Zone

Crash of a Boeing 737-46J in Kabul

Date & Time: Dec 10, 2016 at 1224 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
JY-JAQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Herat - Kabul
MSN:
27826/2694
YOM:
1995
Flight number:
4Q502
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
164
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5078
Captain / Total hours on type:
4877.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3380
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3177
Aircraft flight hours:
56805
Aircraft flight cycles:
28611
Circumstances:
On 10 December 2016, JAV Boeing 737-400 Aircraft, registration JY-JAQ, operating a leased scheduled passenger flight SFW 502, on behalf of SAFI Airways under wet lease contract with the later call sign, departed a domestic flight from Herat Airport (OAHR), at 07:00 Z from RWY 36 to Kabul International Airport (OAKB) Afghanistan. At approximately 07:57:45 Z, the Aircraft touched down RWY 29 at Kabul. The aircraft departed Herat with 164 passengers ,07 Operating Crewmembers and 02 Engineers , Total on board were 173 person. As the flight approached OAKB, the crew received the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) from OAKB station at 07:45 Z indicating normal weather with visibility of 6 Km, temperature 07 degrees Celsius and wind of 150/07. The Aircraft was configured for landing with the flaps set to 30, and approach speed selected of 152 knots (VREF + 10) indicated airspeed (IAS). The Aircraft was cleared to approach ILS 29. The Aircraft was vectored by the radar for RWY 29. Air traffic control cleared the flight to land, with the wind reported to be 190 degrees at 15 knots. The crew stated that a few seconds after the touchdown, they felt the aircraft vibrating, during which they applied brakes and deployed the reverse thrust. The vibration was followed by the aircraft rolling slightly low to the right. It later came to a full stop left of the runway centre line, resting on its left main landing gear and the right engine, with the nose landing gear in the air. The occurrence occurred at approximately 3,806 ft / 1,160 m past the threshold. The PIC declared Emergency to the ATC and the cockpit crew initiated an evacuation command from the left side of the aircraft. Evacuation was successfully accomplished with No reported injuries. Kabul airport RFF reached the occurrence aircraft and observed the smoke coming from right side and immediately deployed their procedures by spraying foam on engine # 2. The aircraft sustained substantial damage due to the separation of the right main gear resulting on the aircraft skidding on the right engine cowlings. No injuries were sustained by any of the occupants during the occurrence or the evacuation sequence. Operating crew of the incident flight were called by the Afghani Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) for interview and medical examination (alcohol and drugs, blood test). No injuries were reported by the occupants of the Aircraft or the ground crew.
Probable cause:
The Investigation committee determines that the airplane occasionally experienced main landing gear shimmy and the most probable cause indicated that the struts were extended for long period of time. As a result, the torsion link of the shimmy damper remained in an extended vertical position, where the damper has less mechanical advantage for longer periods of time. Despite the presence of shimmy damper hardware which is designed to reduce the torsional vibration energy generated during landing.
Contributing factors to the event include:
- High altitude airport of 5,877 feet.
- An overly soft landing, allows the landing gears to remain in the air mode longer, which makes them more vulnerable to shimmy,
- Touchdown with a closure rate of 1 fps, which is considered overly soft and may increase the risk of shimmy torsional forces,
- High ground speed at touchdown of 178 knots ,which resulted from the high touchdown airspeed of 158 knots , touchdown at (VREF+16).
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-4Y0 in Kabul

Date & Time: Nov 7, 2014 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YA-PIE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Herat - Kabul
MSN:
26086/2475
YOM:
1993
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown at Kabul Airport runway 29, the right main gear collapsed, causing the right engine nacelle to struck the runway surface. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130J Hercules in Herat

Date & Time: Jul 22, 2014
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM62190
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Abu Dhabi - Herat
MSN:
5530
YOM:
2003
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a daily supply mission to Herat for the troops stationed in the area. For undetermined reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard and the right main gear sank on touchdown and went through the wheels bay. The airplane went out of control and veered off runway to the right before coming to rest. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact cause of the heavy landing remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing 737-242 near Kabul: 104 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 2005 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EX-037
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Herat - Kabul
MSN:
22075
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
KMF904
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
97
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
105
Circumstances:
On February 3, 2005, a Boeing 737-242 aircraft (the "Aircraft") with Kyrgyz Republic registration EX-037, operated by Phoenix Aviation, was conducting Kam Air Flight 904 from Herat to Kabul. There were a total of 105 occupants on board the Aircraft, including eight crew members and ninety-seven passengers. The Aircraft was cruising at flight level 270 when it contacted Bagram Radar Approach Control ("Bagram") for descent and landing. The flight was normal until it failed to level at flight level 130 during the VOR/DME approach. At 1043:24 UTC, Bagram cleared the flight to descend at its discretion and to expect the VOR approach to runway 29. The prevailing weather was also passed on to the Aircraft. Visibility was reported 2 kilometers with snow, ceiling 2,200 feet broken. wind calm and altimeter setting QNH 1016. AT 1043:58 UTC, when the Aircraft was 35 miles west of the Kabul VOR. radar contact was established with Ba9ram. The Aircraft was advised by Bagram to cross the VOR at or above flight level 130 and cleared it for the VOR/DME approach to runway 29. At 1048:41 UTC the Aircraft reported flight level 130. Bagram again cleared the Aircraft for the VOR approach to runway 29 and advised the Aircraft to report procedure turn inbound. The crew replied that they would report proceeding inbound for the VOR approach to runway 29. This was the last transmission from the Aircraft. At about 1050:11 UTC, Bagram stated that radar contact had been lost with the Aircraft. Bagram and Kabul Air Traffic Control Tower attempted to locate the Aircraft through radar and radio communication, but were not successful. Search for the Aircraft was delayed and hampered due to a severe snowstorm in the region. The Aircraft was located approximately three days later by an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopter approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Kabul International Airport at N 36 27.900 E 69 30.185. The Aircraft was destroyed by force of impact from colliding with the mountain. All 105 occupants on board the Aircraft had received fatal injuries. Subsequently, all bodies were recovered and identified. The wreckage was found at the altitude of 9,960 feet (3,035 metres) on the summit of Mt Shapiri Ghar located about 30 km southeast of Kabul Airport.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred probably due to the premature descent by the aircraft below its minimum assigned altitude of 13,000 feet during approach in weather conditions below VFR requirements. The reason for descending below the minimum altitude could not be determined due to inadequate evidence. The investigation was severely affected due to non-availability of FDR and CVR data readouts. The investigation was finalized to the extent possible based on the limited evidence available. The investigation revealed that the aircraft did not proceed to the VOR as instructed by the air traffic controller and descended below the minimum assigned altitude prior to being established on any segment of the approach. As a result, the aircraft collided with a mountain. The cause of descending below the assigned altitude could not be determined due to inadequate data and evidence.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 near Khojak Pass: 51 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1998 at 2230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kandahar - Herat
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Circumstances:
While descending to Herat, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to divert to Shindand. Weather was poor so the crew elected to return to Kandahar but was later informed that weather conditions deteriorated in Kandahar so a landing was not possible. The captain finally decided to divert to Quetta, Baluchestan. While descending to Quetta Airport, he informed ATC he was short of fuel when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near the Khojak Pass. The wreckage was found about 75 km northwest of Quetta Airport. All 51 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 near Herat: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
While cruising in a snowstorm, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located about 50 km from Herat. The wreckage was found few days later and all 21 occupants were killed.