Pichincha

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Loja - Quito

MSN:

190-00027

YOM:

2006

Flight number:

EQ148

Location:

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6160

Captain / Total hours on type:

1879.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4891

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2807

Aircraft flight hours:

8752

Aircraft flight cycles:

13285

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Loja, the crew started the descent to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport runway 35 by night and poor weather conditions. After touchdown on wet runway 35, the aircraft encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, went down an embankment, collided with a brick wall and came to rest. There was no fire. All 103 occupants were rescued, among them four passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft named 'Ciudad de Cuenca' was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The Board of Inquiry estimated that the probable cause of this accident was the crew's decision to continue the approach and landing without carrying out the procedures (ABNORMAL AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES) established by Embraer in the Quick Reference Handbook when a malfunction occurred with the slat/flap system, resulting in a wrong approach configuration.
The following findings were identified:
- The slats were inoperative during the approach and the crew performed five trouble shooting without success,
- Despite this situation, the crew decided to continue the approach, failed to follow the approach checklist and failed to input the reference speed and distance for landing according to circumstances,
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway, about 880 metres past the runway 35 threshold,
- The braking action was low because the runway surface was wet,
- In normal conditions, with flaps down in second position and slats out, the landing reference speed was 119 knots with a landing distance of 880 metres,
- Because the slats were inoperative, the landing reference speed should be 149 knots and a landing distance of 1,940 metres was needed,
- The aircraft passed over the runway threshold at a height of 50 feet and at an excessive speed of 163,8 knots,
- Spoilers were activated 9 seconds after touchdown, 950 metres after the runway threshold,
- Reverse thrust systems were activated 1,280 metres after the runway threshold,
- The crew started to use brakes 2,300 metres after the runway threshold (runway 35 is 3,125 metres long), with the antiskid system activated,
- Due to an excessive approach speed (15 knots above Vref), a too long flare and a too late application of the brake systems, the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining distance,
- The slats malfunction was the consequence of the failure of several actuators which did not support negative temperatures met during the last flight,
- Since last July 19, the slats failed 53 times on this aircraft, six times during the approach and 47 times in flight,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Quito: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 2009 at 1725 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AEE-101

Flight Phase:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (Tababela)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

San Vicente - Quito

MSN:

BB-811

YOM:

1981

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew (four pilots under supervision and one instructor) departed San Vicente on a training flight to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport. On approach in foggy conditions, the twin engine aircraft descended too low, collided with a 4-floor building and crashed 4 km short of runway. All five occupants as well as two people on the ground were killed and four other people on the ground were seriously injured.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Quito

Date & Time: Sep 22, 2008 at 1115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F28 Fellowship

Operator:

Registration:

HC-CDT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Quito-Mariscal Sucre (Tababela)

Schedule:

Quito – Coca

MSN:

11222

YOM:

1985

Flight number:

ICD504

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9292

Captain / Total hours on type:

109.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3889

Copilot / Total hours on type:

380

Aircraft flight hours:

42422

Aircraft flight cycles:

47727

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll from runway 25 at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew noted a fire alarm connected to the forward cargo compartment. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with the ILS antenna, went down an embankment then impacted a brick wall and came to rest 300 metres past the runway end. All 66 occupants were rescued, among them eight passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the crew to follow the published procedures following a fire alarm, as stated in the Operations Manual and the late application of the procedures once the decision to abort the takeoff was taken.
Contributing factors:
- Complacency on part of the crew who failed to proceed with a pre-takeoff briefing,
- A fact that influenced the lack of appropriate action from the crew to successfully tackle any emergency,
- Lack of crew resources management,
- The braking coefficient was low because the runway surface was wet.

Final Report:

Crash of an Airbus A340-642 in Quito

Date & Time: Nov 9, 2007 at 1706 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airbus A340-600

Operator:

Registration:

EC-JOH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Madrid - Quito

MSN:

731

YOM:

2006

Flight number:

IB6463

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

345

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14024

Captain / Total hours on type:

2375.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

10095

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1742

Aircraft flight hours:

8704

Aircraft flight cycles:

965

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Madrid, the crew contacted Quito Approach at 1650LT and received descent instructions in preparation for an instrument approach no. 4 (VOR QIT DME/ILS) for runway 35. During the descent the crew were notified that preceding flights had reported braking action medium to poor. The flight crew selected auto braking to 'High'. At 17:05, the crew reported the runway in sight, after which the controller stated that the wind was 170° at 4 knots, the runway was wet and reported braking action was poor. The flight was cleared to land. The pilot in command, following the procedures established by Iberia, decided to leave the ILS glide path and captured the path of the PAPI lights. The aircraft touched down 200 metres past the threshold at a 3.09g side load. The spoilers deployed automatically and main gear tyres 3 and 8 blew. The flap lever was moved involuntarily by the copilot, from the full position to position 2. The crew applied full manual braking and select reverse thrust. The Auto Brake function failed, after which the crew disconnected the antiskid braking system and continued to apply manual braking. The aircraft passed the end of runway 35, with a ground speed of 90 knots, hit the ILS localizer and stopped 232 meters further. Passengers and crew were evacuated using the slide at door 2R, thirty minutes after the aircraft stopped. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who decided to continue the approach to Quito Airport, knowing the poor runway conditions, poor weather conditions and the aircraft weight, and his failure to initiate a go-around procedure while forcing the aircraft to intercept the PAPI, causing the aircraft to be unstabilized.
Contributing factors:
- On the date of the incident, the crew did not have specific regulations and operating procedures (the briefing of the operator for the airport in Quito was inappropriate to the existent conditions).
- The fact that the crew still being experienced similar airports in Quito and had not experienced similar weather situations, circumstances that would have allowed a strategy of approximation consistent with the terms of this operation, in particular as regards:
- Calculations in flight for landing runway length,
- Minimum altitude to start the maneuver of changing the path of ILS to PAPI,
- Carrying out a very detailed briefing that allowed unwanted deviations on approach,
- The weather conditions existing at the time of landing (visibility, tail wind and moderate rain).

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Quito

Date & Time: Jan 17, 2003 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F28 Fellowship

Operator:

Registration:

HC-BMD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito – Tulcán – Cali

MSN:

11220

YOM:

1984

Flight number:

EQ120

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7085

Captain / Total hours on type:

4103.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1666

Copilot / Total hours on type:

124

Aircraft flight hours:

21547

Aircraft flight cycles:

40084

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on runway 35, at a speed of 125 knots, after a course of 2,110 metres, both tyres on the left main gear burst. The crew rejected the takeoff procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 35 is 3,120 metres long). It overran, causing the nose gear to collapse, and came to rest 81 metres further. All 77 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Lack of a positive actions and reaction on part of the crew following the bursting of both tires on the left main gear, causing the aircraft to overrun the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154M in Quito: 80 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1998 at 1303 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-154

Operator:

Registration:

CU-T1264

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito - Guayaquil - Havana

MSN:

85A720

YOM:

1985

Flight number:

CU389

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

9256

Circumstances:

While parked on the apron at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew started the engine when a pneumatic valve blocked. The problem was resolved and two engines were started with ground power unit while the third engine was started during taxi. During the takeoff roll on runway 17, at Vr speed, the pilot-in-command started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. For unknown reasons, the crew took 10 seconds to decide to abort the takeoff. The captain initiated an emergency braking procedure but the remaining distance of 800 metres was insufficient. Unable to stop, the aircraft overran, struck a concrete wall, an auto spare parts building and crashed near a soccer field, bursting into flames. Seventy people in the aircraft was well as 10 people on the ground were killed while 21 people in the airplane and 15 on the ground were injured, some seriously. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 73,309 kilos, within limits.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew failed to follow the taxi and pre-takeoff checklist and forgot to select the switches for the hydraulic valves of the control system. No technical anomalies were found on the aircraft and engines.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2B6 in Quito

Date & Time: May 1, 1996 at 1656 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

PP-LBY

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Quito - Guayaquil

MSN:

21297

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll from runway 35 at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, just before V1 speed, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with the ILS antenna, went down an embankment, struck a concrete wall and came to rest. All 90 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. On board were all staff and players of the Brazilian soccer team Corinthians.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 69,620 kilos, some 9,700 kilos above the MTOW. The crew had been told by the operator that MTOW was 70,000 kilos.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII on Mt Sincholagua: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1995 at 2345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Gulfstream GII

Operator:

Registration:

N409MA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – La Paz – Quito

MSN:

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

105.00

Copilot / Total hours on type:

105

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Quito with an intermediate stop in La Paz, carrying five passengers and two pilots. The descent to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport was initiated by night and good weather conditions. While descending to the altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Sincholagua (4,899 metres high) located about 45 km southeast of Quito. The wreckage was found the following morning and all seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew selected the wrong frequency, using Condorcocha VOR instead of the Monjas VOR. This caused the aircraft to follow a wrong pattern for the approach to Quito Airport. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew was not familiar with the region of Quito,
- The crew's experience on this type of aircraft was limited,
- Crew fatigue,
- The crew had a private conversation that was not in accordance with flight rules,
- The crew failed to proceed to appropriate controls during the descent,
- Poor approach planning.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 75 in Quito: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1992 at 1845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 75

Operator:

Registration:

AEE-402

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Machala - Quito

MSN:

380-45

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

FAE001A

Location:

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck a 10-floor building under construction and crashed about 3 km short of runway 35. All 10 occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed, among them General Carlomagno Andrade, Chief of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Taisha: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAE447

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type: