Crash of a Cessna 401B in Madrid: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1999 at 1222 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Helibérica
Registration:
EC-DEQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Topographic
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid - Alicante
MSN:
401-0115
YOM:
1971
Location:
Madrid-Cuatro Vientos
Madrid
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1629
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4612
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC about engine problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. He made a turn and elected to establish on the ILS runway 28 when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a near vertical attitude in an orchard located 1,400 metres short of runway, some three minutes after takeoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed. The departed Madrid on an aerial photography mission to Alicante.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine failure during initial climb. The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that it may be the consequence of presence of water in the tanks and/or fuel lines was not ruled out.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air in Valdepeñas

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1999 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
EC-EZN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Valdepeñas – Alicante
MSN:
LD-205
YOM:
1965
Location:
Valdepeñas
Castile-La Mancha
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
100
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Valdepeñas Airport runway 08, while in initial climb, both engines lost power. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located 3 km from the airfield. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engines stopped simultaneously due to a fuel exhaustion. Investigations revealed that the aircraft remained parked at Valdepeñas Airport for five days without surveillance and it is believed that the fuel was stolen from the tanks. The pilot failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and failed to realize the tanks were empty before departure. Nevertheless, he reported to the investigators that the fuel gauges were intermittently failing.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Djerba

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1997 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA227 Metro III
Operator:
Registration:
EC-GKK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid – Alicante – Djerba
MSN:
AC-730
YOM:
1989
Location:
Djerba
Gabès Governorate (ولاية قابس‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure when the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. All 21 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10R in Stockholm

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1987 at 0912 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
SE-DEC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stockholm - Alicante
MSN:
263
YOM:
1970
Location:
Stockholm-Arlanda
Uppland
Country:
Sweden
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11187
Captain / Total hours on type:
1037.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7890
Copilot / Total hours on type:
680
Aircraft flight hours:
34044
Circumstances:
Immediately after liftoff from runway 08, while climbing to a height of about 10 meters, the aircraft pitched down. The copilot confirmed that the airspeed value and the engine indications were normal. The airplane was continuing to 'float' above the runway and the captain decided to land back. The aircraft landed hard on its nose gear and bounced. The second touchdown was completed on both main gears but hard again, causing them to penetrate the wings and the fuel tanks, causing the fuel to spill. Out of control, the aircraft slid for about 300 meters then veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a snow covered field, bursting into flames. All 27 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The perception of an unusual climb configuration due to various disturbances forced the crew to abort the takeoff procedure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- An incorrect movement of the pitch immediately after liftoff,
- The presence of nitrogen in the hydraulic lines may affected rudder movements,
- A possible accumulation of ice/snow on the top of the stabilizers may affected the aircraft stability and controllability.
Final Report:

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B off Guernsey: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1981 at 0213 LT
Type of aircraft:
Partenavia P.68
Operator:
Aero Club Cortijo Grande Turre-Almeria
Registration:
EC-DHE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cardiff - Alicante
MSN:
184
YOM:
1979
Location:
Guernsey
Channel Islands
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a night IFR flight from Cardiff to Alicante, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Guernsey Island. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Alicante: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
FH426
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Alicante
Valencian Community
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Alicante, killing all four crew members based at Gibraltar.
Crew (223rd Squadron):
Sgt J. S. Greaves, pilot,
Sgt E. Brown, navigator,
Sgt E. V. Evans, bomber,
Sgt J. J. Griffin, bomber.

Crash of a Latécoère 28/1 off Carchuna

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 28
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJJM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Casablanca – Alicante – Barcelona – Perpignan – Toulouse
MSN:
908
YOM:
1929
Location:
Carchuna
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Casablanca to Alicante, while cruising along the coast, the engine failed. The pilot attempted to ditch the airplane that crash landed some 50 metres off Carchuna. All eight occupants evacuated safely and swam to the beach. The left wing and the tail were torn off at impact.

Crash of a Latécoère 26.2R in Skhirat

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 26
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIXU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Toulouse – Perpignan – Barcelona – Alicante – Casablanca
MSN:
684
YOM:
1928
Location:
Skhirat
Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Alicante to Casablanca, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances southwest of Rabat. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Latécoère 25.6 in the Mediterranean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 25
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJCL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Montevideo – Natal – Recife – Dakar – Casablanca – Alicante – Barcelona – Perpignan – Toulouse
MSN:
691
YOM:
1929
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On the leg from Casablanca to Alicante, while cruising by night between Spain and Morocco, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea, maybe between Ceuta and Melilla. SAR were organized but all operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. More than a month later, in March 1930, a mail package was found on a beach in Mostaganem.
Crew:
Alphonse Bruyère, pilot,
Léopold Aubry, radio navigator.

Crash of a Latécoère 25.3R off Tortosa

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 25
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIRY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Casablanca – Alicante – Barcelona – Perpignan – Toulouse
MSN:
648
YOM:
1928
Location:
Tortosa
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Tortosa for unknown reason. The aircraft departed Alicante at 1150LT bound for Barcelona. While the pilot Marcel Goret was uninjured, the aircraft sank and was lost.
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