Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Nunapitchuk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1997 at 1123 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N451SA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nunapitchuk - Bethel
MSN:
1972
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3170
Captain / Total hours on type:
130.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7473
Circumstances:
The pilot of Cessna 207A, N800GA, was returning to his company base, passing about 2 miles north of a remote airstrip that was along the route of flight. The airstrip did not have any control tower. [Communications around an uncontrolled airport are conducted on a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF)]. The pilot of a Short SC7, N451SA, announced his departure from the same airstrip on the CTAF, and took off in a northerly direction. He then began a climbing right turn toward the same destination as the Cessna 207A was proceeding. The two airplanes collided in mid-air, about 1.49 nautical miles east-northeast of the airstrip, which was about 18.3 miles west of their destination. They were observed spiraling downward from about 800 ft above the ground. Both airplanes were found lying flat and upright on a frozen lake, entangled together at the accident site. The Cessna's burned wreckage was lying on top of (and positioned toward the aft third of) the burned wreckage of the Short SC7.
Probable cause:
inadequate visual look-out by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid each other's airplanes.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1996 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N10DA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Clarksburg - Pittsburgh
MSN:
1873
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
SBX1215
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
18553
Circumstances:
The pilot had flown this route in make and model airplane for nearly 4 years. He calculated 900 pounds of fuel were required for the flight, and saw 956 pounds on the fuel totalizer. The pilot was told by the ground controller of weather delays to his destination that ranged up to 2.5 hours. En route he was issued holding instructions with an EFC of 50 minutes later. After released from holding, 52 minutes after takeoff, the pilot was told that he was being vectored for a 35 mile final approach. The pilot then told the controller that he was fuel critical and the controller vectored him ahead of other airplanes. Ten minutes later, 84 minutes after takeoff, the controller asked his fuel status, and the pilot responded 'pretty low, seems like I'm losing oil pressure.' The pilot then advised the controller, 85 minutes after takeoff, that he shut down the right engine. He then declared an emergency and advised that he was not going to make the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel tanks were intact, the fuel caps were secured, and the amount of fuel recovered from both tanks was 1.5 gallons, which was less than the specified unusable quantity. Company records showed that similar flights took about 48 minutes, and the airplane's average fuel flow was 580 pounds per hour.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue to his destination when known en route delays were encountered which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 400 in Hoogeveen

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FDI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hoogeveen - Hoogeveen
MSN:
1869
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched at Hoogeveen Airport to perform local skydiving missions. While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew ordered the skydivers to bail out and decided to return for an emergency landing. On final, the crew realized he could not make it and eventually completed an emergency landing in a potato field located about 500 metres short of runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the crew miscalculated the necessary fuel quantity for the all mission as the accident occurred after 6 rotations.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 near Farewell: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1995 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N30GA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Farewell - Anchorage
MSN:
1839
YOM:
1968
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11389
Captain / Total hours on type:
2200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
15798
Circumstances:
The pilot had departed a remote airstrip on the return portion of a cargo flight. An instrument flight plan was on file with the ARTCC. After departure, the pilot attempted to contact ARTCC to open his flight plan but communications were not established. The airplane struck mountainous terrain about 6 miles south of the departure airport. Radar data showed that after departure, the airplane climbed westbound and then turned southbound toward higher terrain. It circled southwest of the airport and turned eastbound while climbing to 5,300 feet msl. The airplane then turned southbound again toward the accident site. The last recorded radar data was at 5,200 feet msl. The airplane struck a ridgeline about 4,800 feet msl. Airmets were in effect for IFR conditions, low ceilings, mountain obscurations, rain, fog, and icing in clouds and in precipitation. A witness reported that when the airplane arrived at the airport, the airframe had a coating of ice. When the airplane departed, snow was falling at the airport.
Probable cause:
The pilot's continued vfr flight into instrument meteorological conditions. The weather was a factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 400 in Hohenems

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FDL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hohenems - Hohenems
MSN:
1904
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Hohenems-Dornbirn Airport on a local skydiving mission, carrying 23 skydivers and one pilot. After takeoff from runway 05, while climbing to a height of about 50 metres, the pilot encountered difficulties to gain height and elected to make an emergency landing when the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field located 500 metres from the runway end. Four occupants, including the pilot, were injured. All 20 other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is possible that the aircraft was operated beyond its MTOW permissible limit.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Empuriabrava: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1993 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-OVAN
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Empuriabrava - Empuriabrava
MSN:
1892
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Empuriabravia Airfield on a local skydiving mission. After all skydivers jumped, the pilot returned to the airport. On final approach, the pilot encountered engine problems and initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft lost height, struck trees and crashed short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines on final approach caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Vahun

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LX-UGO
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1945
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vahun Airfield, at a height of 40 feet and at a speed of 77 knots, the twin engine aircraft adopted a high sink rate. The captain increased engine power when the aircraft rolled to the right, collided with trees and crashed few hundred metres short of runway. All 13 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Long Loyang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1993 at 1232 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9M-AXM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ba'kelalan - Marudi
MSN:
1967
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Ba'kelalan to Marudi, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy rain falls. The crew lost his orientation and due to fuel exhaustion, was forced to attempt an emergency landing. After landing in an open field, the aircraft struck a rock and crashed. One passenger was killed while 16 other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
The crew got lost in bad weather and deviated from the prescribed flight plan. Due to fuel shortage, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed 180 km southwest of the departure point while the destination is 150 km northwest of the departure point. The passenger who was killed was not wearing a seatbelt as the aircraft was not equipped with seatbelt.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 on Mt Kapur: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9M-PID
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Medan - Banda Aceh
MSN:
1961
YOM:
1978
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
En route from Medan to Banda Aceh, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds. The crew informed ATC about his altitude at 8,500 feet when, three minutes later, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Kapur located about 130 km northwest of Medan. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain because the crew was flying below the minimum prescribed altitude in poor visibility due to clouds. On the route from Medan to Banda Aceh, published procedures fix a minimum altitude of 9,500 feet during the first portion of 160 km then 11,500 feet for the rest of the route. At the time of the accident, sky was overcast from 4,000 to 12,000 feet and the crew was obviously unaware of his insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3A Variant 200 in Bethel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1992 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N20086
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bethel - Chevak
MSN:
1918
YOM:
1973
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6390
Circumstances:
The airplane rolled 200-300 feet before becoming airborne in a very nose high attitude. It maintained this attitude, made a right, then a left bank, and fell to the ground in a nose high attitude. The cargo consisted of eight 55-gallons drums of fuel, laid on their side and secured by one cargo strap running fore and aft and another cargo strap running diagonally across the barrels. The tie down ring ultimate strength rating was 1,600 pounds. The weight of the cargo was 2,863 pounds. Three of the cargo hooks associated with the cargo straps were found still attached to the tie down rings, and one hook and tie down ring were not located. Post-impact fire destroyed the cargo straps, and the barrels were strewn randomly through the cabin/cargo area. According to the manufacturer, the davis tie down ring installation is not approved by the manufacturer. The modification should have been accomplished under a supplemental type certificate. The logbooks showed only an entry. The certificated max gross weight was calculated to have been exceeded by 324.8 lbs. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate security of the cargo which shifted rearward during the takeoff roll. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the over gross weight condition, and the improper alteration of the tie down rings by the overhauling maintenance facility.
Final Report: