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Crash of a Lockheed C-130J-30 in Jalalabad: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 2015 at 0016 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08-3174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jalalabad - Bagram
MSN:
5648
YOM:
2011
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
943
Copilot / Total flying hours:
338
Aircraft flight hours:
2551
Circumstances:
On 2 October 2015, at approximately 0016LT, the airplane crashed after takeoff from runway 31 at Jalalabad Airfield, on the second scheduled leg of a contingency airlift mission. The mishap aircraft was assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The mishap crew (MC) was from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The MC consisted of the mishap pilot (MP), the mishap copilot (MCP), and two mishap loadmasters. Also on board were two fly-away security team (FAST) members and five contractors travelling as passengers. Upon impact, all eleven individuals onboard the aircraft died instantly. The aircraft struck a guard tower manned by three Afghan Special Reaction Force (ASRF) members, whom also died. The MA and cargo load were destroyed, and a perimeter wall and guard tower were damaged.
Probable cause:
The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) president found by a preponderance of the evidence that the causes of the mishap were the MP’s placement of the hard-shell NVG case in front of the yoke blocking forward movement of the flight controls, the distractions experienced by the MP and MCP during the course of the ERO, and the misidentification of the malfunction once airborne. The AIB president also found by a preponderance of the evidence that environmental conditions, inaccurate expectations, and fixation substantially contributed to the mishap.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 747-428BCF at Bagram AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 2013 at 1527 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N949CA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camp Bastion - Bagram AFB - Dubaï
MSN:
25630/960
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
NCR102
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
440.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
209
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Bagram Air Base, Bagram, Afghanistan. All seven crewmembers—the captain, first officer, loadmaster, augmented captain and first officer, and two mechanics—died, and the airplane was destroyed from impact forces and postcrash fire. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental cargo flight, which was operated under a multimodal contract with the US Transportation Command, was destined for Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airplane’s cargo included five mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles secured onto pallets and shoring. Two vehicles were 12-ton MRAP all-terrain vehicles (M-ATVs) and three were 18-ton Cougars. The cargo represented the first time that National Airlines had attempted to transport five MRAP vehicles. These vehicles were considered a special cargo load because they could not be placed in unit load devices (ULDs) and restrained in the airplane using the locking capabilities of the airplane’s main deck cargo handling system. Instead, the vehicles were secured to centerline-loaded floating pallets and restrained to the airplane’s main deck using tie-down straps. During takeoff, the airplane immediately climbed steeply then descended in a manner consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation found strong evidence that at least one of the MRAP vehicles (the rear M-ATV) moved aft into the tail section of the airplane, damaging hydraulic systems and horizontal stabilizer components such that it was impossible for the flight crew to regain pitch control of the airplane. The likely reason for the aft movement of the cargo was that it was not properly restrained. National Airlines’ procedures in its cargo operations manual not only omitted required, safety-critical restraint information from the airplane manufacturer (Boeing) and the manufacturer of the main deck cargo handling system (Telair, which held a supplemental type certificate [STC] for the system) but also contained incorrect and unsafe methods for restraining cargo that cannot be contained in ULDs. The procedures did not correctly specify which components in the cargo system (such as available seat tracks) were available for use as tie-down attach points, did not define individual tie-down allowable loads, and did not describe the effect of measured strap angle on the capability of the attach fittings.
Probable cause:
The NTSB determines that the probable cause of this accident was National Airlines’ inadequate procedures for restraining special cargo loads, which resulted in the loadmaster’s
improper restraint of the cargo, which moved aft and damaged hydraulic systems No . 1 and 2 and horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism components, rendering the airplane uncontrollable. Contributing to the accident was the FAA’s inadequate oversight of National Airlines’ handling of special cargo loads.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD near Bagram AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 2011 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4K-AZ55
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Baku - Bagram AFB
MSN:
20534 20680
YOM:
2005
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Baku-Bina Airport at 2126LT on a cargo flight to Bagram AFB, carrying 9 crew members and a load of 18 tons of various goods destined to the NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan. While approaching Bagram AFB by night, at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located 25 km from the airport. The wreckage was found at the first light of day. The aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382E-20C Hercules near Kabul: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 2010 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-TUC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bagram - Kabul
MSN:
4362
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
NCR662
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Bagram AFB on a short flight to Kabul, carrying 8 crew members and a load of various equipment on behalf of the NATO forces based in Pakistan. En route, while cruising by night, the aircraft impacted a rocky face located 30 km east of Kabul. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 8 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airbus A300B4-203F at Bagram AFB

Date & Time: Mar 1, 2010 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-ACB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bahrain - Bagram AFB
MSN:
121
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12923
Captain / Total hours on type:
8000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
25300
Aircraft flight cycles:
46516
Circumstances:
While approaching Bagram AFB, the crew did not obtain the three green lights when the undercarriage were lowered. The left main gear signal appears to remain red. The captain obtained the authorization to make two low passes over the airport then ATC confirmed that all three gears were down. The final approach was completed at low speed and after touchdown, while braking, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the left and came to rest some 2 km past the runway threshold. All five crewmen were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Cracks as result of fatigue caused the fracture of the hinge arm of the left main gear strut. The cracking most likely occurred as result of corrosion that remained undetected during the last maintenance inspection. The origin of pitting could not be identified, the investigation however identified deficiencies in the maintenance task conducted during last overhaul of the gear strut. Incomplete maintenance documentation and tools available during overhaul contributed to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-12C Huron in the Nuristan Province: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 2009
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
78-23135
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bagram - Bagram
MSN:
BC-71
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
Red Handed 56
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bagram AFB on a counter-narcoterrorism operation over the Nuristan province, carrying three crew members. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was spotted 7 days later and the rescuers arrived on site Oct 27. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
CIV Randolph Bergquist,
CIV J. B. Anderson,
CIV Jeff Lehner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a crew error (navigation error) or a possible technical problem. A possible hostile act was ruled out.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3C-140-LO Orion at Bagram AFB

Date & Time: Oct 21, 2008
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
158573
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5582
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Bagram AFB, the crew encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its right main gear and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no injuries among the occupants and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules at Bagram AFB

Date & Time: Aug 5, 2008
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1212
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4985
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a humanitarian mission to Bagram AFB. After landing in poor weather conditions, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. There were no injuries among the crew but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP at Bagram AFB

Date & Time: Jun 29, 2006
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK-12305
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
00 347 305
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the aircraft caught fire shortly after landing at Bagram AFB. It came to rest on the runway and the crew was able to evacuate safely. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD near Kōh-e Khāk-e Shahīdān: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 2005 at 0953 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
4L-ZIL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kabul - Bagram
MSN:
00534 64926
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
RPK1102
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
After being offloaded at Kabul Airport following a flight from Bahrain, the four engine aircraft took off for a short flight to Bagram AFB, carrying a load of telecommunication equipments for the US Armed Forces. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew changed frequency and contacted Bagram Airbase. Due to traffic at Bagram, the crew was instructed to hold at 10,000 feet about 10 nm south of Bagram AFB. Shortly later, the crew started the descent in haze when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Kōh-e Khāk-e Shahīdān, about 28,6 km northwest of Kabul. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 5 km with haze and clouds at 1,200 feet. The wreckage wasa found at an altitude of 2,120 metres.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.