Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Iliamna

Date & Time: Aug 8, 2016 at 1651 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N95RC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Crosswind Lake - King Salmon
MSN:
970
YOM:
1956
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9780
Captain / Total hours on type:
535.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7632
Circumstances:
The airline transport pilot of the float-equipped airplane was attempting a takeoff with the load of passengers that he had flown to the lake earlier in the day. The pilot's calculated takeoff distances for the water run and over a 50-ft obstacle were 1,050 ft and 2,210 ft, respectively. The pilot did not add a safety margin to his takeoff distance calculations. The approximate shore-to-shore distance of the takeoff path was 1,800 ft. During taxi, the pilot retracted the wing flaps, where they remained for the takeoff. GPS data showed that the airplane attained a speed of about 49 knots before impacting terrain just beyond the shoreline. The airplane's stall speed with flaps retracted was about 52 knots. Postaccident examination revealed that the left wing flap was in the fully retracted position; the right wing flap assembly was damaged. The airplane flight manual takeoff checklist stated that flaps were to be selected to the "TAKE-OFF" position before takeoff. Additionally, the takeoff performance data contained in the flight manual was dependent upon the use of "TAKE-OFF" flaps and did not account for no-flaps takeoffs. Even if the pilot had used the correct flap setting for takeoff, the calculated takeoff distances were near the available takeoff distance, and it is likely that the airplane would still not have been able to avoid a collision with terrain. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane, and he should have "done the right thing," which was to conduct two flights, each with a half load of passengers.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to perform the takeoff despite calculations showing that the distance available was inadequate, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414A Chancellor off Destin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 2016 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2735A
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Destin – Abbeville
MSN:
414A-0463
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
15000
Aircraft flight hours:
6202
Circumstances:
The instrument-rated commercial pilot departed from an airport adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico with an instrument flight rules clearance for a cross-country flight in dark night, visual
meteorological conditions. The flight continued in a south-southwesterly direction, climbing to about 900 ft over the gulf, where it entered a steep right turn. The airplane then descended at a steep rate and impacted the water in a nose-low attitude. Post accident examination of the recovered wreckage, including flight controls, engines, and propellers revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. While the outlet fuel line from the left auxiliary fuel pump was found separated and there was evidence that the B-nut was loose and had been only secured by the first 2 threads, recorded data from the engine monitor for the flight revealed no loss of power from either engine. Therefore, the final separation likely occurred during the impact sequence. Although the accident pilot was instrument rated and had recently completed instrument currency training, the dark night conditions present at the time of the accident combined with a further lack of visual references due to the airplane's location over a large body of water, presented a situation conducive to the development of spatial disorientation. The pilot had been instructed by air traffic control to turn southwest after takeoff; however, the continuation of the turn past the intended course and the airplane's steep bank angle and excessive rate of descent are consistent with a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
Probable cause:
The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff, while maneuvering over water during dark night conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in the Gulf of Bengal: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 2016
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K2743
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tambaram - Port Blair
MSN:
08 09
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Tambaram AFB (southwest of Chennai) at 0830LT for a 3-hour flight to Port Blair, in the Andaman Islands. While cruising at the assigned altitude of 23,000 feet about 280 km east of Chennai, the aircraft entered a left turn then an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in the sea. SAR operations were initiated but definitively abandoned on 3 October 2016 as no trace of the aircraft nor the 29 occupants was found.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX off Jinshan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 2016 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
B-10FW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
208B-5222
YOM:
2015
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While taking off from the bay off Jinshan (south of Shanghai), the single engine aircraft collided with a concrete bridge and crashed in the sea. One pilot and four passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured. The seaplane C208 EX version was destroyed. It is believed that the crew misjudged the distance between the departure point and the bridge as the collision occurred just after rotation while attempted a steep climb.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 400MPA off Bạch Long Vĩ Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 2016 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8983
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hanoi - Hanoi
MSN:
482
YOM:
2012
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew departed Hanoi-Gia Lam Airport at 0930LT on a SAR mission after a Vietnam Air Force Sukhoi SU-30 was missing since two days. While cruising over the gulf of Tonkin in good weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea, some 22 km southwest of the Bạch Long Vĩ Island. Some debris were found few hours later, floating on water. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piaggio P1.HH HammerHead off Levanzo Island

Date & Time: May 31, 2016 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CPX621
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Trapani - Trapani
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Based on a Piaggio P.180 Avanti, the Piaggio P.1HH HammerHead is a drone prototype. Engaged in a series of test as part of the certification program, the twin engine aircraft left Trapani-Vincenzo Florio Airport at 1120LT for a local test flight. About 20 minutes later, the contact was lost with the ground station and the aircraft crashed into the sea about 8 km north of the Levanzo Island. The aircraft was lost.

Crash of an Airbus A320-232 in the Mediterranean Sea: 66 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 2016 at 0229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-GCC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris – Cairo
MSN:
2088
YOM:
2003
Flight number:
MS804
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
56
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
66
Captain / Total flying hours:
6275
Captain / Total hours on type:
2101.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2675
Aircraft flight hours:
48000
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport at 2321LT on May 18 on an international schedule flight to Cairo. carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew members. The crew maintained radio contacts with the Greek ATC and was transferred to the Egyptian ATC but failed to respond. Two minutes after the airplane left the Greek Airspace, the aircraft descended from FL370 to FL220 in few seconds, apparently making a first turn to the left and then a 360 turn to the right before disappearing from the radar screen at 0229LT while at an altitude of 10'000 feet. It is believed that the aircraft crashed in the Mediterranean sea about 200 km north of Egyptian coast. The crew did not send any mayday message, thereby all assumptions remains open. It appears that some various debris such as luggage were found on May 20 about 290-300 km north of Alexandria. Two days after the accident, it is confirmed that ACARS messages reported smoke on board, apparently in the lavatory and also in a technical compartment located under the cockpit area. Above that, several technical issues were reported by the ACARS system. The CVR has been recovered on June 16, 2016, and the DFDR a day later. As both recorder systems are badly damaged, they will need to be repaired before analyzing any datas. On December 15, 2016, investigators reported that traces of explosives were found on several victims. Egyptian Authorities determined that there had been a malicious act. The formal investigation per ICAO Annex 13 was stopped and further investigation fell within the sole jurisdiction of the judicial authorities. Contradicting the Egyptian finding, the French BEA considered that the most likely hypothesis was that a fire broke out in the cockpit while the aircraft was flying at its cruise altitude and that the fire spread rapidly resulting in the loss of control of the aircraft.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an in-flight fire in the cockpit but investigations were unable to establish the exact origin of the fire. Following the fire that probably resulted from an oxygen leak from the copilot's quick-fit mask system, both pilots left the cockpit in a hurry and were apparently unable to find and use the fire extinguisher. To this determining element, three possible contributory factors have been identified: a blanket charged with static electricity requested by the captain to sleep; fatty substances being part of the meal served to the pilots, and a high probability of a lit cigarette or a cigarette butt burning in an ashtray while the crew smoked regularly in the cockpit. The experts also noted unprofessional behavior by the flight crew who listened to music, made multiple comings and goings in the cockpit as well as a lack of attention about flight monitoring procedures.

Crash of a Piper PA-42-720 Cheyenne IIIA off Tel Aviv

Date & Time: Apr 3, 2016 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4X-CMD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
42-5501040
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tel Aviv-Sde Dov Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered technical problems and declared an emergency. He elected to return to the airport but eventually ditched the airplane few dozen metres offshore. Both occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II off Sabaneta de Palmas

Date & Time: Apr 1, 2016 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HI938
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
421B-0129
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying by night, the twin engine airplane crashed under unknown circumstances in the lake of Maracaibo and came to rest few dozen metres off Sabaneta de Palmas. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B off Cox's Bazar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 2016 at 0905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S2-AGZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cox’s Bazar – Jessore
MSN:
134 08
YOM:
1984
Flight number:
21
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13315
Captain / Total hours on type:
6896.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1438
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1195
Aircraft flight hours:
16379
Aircraft flight cycles:
17299
Circumstances:
On March 9, 2016 one AN -26B aircraft belonging to True Aviation Ltd was operating a schedule cargo flight from a small domestic airport (Cox’s Bazar-VGCB) in southern Bangladesh to another domestic airport (Jessore -VGJR) in western Bangladesh, The cargo was Shrimp fries. As per the General Declaration the total cargo quantity was 802 boxes weighing 4800 kg. The airline had filled a flight plan keeping the ETD blank. The flight plan routing was CB W4 CTG W5 JSR at FL 100. All the documents except the load sheet were found properly signed and are in the possession of AAIT. According to ATC controller’s statement and recorded tape the aircraft requested for startup clearance at 0258z. As per the recordings with ATC the controller passed the visibility information of Jessore Airport as 3km. The aircraft started engines and requested for taxi. The aircraft was cleared to taxi to Runway 35 via taxiway S. The aircraft requested for takeoff clearance and was cleared for Take Off at 0305z. Immediately after airborne the pilot reported engine failure without mentioning initially which engine had failed but later confirming failure of the left engine and requested for immediate return back to Cox’s Bazar airport. He was advised by ATC to call left hand down wind. But the control tower spotted the aircraft making a right hand down wind at a very low altitude. All emergency services were made standby from the ATC. The aircraft called final and requested for landing clearance. For reasons so far unknown the aircraft made a low level Go Around. The controller in the tower saw the aircraft flying at about 400 to 500 feet. The surviving Flight Navigator also confirmed this in his statement. The ATC advised the captain to call left hand down wind. But there was no response from the crew. The ATC repeatedly kept calling the aircraft but there was no response from the crew and total communication was lost. At time 0332z the airport authority came to know through other means that the aircraft had crashed approximately 03km west of the airport.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
a) Failure to initiate a rejected take off during take off roll following the indication of engine failure;
b) Failure to adhere to the company SOP following the detection of the engine failure during take off;
c) Considering the poor visibility at Cox’s Bazar Airport, diverting to the alternate airfield Chittagong Airport located only 50 nm away that has the provision for full ILS approach facility. This could have helped the crew in carrying out a proper one engine out precision approach landing;
d) The aircraft flew at a speed much lower than the clean configuration speed. The aircraft flew at 225 km/h in clean configuration whereas the minimum clean configuration speed is 290 km/hr.
e) As per the FDR data the aircraft stalled while making a turn towards the side of the failed engine at a very low altitude.
Final Report: