Human factor

MSN:

BB-1119

YOM:

1983

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Circumstances:

On May 15, 1996, about 0130 eastern daylight time, a Beech 200, N1865D, registered to R&B Leasing INC., crashed shortly after takeoff from the Treasure Cay International Airport, Treasure Cay, Bahamas. Weather conditions at the time of the accident are not available and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot and co-pilot were fatally injured. It was reported that at the time of the accident the airplane was being stolen from the Treasure Cay International Airport, Treasure Cay, Bahamas.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-15 in Tampico

Date & Time: May 14, 1996

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

XA-SNR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Tampico-General Francisco Javier Mina

Schedule:

Orlando – Cancún

MSN:

45699

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

LL401

Location:

Tamaulipas

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Orlando to Cancún, the crew got lost and was unable to follow the prescribed route, causing the aircraft to deviate from the flight plan to the west. Eventually, the crew was vectored to the Tampico-General Francisco Javier Mina Airport located about 1,144 km northwest of the destination airport. On final approach, both engines failed simultaneously due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft lost speed, stalled and collided with ILS equipment located about 300 metres short of runway 31. Upon impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft crash landed on the runway and came to rest 220 metres further. All 47 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft 300LW Super King Air near Linz: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1996 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 300 Super King Air

Operator:

Registration:

OE-FEM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Salzburg - Krems

MSN:

FA-210

YOM:

1990

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Circumstances:

En route from Salzburg to Krems, while cruising in IMC conditions, the crew cancelled the IFR flight plan and continued under VFR mode. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain shrouded by clouds and crashed about 35 km northeast of Linz. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander in Oumba: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1996 at 1315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

P2-ISD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Menyamya – Marawaka

MSN:

582

YOM:

1977

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Circumstances:

En route from Menyamya to Marawaka, weather conditions deteriorated while the pilot was flying in a deep valley. He elected to find a hole in the clouds to leave the area when, at a speed of 80 knots, the aircraft stalled, collided with trees and crashed on hilly terrain. A passenger was killed while nine other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to monitor his speed indicator and failed to realize the speed dropped while trying to get out of a deep valley.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Terrace: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1996 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Buffalo Narrows Airways

Registration:

C-GDOB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ketchikan – Prince Rupert – Dawson Creek – Buffalo Narrows

MSN:

194

YOM:

1957

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Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Copilot / Total flying hours:

5000

Circumstances:

The single-engine, float-equipped DHC-3 Otter departed Ketchikan, Alaska, at 0905 Pacific daylight time (PDT) on 09 May 1996 with a pilot and co-pilot on board. They were on a visual flight rules (VFR) ferry flight to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, en route to Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. After a refuelling stop and weather briefing at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the aircraft departed eastbound along the published Telkwa Pass VFR route. When the aircraft did not arrive at Dawson Creek, it was reported overdue. The next day, an extensive search for the missing Otter was commenced and wreckage was located by search and rescue aircraft at 1930 PDT, 30 miles east of Terrace, in the Telkwa Pass. The aircraft had struck mountainous terrain and was destroyed. Both occupants were fatally injured.

Probable cause:

The absence of aircraft wreckage and documentation precludes an analysis of the technical aspects of this accident. This analysis, therefore, concentrates solely on the operational aspects. The high impact speed is indicative of either a loss of control followed by a rapid descent into terrain or controlled flight into unseen terrain. Given that the pilot reported encountering snow showers within 15 miles of the accident site, it is possible that the weather continued to deteriorate and may have adversely affected the pilot's ability to maintain visual contact with the terrain.
Findings:
1. The weight and centre of gravity of the aircraft at the last take-off were estimated to have been within the prescribed limits.
2. The pilot was certified, trained, and qualified for the flight in accordance with existing regulations.
3. Marginal visual weather conditions existed in the vicinity of the accident site.
4. It is possible that deteriorating weather affected the pilot's ability to maintain visual contact with the terrain.
Causes and Contributing Factors:
It was not determined why the aircraft struck terrain; however, it is likely that the contact occurred during conditions of reduced visibility.

Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Khartoum: 53 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1996 at 2200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Federal Air

Registration:

ST-FAG

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Wau - Khartoum

MSN:

27307909

YOM:

1966

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Wau to Khartoum, carrying 48 students from the Bahr al-Ghazalm University and five crew members. On approach to Khartoum-Haj Yusuf Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to a sandstorm and night. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the crew abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around procedure. The crew then attempted several times to approach the airport of Khartoum and all attempts were abandoned, some sources are talking about nine attempts to land. On approach by night, the captain informed ATC he was short of fuel when the aircraft struck a building under construction and crashed about 15 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 53 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew attempted several approaches in poor weather conditions and descended until the aircraft collided with obstacles and crashed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Saint George

Date & Time: May 3, 1996 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Swearingen SA227 Metro III

Operator:

Registration:

N670PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saint Paul - Saint George

MSN:

AC-613

YOM:

1985

Flight number:

KS661

Location:

Saint George

Alaska

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

19100

Captain / Total hours on type:

5500.00

Aircraft flight hours:

17167

Circumstances:

According to passenger's accounts, the airplane was flying low and approached the runway at an angle. The airplane made a right turn and dragged the right wing on the runway's surface. The airplane landed hard and sheared off the right main landing gear and the nose gear. The weather reported by AWOS was 300 foot overcast with a visibility of 2.5 miles with fog. The Captain stated the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway due to the crosswind, and he executed a right turn to realign with the runway. The cockpit voice recorder indicated that the stall warning horn sounded as the First Officer called for the application of power.

Probable cause:

Failure of the captain to maintain proper altitude and wingtip clearance, while aligning the airplane with the runway before landing. His delay in aligning the aircraft with the runway was a related factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a Socata TBM-700 in Kushiro: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1996 at 1108 LT

Type of aircraft:

Socata TBM-700

Operator:

Registration:

JA8896

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sapporo - Kushiro

MSN:

YOM:

1993

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Circumstances:

The pilot encountered poor visibility on approach to Kushiro Airport due to foggy conditions. Too low on final, the single engine aircraft collided with elements of the ILS systems and crashed 200 metres short of runway 17, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 748-352-2B in Meghauli

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1996 at 1158 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

9N-ABR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: