Crash of a Cessna 402B in Coronel Oviedo

Date & Time: Sep 26, 2019 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZP-BAE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ciudad del Este – Asunción
MSN:
402B-0310
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Ciudad del Este to Asunción, the pilot encountered technical problems and reduced his altitude to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine airplane belly landed in a prairie and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All four occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Moo 2: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 2019 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1917
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Surasi - Surasi
MSN:
208-0267
YOM:
1997
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor aged 58 and one pilot under supervision aged 28) departed Surasi Air Base around 0900LT on a training flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the single engine airplane crashed near Moo 2 (Sai Yok district). The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a BAe 125-700A near Champerico: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 2019
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-PTW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Zihuatanejo - Chetumal
MSN:
257083
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was apparently engaged in an illegal flight, carrying a crew of two. It crashed in unknown circumstances near Champerico, Guatemala, and was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. According to the flight plan, the aircraft was supposed to fly from Zihuatanejo to Chetumal with one passenger and two crew members. Guatemalan authorities reported that the flight was illegal and that the aircraft was presumed transporting a load of cocaine.

Crash of a Grumman S-2 Tracker in Générac: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 2019 at 1718 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ZBAA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nîmes - Nîmes
MSN:
456
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Pélican 22
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4854
Captain / Total hours on type:
830.00
Aircraft flight hours:
15050
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Nîmes-Garons Airport at 1648LT on a fire fighting mission over Générac, a village located about 5 km southwest of the airbase. While approaching the zone to be treated, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot was killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to thick smoke.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- GASC (Groupement d’avions de la sécurité civile) has a small resource of Tracker pilots;
- Without a co-pilot, the pilot is deprived of the usual cross-checking of piloting decisions and actions;
- The pilot has little experience on established firefighting missions. He has never carried out a mission of this nature in a single-pilot aircraft;
- Certain limitations of the flight envelope are unknown to pilots, particularly at high weight and in steep turns;
- Pilots have little knowledge of the aerological phenomena associated with certain fires, and the associated turbulence;
- With the implementation of the Tracker withdrawal, pilots are concerned about their future within the GASC;
- Fatigued from sustained activity, the pilot had a false understanding of the situation;
- The pilot suffered from overconfidence;
- The pilot did not perceive the terrain. He flew a little low as he approached the hill ;
- He adopted a trajectory very close to the flame front and did not anticipate the risk of turbulence;
- Focused on a dwelling to protect, he did not detect the inappropriate altitude of his plane and maintained a strong bank;
- The left wing underwent a local stall causing a steep left bank, which caused the pilot to recover the aircraft too low in relation to the height of the trees, which he had a false idea of.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Hawk Junction: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 2019 at 0853 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FBBG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hawk Junction - Oba Lake
MSN:
358
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1231
Captain / Total hours on type:
409.00
Aircraft flight hours:
17804
Circumstances:
On 11 July 2019, at approximately 0852 Eastern Daylight Time, the float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I Beaver aircraft (registration C-FBBG, serial number 358), operated by Hawk Air, departed from the Hawk Junction Water Aerodrome, on Hawk Lake, Ontario. The aircraft, with the pilot and 1 passenger on board, was on a daytime visual flight rules charter flight. The aircraft was going to drop off supplies at an outpost camp on Oba Lake, Ontario, approximately 35 nautical miles north-northeast of the Hawk Junction Water Aerodrome. The aircraft departed heading northeast. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb out, just past the northeast end of Hawk Lake, the aircraft crashed in a steep nose-down attitude, severing a power line immediately before impact, and coming to rest next to a hydro substation. The pilot and the passenger received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed as a result of the impact, but there was no post-impact fire.
Probable cause:
Findings as to causes and contributing factors:
These are conditions, acts or safety deficiencies that were found to have caused or contributed to this occurrence.
1. The aircraft likely departed with the fuel selector set to the rear tank position,which did not contain sufficient fuel for departure. As a result, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation shortly after takeoff during the initial climb.
2. After a loss of engine power at low altitude, a left turn was likely attempted in an effort to either return to the departure lake or head toward more desirable terrain for a forced landing. The aircraft stalled aerodynamically, entered an incipient spin, and subsequently crashed.

Findings as to risk:
These are conditions, unsafe acts or safety deficiencies that were found not to be a factor in this occurrence but could have adverse consequences in future occurrences.
1. If aircraft are not equipped with a stall warning system, pilots and passengers who travel on these aircraft will remain exposed to an elevated risk of injury or death as a result of a stall at low altitude.
2. If air-taxi training requirements do not address the various classes of aircraft and operations included in the sector, there is a risk that significant type-, class-, or operation-specific emergency procedures will not be required to be included in training programs.
3. If seasonal air operators conduct recurrent training at the end of the season rather than at the beginning, there is a risk that pilots will be less familiar with required emergency procedures.
4. If air operators do not tailor their airborne training programs to address emergency procedures that are relevant to their operation, there is a risk that pilots will be unprepared in a real emergency.
5. If pilots and passengers do not use available shoulder harnesses, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2019 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
UR-43983
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mlyny - Mlyny
MSN:
1G210-60
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11382
Captain / Total hours on type:
11382.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1816
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1816
Aircraft flight hours:
4091
Circumstances:
The crew was completing chemical work to protect sunflower crop from pests. This was the eighth sortie of the day. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 20-30 metres, the engine lost power and the airplane started to lose altitude. No suitable terrain was available for an emergency landing. The airplane collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The immediate cause of the accident was a forced landing caused by a loss of engine power on unsuitable terrain. The most likely cause of the loss of engine power is the use of a low quality A-95 motor gasoline.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Rodina: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 2019 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UP-A0116
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rodina - Rodina
MSN:
1G232-38
YOM:
1989
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a spraying mission on behalf of Rodina Agrofirm and completed five rotations in the morning. After refueling with chemicals, the airplane took off from an airfield located about 10 km from the village of Rodina. Shortly after takeoff, it collided with the wooden pillar of an electric power line, lost height and crashed in flames 100 metres further. The captain was killed while two other occupants were seriously injured. The following day, the copilot died from his injuries.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage near Castalia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 2019 at 1331 LT
Registration:
N709CH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Naples - Easton
MSN:
46-36431
YOM:
2007
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
312
Captain / Total hours on type:
147.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1449
Circumstances:
The pilot departed on the cross-country flight with the airplane about 730 lbs over its maximum gross weight. While in cruise altitude at 27,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the pilot reported to air traffic control that he observed weather on his radar along his route and ahead of his position. The areas of weather included thunderstorms with cloud tops up to 43,000 ft msl. The controller acknowledged the weather; however, she did not provide specifics to the pilot, including the size and strength of the area of precipitation or cloud tops information, nor did she solicit or disseminate any pilot reports related to the conditions, as required. The airplane entered an area of heavy to extreme precipitation, likely a thunderstorm updraft, while in instrument meteorological conditions. Tracking information indicated that the airplane climbed about 300 ft, then entered a right, descending spiral and broke up in flight at high altitude. The recovered wreckage was found scattered along a path about 2.6 miles in length. Both wings separated, and most of the empennage was not located. The airplane was likely about 148 lbs over the maximum allowable gross weight at the time of the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a pre accident malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot, who owned the airplane, did not possess an instrument rating. The pilot-rated passenger in the right seat was instrument-rated but did not meet resency of experience requirements to act as pilot-in-command. Toxicology testing detected a small amount of ethanol in the pilot’s liver but not in muscle. After absorption, ethanol is uniformly distributed throughout all tissues and body fluids; therefore, the finding in one tissue but not another is most consistent with post-mortem production. Hazardous weather avoidance is ultimately the pilot’s responsibility, and, in this case, the airplane was sufficiently equipped to provide a qualified pilot with the information necessary to navigate hazardous weather; however, the controller’s failure to provide the pilot with adequate and timely weather information as required by Federal Aviation Administration Order JO 7110.65X contributed to the pilot’s inability to safely navigate the hazardous weather along his route of flight, resulting in the penetration of a thunderstorm and the resulting loss of airplane control and inflight breakup.
Probable cause:
The pilot’s failure to navigate around hazardous weather, resulting in the penetration of a thunderstorm, a loss of airplane control, and an inflight breakup. The air traffic controller’s failure to provide the pilot with adequate and timely weather information as required by FAA Order JO 7110.65X contributed to the pilot’s inability to safely navigate the hazardous weather along his route of flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Urimán

Date & Time: May 8, 2019
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV2354
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Paragua – Urimán
MSN:
1G211-43
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Urimán Airport following an uneventful flight from La Paragua, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted ground and came to rest against a group of palm trees located 13 km from Urimán. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 65 near New Albany: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 2019 at 1514 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N265DS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Broomfield - Oxford - Hamilton
MSN:
465-45
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
22200
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2250
Aircraft flight hours:
10754
Circumstances:
Two instrument-rated commercial pilots and one passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in instrument meteorological conditions when they began discussing an electrical malfunction; they then reported the electrical problem to air traffic control. The airplane subsequently made a descending right turn and impacted wooded terrain at a high speed. Most components of the airplane were highly fragmented, impact damaged, and unidentifiable. Based on the limited discussion of the electrical problem on the cockpit voice recorder and the damage to the airplane, it was not possible to determine the specific nature of the electrical malfunction the airplane may have experienced. While it was not possible to determine which systems were impacted by the electrical malfunction, it is possible the flight instruments were affected. The airplane's descending, turning, flight path before impact is consistent with a system malfunction that either directly or indirectly (through a diversion of attention) led to the pilot's loss of awareness of the airplane's performance in instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent loss of control of the airplane.
Probable cause:
An unidentified electrical system malfunction that led to the pilots losing awareness of the airplane's performance in instrument meteorological conditions and resulted in a loss of control of the airplane.
Final Report: