De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

The Twin Otter departed Iquitos Airport at 1137LT on a flight to Pucallpa with intermediate stops in Requena, Orellana, Pampa Hermosa and Contamana. While descending to Pampa Hermosa in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located few km from the airport. Seven passengers were rescued while 13 other occupants were killed.

The Twin Otter departed Al-Gorah on a flight to Sainte-Catherine, carrying 8 passengers (among them six membres of the French Air Force) and one Canadian pilot. En route, he contacted ATC and reported technical problems. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft collided with a Jordan truck carrying glass and crashed, bursting into flames. Both truck drivers were slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were killed. The flight was operated by the French Air Force on behalf of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) based in the Sinai area.
French Air Force members killed:
Cptn Laurence Briançon-Forest,
Lt Guillaume Pike,
SgtC Yann Poilly,
SgtC Laurent Pottier,
SgtC Hervé Bouffenie,
Sgt Julien Flégo.

The twin engine aircraft departed Mulia on a special flight to Ilaga, carrying a delegation of nine people flying to Ilaga to visit several districts of the Irian Jaya province on behalf of a talks between several administrations. While cruising at an altitude of 10,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck Mt Puncak Jaya. The wreckage was found the following day. All 12 occupants were killed.

On July 29, 2006, about 1345 central daylight time, a de Havilland DHC-6-100, N203E, registered to Adventure Aviation, LLC, and operated by Skydive Quantum Leap as a local parachute operations flight, crashed into trees and terrain after takeoff from Sullivan Regional Airport (UUV), near Sullivan, Missouri. The pilot and five parachutists were killed, and two parachutists were seriously injured. The flight was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to photographic evidence provided by a witness, the pilot taxied the airplane onto runway 24 from the intersecting taxiway, which is about 1,700 feet from the runway’s west end, and began a takeoff roll to the west from that location, rather than using the runway’s entire 4,500-foot length. Photographic evidence depicting the airport windsock shows that the airplane departed into a moderate headwind. Witnesses at the airport reported seeing the airplane take off and climb to about treetop height. Several witnesses reported hearing a “poof” or “bang” noise and seeing flames and smoke coming from the right engine. One witness reported that, after the noise and the emergence of flames, the right propeller was “just barely turning.” Photographic evidence shows that, at one point after the flames occurred, the airplane was about one wingspan (about 65 feet) above the runway. One witness estimated that the airplane climbed to about 150 feet. Witnesses reported that the airplane lost some altitude, regained it, and then continued to fly low above the treetops before turning to the right and disappearing from their view behind the tree line. Another witness in the backyard of a residence northwest of the airport reported that she saw the airplane flying straight and level but very low over the trees before it dived nose first to the ground. She and her father called 911, and she said that local emergency medical service personnel arrived within minutes. The airplane impacted trees and terrain and came to rest vertically, nose down against a tree behind a residence about 1/2 mile northwest of the end of runway 24.

The twin engine aircraft departed Nepālganj Airport on a domestic service to Jumla with an intermediate stop in Surkhet, carrying six passengers, three crew members and a load consisting of bags containing grains for a total of 941 kilos. While approaching Jumla Airport, the crew was informed that runway 27 was in use with a wind from 240 at 4 knots. For unknown reasons, the captain started the approach to runway 09 at 1201LT. At an excessive speed, he missed the runway, initiated a go-around procedure and passed to the right of the tower. Then, he started a steep turn to the left when the aircraft lost height and speed and crashed in a field located 500 meters east of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 9 occupants were killed.

The twin engine aircraft departed Santo Antonio Airport on a local training flight, carrying four pilots. While on approach to runway 29, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea few km offshore. All four occupants were killed.

Following an uneventful flight from San José-Tobías Bolaños Airport, the crew started the descent to Tamarindo Airport runway 07. On short final, at a height of about 500 feet, control was lost and the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located 2 km short of runway. All eight occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Two minutes after takeoff from Goma Airport, the crew reported engine problem and decided to make an emergency landing near Murandi, Nyiragongo territory. The aircraft came to rest in a banana plantation, lost its right wing and was damaged beyond repair. Three passengers were injured while 17 other occupants escaped unhurt.

The purpose of the flight was for the second pilot to perform an evaluation of the first pilot, who was recently designated by the operator as a backup pilot. Following several successful flights with and without passengers, the pilots discussed single engine operations, and the first pilot reduced the right engine's power to flight idle and feathered the propeller. During the final leg of the approach to landing, the airplane crossed over a fence near the runway threshold, and the first pilot pitched the airplane downward. The nose landing gear contacted the runway "hard," and the airplane began to bounce. After several bounces, the first pilot elected to abort the landing, increased power on the left engine to "full." As the first pilot pitched the airplane upward, it yawed to the right, "stalled," and impacted the ground.