Country
Operator Image

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Barcelona: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1998 at 0052 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-FXD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palma de Mallorca - Barcelona
MSN:
AC-651
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
SWT704
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4500
Captain / Total hours on type:
4132.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1769
Aircraft flight hours:
14748
Circumstances:
Flight SWT704, a cargo flight from Palma de Mallorca to Barcelona, was to be used by the crew as an instruction flight. The co-pilot, who that day was flying for the first time since 20th March 1998, and who was sitting in the left-hand seat, would thus carry out a refresher flight as "First officer under supervision", in accordance with the operator's procedures. At first, it had been planned that the aircraft should carry out a missed approach with one engine on its arrival at Barcelona Airport. However, for a runway 25 approach this was very difficult and the captain decided to postpone this manoeuvre. It was then decided to carry out a standard approach leaving the glide path a little above and then stopping the engine. They would then raise the landing gear and flaps by increments. The captain added: "As soon as we're without control, we'll restore it" (the engine). The approach to runway 25 was also normal. At 00:47:10 they contacted the Barcelona control tower, which indicated that they were number 1, that they should continue and that they should notify "established in final". Afterwards, they extended the landing gear and flaps. At 22:49:55 h, the captain notified the control tower that they were established in final. The tower indicated that they should continue, that a flight was leaving runway 25 and that it would call them immediately. At that moment, the Metro was at a height of some 1400 feet, at some 6 nm (about 3 minutes at 120 kt) from the runway threshold. At 22:50:03 h, with gear and flaps down, the instructor said "Well, engine stop" to which the copilot replied: "Come on, landing gear up". Contrary to normal practice, the right engine was shut down completely and the prop was feathered. It's usual practice to retard the throttles to idle to simulate zero thrust for that engine. When the co-pilot pushed the wrong pedal, the plane deviated to the right. The captain then tried to start the engine again. This failed however because due to the seizing of the guide rod bushing of the propeller pitch change mechanism, the pitch varying mechanism did not take the blades to the necessary pitch for start-up. The captain then said: "Well, I am taking out the engine again. I've raised the flap for you. Now flap by increments...". A few moments later the copilot asked "I continue with the approach, don't I?" to which the captain replied in the affirmative and added that they had been authorized to land and that they were going to land with one engine. At 22:51:09 he again confirmed "Well, just continue with one engine" and appeared to give general instructions on how to carry out a missed approach or what to do when near the runway. At 22:52:01, the captain said "landing gear", the co-pilot said "landing gear now" and the captain then confirmed "coming down". The stall warning then began to sound. The aircraft turned off to the right of the ILS localizer and adopted a position of almost 90° of roll to the left, then a position of 90° of roll to the right whilst continuing to lose height and then again took up a position of 90° of roll to the left. Finally, the left wing struck the ground and then the aircraft crashed first into the outside barrier of highway B-203 which runs round the edge of the Airport and then the perimeter fence, finally coming to a halt at some 250 m from the threshold of runway 25 and some 100 metres to the right of the runway axis. The wreckage of the aircraft burst into flames.
Probable cause:
It is considered that the probable cause of the accident was the loss of control of the aircraft due to an excessive reduction of speed at low height, after having extended the landing gear, with an intermediate flap position, and with the right engine stopped and its propeller pitch close to feather.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-580F in Vitoria

Date & Time: May 19, 1995 at 1839 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-899
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vitoria - Vitoria
MSN:
354
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Vitoria Airport. In good weather conditions, the crew was approaching the airport in a flapless configuration when an alarm sounded in the cockpit. The crew turned off the circuit breaker so the alarm stopped. The aircraft landed on its belly and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft belly landed after the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and turned off the circuit breaker.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Madrid

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1993 at 2308 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-FHB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Palma de Mallorca - Madrid
MSN:
TC-355
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Palma de Mallorca, the crew started a night approach to Madrid-Barajas Airport. On final, the crew forgot to lower the gear and the aircraft landed on its belly and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the approach check-list and to lower the gear, causing the aircraft to land on its belly. The alarm coupled to the undercarriage sounded in the cockpit but neither the pilot nor the copilot heard it and no corrective action was made. The crew was apparently distracted by heavy traffic.