Crash of an Antonov AN-32B off Palaly: 63 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1995 at 1720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CR-862
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Colombo - Palaly
MSN:
35 03
YOM:
1995
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
63
Circumstances:
While on approach to Papaly Airport, the captain contacted ATC and requested that the approach lights intensity should be increased. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea few km short of runway. All 63 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft was shot down by a shell fired by soldiers from the 'Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam'.

Crash of a Shaanxi Y-8 off Palaly: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CR-871
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Colombo - Palaly
MSN:
06 08 01
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was approaching Palaly AFB in Jaffna following a flight from Colombo, carrying six crew members and supply equipments. On final, the aircraft was shot down by a 20 mm shell and crashed in the sea about 3 km offshore. A crew member was rescued while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a shell fired by soldiers from the 'Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam'.

Crash of a Transall C-160D off Ponta Delgada: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
50+43
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ponta Delgada - Saint John's
MSN:
D65
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Ponta Delgada-Nordela Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It collided with power lines, stalled and crashed in the sea few dozen metres offshore. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that one of the engine failed after Vr but before rotation. It was apparently too late for the crew to abort the takeoff procedure. Due to insufficient power, the aircraft was unable to gain height.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain off New York: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1995 at 2055 LT
Registration:
N711EX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlantic City – Farmingdale
MSN:
31-7952075
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6950
Captain / Total hours on type:
425.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7335
Circumstances:
While descending from 5,000 feet to 3,000 feet, the pilot informed ATC that the left engine had failed and the engine cowling was open. The crew said that after feathering the left propeller, and with the right engine at full power, they could not arrest a 300-500 fpm rate of descent. The crew informed ATC that they would be landing in the water. All the occupants exited the airplane from the left front pilot's emergency door. The victims were in the water for approximately 30 minutes before being rescued. One of the passengers was in cardiac arrest when he was retrieved from the water. Examination of the left engine revealed that the #2 cylinder had separated from the engine in flight as a result of high stress fatigue cracking of the cylinder hold down studs and the #3 main bearing thru-studs. The fatigue in the studs occurred as a result of the cylinder fastener preload forces either initially inadequate or lost during service. Maintenance records indicated that the thru-stud was replaced 80 service hours prior to the accident. Examination of the cylinder hold down studs and the #3 main bearing thru-studs revealed that they were improperly torqued, resulting in low initial preload on the fasteners. Incorrect installation of the oversize thru-studs, per existing service information, could have also been a factor in the improper torquing of the studs. The locations of the fatigue origins and the edge worn into the deck indicate that the upper studs were probably the first to fail, allowing the cylinder to rock on the lower rear corner of the cylinder flange.
Probable cause:
A total loss of left engine power as a result of an in-flight separation of the #2 cylinder. The cylinder separated due to high stress fatigue cracking of the cylinder hold down studs and the #3 main bearing thru-studs. Factors in this accident were: improper torquing of the studs and failure of maintenance personnel to properly comply with service information.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO228-212K in Male

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1995 at 0946 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9M-PEQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kadhdhoo - Male
MSN:
8213
YOM:
1992
Flight number:
AMI3312
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3152
Captain / Total hours on type:
2948.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
226
Copilot / Total hours on type:
61
Aircraft flight hours:
3857
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kadhdhoo Airport, the crew initiated the approach to Male Intl Airport. The copilot was the pilot-in-command. The aircraft landed on runway 36 at the speed of 95 knots some 600 metres past the runway threshold. After touchdown, the aircraft deviated from the centerline to the left and the copilot overcorrected, causing the aircraft to veer to the right. The captain took over control but this was too late. The aircraft overran, struck a concrete wall and crashed in the sea. All eight occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following factors were reported:
- Failure of the PIC to take control when the aircraft touched at 20° angle to the centreline and continued towards the western edge of the runway after landing,
- The "over correction" applied by the handling pilot to the prevalent crosswind, leading the aircraft to land at 20° to the centreline,
- The over application of right rudder to get the aircraft onto centreline and subsequently failing to get the power levers to ground idle,
- The lack of a CRM programme in the company had meant that the pilots albeit friendly, did not have an harmonious attitude towards one another; particularly the captain to the copilot,
- The less than effective means of imparting company policy with respect to giving copilots (based on experience, flight conditions) to carry out landings/take-offs.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Salvesen Lake: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1995 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FGCV
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stewart Lake - Salvesen Lake
MSN:
2
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Stewart Lake, some 60 miles west of Dryden, on a charter flight to Salvesen Lake, carrying five anglers to a fishing camp. Upon landing on Salvesen Lake, the aircraft flipped over and became submerged. All six occupants were killed. It was reported that the landing was completed with a relative strong tailwind.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B off Colombo: 75 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1995 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CR-861
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Colombo - Palaly
MSN:
35 02
YOM:
1995
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
75
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Colombo-Ratmalana Airport on a flight to the Palaly AFB (Jaffna), carrying 70 soldiers and five crew members. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew declared an emergency and reported technical problems with the instruments. After being cleared to return, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn at an altitude of 8,000 feet when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea about 40 km north-northwest of Ratmalana Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 75 occupants were killed. It was reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident were poor with thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a BAe Nimrod MR.2P off Toronto: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XV239
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toronto - Toronto
MSN:
8014
YOM:
1969
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The Nimrod display aircraft and crew had deployed to Canada on 23 August 1995 for displays at Canadian Forces Base Shearwater and the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) at Toronto. In excellent weather, with a light on-shore wind, the aircraft took off on time for its display. Upon completion of the safety checks, it ran in for the standard Nimrod display sequence which features two orbits and two dumb-bell turns. The latter manoeuvres each involved a turn away from the display line, a climb to not above 1,000 feet, followed by a turn in the opposite direction and descent, to fly back parallel with the display line. Having completed the two orbits, the first dumb-bell turn was completed uneventfully. After a slow flypast with undercarriage down, the aircraft entered its final manoeuvre, the second dumb-bell turn. It was seen to turn away approximately 75° to starboard under full power before the flaps were retracted to 20° and the undercarriage raised. The nose was then pitched up into a climbing attitude of 24°. As the aircraft passed 950 feet, engine power was reduced to almost flight idle, following which the speed reduced rapidly to 122 knots, below the 150 knots recommended and taught for that stage of the display. The aircraft was rolled to 70° of port bank, shortly afterwards reducing to 45°, and the nose lowered to 5° below the horizon. During this turn the airspeed increased slightly and the G-loading increased to 1 .6 G. However, the combination of the low airspeed and the G-loading led the aircraft to stall, whereupon the port wing dropped to 85° of bank and the nose dropped to 18° below the horizon. Full starboard aileron and full engine power were applied in an attempt to recover the aircraft but, by this stage, there was insufficient height to recover and the aircraft hit the water. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Inquiry determined that the captain made an error of judgement in modifying one of the display manoeuvres to the extent that he stalled the aircraft at a height and attitude from which recovery was impossible. The Inquiry considered that contributory factors could have included deficiencies in the flight deck crew's training and in the method of supervision which could have allowed the captain to develop an unsafe technique without full appreciation of the consequences.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 off West End: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1995 at 1331 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N171LG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Orlando - Freeport
MSN:
BA-427
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Aircraft flight hours:
9497
Circumstances:
On August 28, 1995, about 1331 eastern daylight time, a Beech E18S, N171LG, registered to Caribbean Leasing Company, and operated by Avmac Air, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 135 nonscheduled international cargo flight, from Orlando, Florida, to Freeport, Bahamas, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 45 miles northwest of Freeport. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot has not been located and is presumed to have been fatally injured. The flight originated from Orlando, on August 28, 1995, about 1229. A person identifying himself as the pilot of N171LG contacted the FAA Miami Flight Service Station by radio at 1328:33. The pilot reported he was 46 miles northwest of Freeport and requested information on the weather at Freeport. The pilot was given the weather. At 1330:15 the pilot reported he had an emergency. The controller asked what is the emergency and the pilot reported "fire onboard." No further transmissions from the flight were received and attempts to contact the flight were unsuccessful. See the transcript of communications. Search and rescue efforts were initiated and at 1600, a oil slick, the left main landing gear from N171LG, and personal effects of the pilot and debris from the cabin contents were found floating on the ocean surface, 40 miles northwest of Freeport. Examination of the recovered debris showed no evidence of fire damage. The main wreckage of N171LG was not located and recovered.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in the Caribbean Sea

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1995 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N5078C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Christiansted – Roseau
MSN:
LC-12
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
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:
950.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11650
Circumstances:
The pilot stated he noted a loss of oil pressure and a partial loss of power of the right engine during cruise flight. The engine then lost power, and the pilot was unable to feather the right propeller. The airplane would not maintain altitude and the pilot ditched the airplane about 75 miles southeast of St Croix. After exiting the airplane, the pilot inflated a raft, and was found by rescue personnel about 4 hrs later. The airplane was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the inability of the pilot to feather the propeller.
Final Report: