texan carrying two pilots. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in the district of Comarca Lagunera, in Chihuahua. All nine occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Charlotte Amalie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1968 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Conquest Airways

Registration:

N433AC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie – San Juan

MSN:

BA-284

YOM:

1957

Location:

Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)

All US Virgin Islands

Country:

US Virgin Islands

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5579

Captain / Total hours on type:

399.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. After passing over the end of the runway, the airplane struck a house and crashed. The pilot, two passengers as well as four people on the ground were killed. Eight passengers were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The aircraft computed to be loaded to aircraft CofG limits,
- No W&B prepared by the pilot,
- Possible misuse of flaps.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 827 Viscount in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1968 at 2120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SRE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

São Paulo - São Paulo

MSN:

399

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport and was completing touch-and-go manoeuvres. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a district located 7,450 meters from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed as well as one people on the ground. At the time of the accident, the crew was climbing with one engine inoperative, maybe two.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to insufficient speed while climbing with one or two engine inoperative. It is believed the crew may overestimated the aircraft capabilities and performances.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Assis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Registration:

1553

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Assis - Assis

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Assis Airport for a local test flight. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. The aircraft caught fire, went out of control and crashed onto a building. Both pilots were killed while there were no injuries on the ground.

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