Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Culiacán Rosales: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 2007 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TFL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Culiacán Rosales – La Paz
MSN:
265-48
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
1100
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from runway 02, at a speed of about 100 km/h, the aircraft became unstable. The pilot-in-command elected to takeoff twice but the aircraft failed to respond. Twelve seconds later, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure but this decision was taken too late as the remaining distance was 300 metres only. Unable to stop, the aircraft crossed the boundary fence then a motorway where it collided with several vehicles before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed as well as seven people on the ground. Ten other people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Lack of crew training,
- Poor crew resources management,
- Pressure on the crew due to the imminent closure of the airport because of presidential visit,
- The crew failed to follow the published procedures,
- A possible failure of the stabilizers,
- Poor operations supervision on part of the operator,
- Late decision of the crew to reject takeoff.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 in Saltillo

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2007 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-SMR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monterrey – Saltillo
MSN:
282-71
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport at 1305LT on a taxi flight to Saltillo, carrying two passengers and two pilots. After landing on runway 35 at Saltillo Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest 50 metres further in a rocky area. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Culiacán Rosales: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 2006 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TNP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
La Paz – Culiacán Rosales
MSN:
265-62
YOM:
1962
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from La Paz (Mexico), the crew was approaching Culiacán Rosales-Federal de Bachigualato Airport. On final, the aircraft crashed onto several houses located less than one km from runway the threshold. Both pilots were killed while there were no casualties on the ground despite several houses were destroyed by fire. For unknown reasons, the crew was completing the approach at an unsafe altitude.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Monterrey

Date & Time: Dec 19, 2006
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TJU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
276-8
YOM:
1963
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to thick fog. On short final, the aircraft struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a rocky area located 400 metres short of runway. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 in Mexico City

Date & Time: Jul 5, 2006 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-UCS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
León – Mexico City
MSN:
282-6
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a hard landing on runway 05 at Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport, the tyre on the left main gear burst. The fuel tank was punctured by debris and a fire erupted. The aircraft was stopped on the main runway and while both pilots escaped uninjured, the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Villahermosa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 2004 at 0650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TFD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mexico City – Villahermosa
MSN:
265-13
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Villahermosa-Capitán Carlos Rovirosa Pérez Airport runway 26, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. As he was unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the crew descended below the MDA until the aircraft impacted the ground and crashed near a wooded area located 3 km short of runway, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew descended below the MDA in poor visibility until the aircraft impacted terrain.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 near Monterrey: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1997 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA-TFC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
San Luis Potosí – Monterrey
MSN:
265-15
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
5688
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
308
Aircraft flight hours:
17267
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Monterrey-Del Norte Airport and was cleared to descend to 5,000 feet. Weather conditions were poor with rain falls and limited visibility due to fog. For unknown reasons, the crew continued the descent below 5,000 feet when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Cerro de Las Mitras located about 22 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to maintain the minimum safe altitude of 5,000 feet instructed by ATC. Lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions was a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1994 at 0422 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N747E
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
282-22
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll by night, after V1 speed, the crew elected to rotate but the aircraft failed to respond. The captain abandoned the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen metres further. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW and the CofG was out of permissible limits.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 in Khartoum

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7143N
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum - Khartoum
MSN:
265-70
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In 1992 an Egyptian-American airline pilot, Essam al-Ridi, was tasked to purchase a light aircraft on behalf of Osama bin Laden who wanted to use it to ferry among other Stinger missiles from Afghanistan to Sudan. The aircraft was purchased and ferried to Khartoum, Sudan, where it was parked for a long period of time. In 1994 al-Ridi was asked to prepare the plane to be used. It appeared that the tires had deflated, the engine intakes and exhaust were full of sand and the batteries were dead. The tires were inflated and the hydraulics were charged with hydraulic fluid only, without using any nitrogen. The engines were started and the aircraft took off for a test flight. After flying three touch and goes the aircraft landed. The main braking system failed and the alternate braking system did not work either. Fuel was cut off and the engines were shut down. The aircraft failed to stop and traveled off the runway at a speed of 60 knots until it ran into a sandpile. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and was left behind at Khartoum.
Source: ASN and http://cryptome.org/usa-v-ubl-05.htm

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40A in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1993 at 2155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1319
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Neuquén – Buenos Aires
MSN:
282-127
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport, the crew started the braking procedure and activated the reverse thrust that failed to deploy. The crew used the emergency brakes but the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with a support vehicle (pick up) that was parked outside the safety zone. The aircraft lost its undercarriage and both wings and all four occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The brakes and reverse thrust systems were unserviceable following a failure of the primary hydraulic system. The auxiliary braking system was also unserviceable. For unknown reasons, the problem has not been identified by the flying crew neither the maintenance personnel.