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Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter near Surkhet: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1991 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
RAN-26
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Surkhet - Jumla
MSN:
843
YOM:
1988
Location:
Surkhet
Bheri
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Four minutes after his takeoff from Surkhet Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 5,800 feet, the captain informed ATC about good flight conditions and that he was leaving the valley shortly. A minute later, while flying in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (6,300 feet high) located few km from Surkhet Airport. The wreckage was found 500 feet below the summit and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a wrong altimeter setting. It was determined that the crew departed Surkhet Airport under VFR mode but while climbing, he encountered limited visibility as the mountain struck by the aircraft was shrouded in clouds. At impact, the captain's altimeter showed 7,350 feet while the aircraft's real altitude was 5,800 feet.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1991 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2889X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
606
YOM:
1979
Location:
Yopal
Casanare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Yopal Airport under VFR mode in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located about 8 km from the airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated 20° to the left of the intended course. The exact cause of this deviation could not be determined, because of strong winds or because the crew elected to avoid bad weather.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a VFR approach in IMC conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Simikot

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1991 at 1224 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nepalgunj - Simikot
MSN:
795
YOM:
1982
Location:
Simikot
Karnali
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Simikot Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck a tree and crashed 500 meters short of runway. Both pilots were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Lukla

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1991 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Lukla
MSN:
301
YOM:
1971
Location:
Lukla-Tenzing-Hillary
Sagarmatha
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Lukla Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and the captain decided to go-around and to follow a holding pattern. Few minutes later, as he thought weather conditions improved, he decided to attempt to land and initiated a second approach. On short final, the aircraft entered a layer of low clouds and the aircraft was not properly aligned when it struck the runway surface and bounced. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine. All 17 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Taisha: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1991
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAE447
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Macas - Taisha
MSN:
832
YOM:
1986
Location:
Taisha
Pichincha
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
En route from Macas to Taisha on behalf of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. The aircraft struck the slope of Mt Paso Macuna (1,500 meters high) located about 34 km west of Taisha. The wreckage was found 35 meters below the summit and all 22 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Iran: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1990
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
EP-IOD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
460
YOM:
1975
Location:
Iran
All Iran
Country:
Iran
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located in the south part of Iran.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Honningsvåg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1990 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
67-063
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
63
YOM:
1967
Location:
Honningsvåg
Finnmark
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Honningsvåg-Valan in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft started to pitch up and down then stalled. The crew increased power and the aircraft was able to gain a little height when it stalled a second time and crashed 150 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew completed the approach at a too low airspeed according to the wind component and force. At the time of the accident, atmospheric turbulences and relative strong winds were present in the approach path and the crew failed to adapt his speed according to these phenomenons. The relative low experience of the crew was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Chitembo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1990
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HB-LOI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
336
YOM:
1971
Location:
Chitembo
Bié
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a special flight on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), carrying 20 passengers and two crew members. During the takeoff roll, the crew encountered directional problems and the aircraft deviated to the right of the runway. The crew was able to takeoff when shortly after liftoff, the right wing struck a mast. The airplane nosed down, struck the ground, lost its nose gear and came to rest in a potatoes field. All 22 occupants were evacuated, among them four passengers suffered minor injuries. One people on the ground was killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the crew encountered problems with the ailerons and the nosewheel steering system due to hydraulic issues.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Thistle Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1990 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Ptarmigan Airways
Registration:
C-FWAB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
349
YOM:
1973
Location:
Thistle Lake
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew just departed Thistle Lake after delivering cargo for local mine workers. Just after liftoff, while climbing to a height of about 10 feet, the aircraft banked right and struck the rotor of a parked Bell 206. Out of control, it crashed few dozen meters further, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The reason of the loss of control could not be determined.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 off Contadora Island: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1990
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N187SA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Panama City – Contadora – San Miguel
MSN:
131
YOM:
1968
Location:
Contadora Island
Panamá
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Contadora Island Airport, while climbing, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Some birds struck the right engine that failed. The aircraft lost speed then rolled to the right and crashed in the sea some 1,500 meters offshore. Two passengers were rescued while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine and subsequent loss of control during initial climb following a bird strike.
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