Crash of a Fairchild F27 in Roscas

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C870
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While landing at Roscas, near Manila, the airplane suffered a gear collapse. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Gear collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Fairchild F27F in Fort McMurray

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-PAP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
125
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot attempted to land on a short and narrow runway, without being able to determine the wind direction and strength. The aircraft landed downwind at a higher than recommended speed, bounced and touched down 1900 feet past the threshold. Braking action and deceleration were not satisfactory and the pilot elected to overshoot. Takeoff power was applied, but the gear struck a snow bank at the end of the runway and the F27 continued into trees, coming to rest 1800 feet beyond the end of the runway.
Probable cause:
The pilot did not operate the aircraft according to the recommended limits and procedures; The operator did not provide adequate ground facilities; The operator provided incorrect information to the pilot by approving an inadequate landing area.

Crash of a Fairchild F27B in Pedro Bay: 39 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1968 at 0936 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4905
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Anchorage – Iliamna – Big Mountain – King Salmon – Dillingham
MSN:
49
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
WC055
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
10557
Captain / Total hours on type:
5357.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12087
Aircraft flight hours:
17194
Circumstances:
A Wien Consolidated Airlines Fairchild F-27B, N4905, crashed at Pedro Bay, Alaska. The 36 passengers and three crew members were killed in the accident and the aircraft was destroyed by in-flight breakup and ground impact. The aircraft was being operated as Flight 55 in scheduled domestic passenger service between Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC) and Dillingham Municipal Airport, AK (DLG) with en route stops at Iliamna Airport, AK (ILI), Big Mountain Airport, AK (BMX), and King Salmon Airport, AK (AKN). Flight 55 departed from Anchorage at 08:46 on an instrument flight plan for Iliamna. The flight was cleared to cruise at 16,000 feet. The weather at Iliamna was reported to be clear, and the visibility was 15 miles at the time of the flight's departure from Anchorage. The flight proceeded toward Iliamna without reported difficulty, and at 09:25, the first officer requested a clearance for an approach to Iliamna. This request was approved. No further communication was received from the crew. Ground witnesses in and around the Pedro Bay area reported that they saw a fireball and a large cloud of black smoke which appeared to be behind the wing of the aircraft. The aircraft appeared to continue on course for a short period of time, then pieces of the aircraft were seen falling, and the aircraft entered a spinning descent. The major portion of the wreckage was located on the southern shore of Foxies Lake at an elevation of approximately 220 feet.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an in-flight structural failure caused by an encounter with severe to extreme turbulence. This turbulence was not forecast and its presence was not known to the flight crew. The failure occurred in an area of the right wing (WS 197) which had been weakened to an indeterminate degree by pre-existing fatigue cracks.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27J in Resolute Bay

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GND
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yellowknife – Sherrard Bay
MSN:
113
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Yellowknife Airport on a schedule flight to Sherrard Bay, on Melville Island. En route, he was informed that a landing at Sherrard Bay Airstrip was impossible due to strong winds and was rerouted to Resolute Bay. On final, both engines failed and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed few km south of the airfield, slid for several yards and came to rest, broken in two. All 12 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach caused by fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild F27 in Davao City

Date & Time: May 9, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C873
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Davao City-Mati Airport for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Fairchild F27T at Paisano Ranch: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1968 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N27W
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
123
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
540.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to the Paisano Ranch private airstrip, the captain decided to make a go-around for unknown reason. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway, killing both pilots who were conducting a positioning flight.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper flight decisions or planning,
- The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- The crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- The crew attempted a go-around with propellers in ground fine position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27 off Ibajay: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1968 at 1918 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C871
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Manila - Mactan
MSN:
19
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
UM507
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
5709
Captain / Total hours on type:
158.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
92
Aircraft flight hours:
21194
Circumstances:
Flight UM507 was a scheduled domestic flight from Manila International Airport to Lapu-Lapu/Mactan International Airport. Before departure the pilot was briefed by the Air Manila dispatcher on the existence of a cold front across the route and was provided with an en-route weather forecast valid from 1200 to 2400 hours which mentioned "Isolated thunderstorm over Eastern Visayas and generally fair elsewhere". No information regarding thunderstorms on the route was given to the pilot. The flight took off from Manila at 1814 hours and was cleared to Mactan at FL 130 by the ATC, via Track 5, Amber 4 and Amber 1. The flight plan proposed an airspeed of 210 kt and an estimated time en route of 1 hour 45 minutes. Normal radio contact was maintained at all time between the flight and the air traffic services. At 1908 hours the flight reported over Romblon at FL 130, estimating Mactan at 1954 hours. This was the last message from the aircraft. Several residents of Ibajay, a coastal town in Aklan, stated that at approximately 1918 hours they had heard a sound similar to that of an aircraft flying at high altitude in a southeast direction along the coastline. They then heard several loud explosions and saw fireballs falling into the sea. They all agreed that the initial fire- ball they saw could not have been the result of a prolonged fire, but rather a small fire which rapidly developed into a large orange-yellow-red ball and then disappeared. After a few moments, smaller fireballs emerged from the large one, some dying out before reaching the sea, some reaching the sea and developing into a large fire. At the same time a large object resembling an airplane was seen to emerge from thick clouds and fall into the sea followed by a trail of smaller objects. Approximately one hour later two bodies were recovered from approximately 2 km offshore of Bo. Colong-Colong, Ibajay, Aklan.
Probable cause:
The Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was an in-flight structural failure due to air loads exceeding the design strength, while flying in a thunderstorm cell. It was also determined the following:
- The flight transmitted its last position report over Romblon at 1908 hours, approximately 10 minutes before the accident, and did not report any operating difficulty,
- The aircraft disintegrated at a high altitude with considerable speed,
- None of the aircraft parts recovered showed evidence of fatigue, or explosion due to combustible gas mixtures, or concentrated explosives such as dynamite,
- Over the area at approximately the time of the accident, there were thunderstorm cells and two other flights deviated and avoided the area,
- The crash location was about 10 NM right of the assigned airway,
- Only two bodies were recovered; the other occupants and the rest of the wreckage could not be recovered due to the depth of the sea in the general area of the accident and their exact location is unknown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27A in Klamath Falls: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1967 at 0503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2712
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Klamath Falls – Medford – North Bend – Portland – Seattle
MSN:
73
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
WC720
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9271
Captain / Total hours on type:
4684.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1064
Copilot / Total hours on type:
258
Aircraft flight hours:
16202
Circumstances:
Fairchild F-27 N2712 operated on a flight from Klamath Falls to Seattle via Medford, North Bend and Portland. Because snow was falling at Klamath Falls, the aircraft was loaded in the hangar instead of on the ramp. There was some delay in pushing out the aircraft onto the ramp because the tow tractor lost traction in the snow. The aircraft was exposed to the falling snow for about 11 minutes before the plane was able to taxy out to runway 14. A few minutes later, at 05:01 the aircraft took off. During the takeoff roll, after rolling about 1000 feet, the aircraft gradually served to the left. The nose wheel left the ground 600 feet prior to the main gear at a point where the track was half way between the center of the runway and the left row of runway lights. The left main gear was about 12 feet off the left edge of the runway for a distance of 250 feet prior to lift-off. Just after lift-off the aircraft swerved sharply to the right and immediately back to the left. On climb out the aircraft tended to the left, despite several course corrections. After reaching 5250 feet, the altitude dropped again to 4700 feet. The aircraft continued to climb until it crashed on a steep ridge on the northwest slope of Stukel Mountain at an elevation of 5049 feet (1539 m). The F-27 was in a right wing low attitude when this wing contacted the mountain; the aircraft then cartwheeled up the 30° up slope of the mountain. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to ice accretion on airframe surfaces. The Board further determines that the pilot should have required that deicing fluid be applied to the aircraft to remove the accumulation of ice and snow prior to takeoff. This had not been done by the appropriate maintenance personnel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F-27F in Las Vegas

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1965 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N757L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Las Vegas
MSN:
54
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15167
Captain / Total hours on type:
3765.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8791
Circumstances:
A full flap landing was carried out, followed by flap-retraction to practice a no-flap takeoff. The Fairchild veered left upon rotation and cartwheeled off the runway, coming to rest 557 feet left of the runway and 6000 feet from the takeoff end. It appeared that the right inboard and outboard flaps were fully extended; the left inboard flap was extended 17 degrees and the left outboard flap was fully retracted.
Probable cause:
An asymmetrical flap condition during takeoff caused by foreign object jamming of the flap gear box and malfunction of the rotary flap actuator assembly. Inadequate maintenance and inspection. Inadequate function of the asymmetrical flap warning indicator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F-27A near Las Vegas: 29 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1964 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N745L
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Phoenix – Las Vegas
MSN:
29
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
BO114
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Captain / Total flying hours:
11171
Captain / Total hours on type:
4055.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3249
Copilot / Total hours on type:
811
Aircraft flight hours:
14401
Circumstances:
Weather was poor near Las Vegas with indefinite ceiling at 500 feet, sky obscured, 900 m visibility and light snow. Flight 114 was flying a VOR/DME-3 approach when the plane descended below altitude minima. At 9.7 DME, at an elevation of 3575 feet msl the plane struck rising terrain and crashed. The flight should have been at 4300 feet msl at that point. It appeared that the VOR/DME-3 approach procedure was relatively new, having become effective on October 3, 1964. Until November 15 no approaches using this procedure had been flown. The approach chart depiction for the segment of the approach from the 15 mile fix to the 6 mile fix displayed no descent information on the profile section. However, the profile did show a solid horizontal line between the 6 mile fix and the 3 mile fix, with an altitude of 3,100 feet. Further, the solid line was defined in the Chart Legend as "Flight Path," which implied that a descent to 3,100 feet was proper once the fix to which the flight has been cleared is reached.
Probable cause:
The misinterpretation of the approach chart by the captain which resulted in a premature descent below obstructing terrain.
Final Report: