Sichuan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane was departing Chongqing-Jiangbei Airport on a regular schedule service to Nyingchi, Tibet, carrying 113 passengers and a crew of nine. During the takeoff roll on runway 03, at a speed of 145 knots (just below V1 speed), the captain encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the takeoff procedure. He initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre when the airplane started to deviate to the left. It veered off runway and went through a grassy area. While contacting the parallel concrete taxiway, the nose gear was sheared off. The airplane continued for 120 metres when it impacted a drainage ditch, causing both main landing gears and both engines to be sheared off as well. The airplane later came into a stop, bursting into flames. 36 occupants were injured while all others evacuated safely. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that, during the takeoff run, the captain was distracted by items falling, and momentarily lost the monitoring of the aircraft's flight sequence. During this short period of time, he unconsciously held the left rudder, which resulted in an unintended deviation of the aircraft to the left direction. After he noticed the deviation, the crew failed to execute the standard callouts, and the captain reduced the throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff. Due to the combined effects of maximum braking force and inertia, the crew was unable to maintain a safe control, causing the airplane to veer off the runway to the left at a speed of approximately 127 knots. Poor decision makings on part of the crew was considered as the main cause of the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 650 Citation VI near Xichang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 2002 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 650 Citation VI

Operator:

Registration:

B-7023

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Xichang - Xichang

MSN:

650-0221

YOM:

1992

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was dispatched at Xichang Airport to proceed to the calibration of the ILS system. Following a calibration of the runway 36 ILS, the crew initiated a go-around procedure and climbed to 8,000 feet. While completing a 180 turn to join the runway 36 approach pattern, the aircraft impacted a mountain (2,628 metres high) shrouded in clouds and located 15 km southwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 8,400 feet while the minimum altitude for this area is 9,000 feet.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D in Chongqing: 108 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1988 at 2217 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

B-222

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Beijing - Chongqing

MSN:

187 0099 01

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

SZ4146

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

108

Circumstances:

At 2150LT, while approaching Chongqing-Baishiyi Airport, the n°4 engine failed. Seven minutes later, it caught fire and later detached. Aware that he would not reach the airport, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane struck power cables and crashed on a hill located 5,7 km short of runway, bursting into flames. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 108 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the n°4 engine right starter generator became so hot that the feathering oil tube was burnt. The oil tube burst upon feathering of the prop and the engine caught fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Chongqing: 21 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1947 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Kunming – Chongqing

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Chongqing-Baishiyi Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 21 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to Chinese Authorities, the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on all aircraft surfaces.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 near Xichang: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Xichang – Kunming

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after its takeoff from Xichang Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 15,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Lochi, killing all 31 occupants. The registration and the exact type of aircraft (C-47 or C-46) remains unknown.