Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Francistown: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 2013 at 0700 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-NVB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lanseria - Francistown - Lubumbashi
MSN:
110-479
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Lanseria to Lubumbashi with an intermediate stop at Francistown Airport to refuel, and the aircraft was carrying a load of ion exchange resins for water purification. During an early morning approach, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions, abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around procedure. During a second approach from the opposite direction, the crew informed ATC he established a visual contact with the runway when the aircraft crashed in a bushy area located some 4,6 km short of runway.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Red Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 2013 at 1727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FWWV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Red Lake - Red Lake
MSN:
A-618
YOM:
1951
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The pilot and his wife, a couple from Phoenix, were performing a flight from the Red Lake Seaplane base to a tourist Camp located north of Red Lake. The twin engine aircraft took off at 1727LT in marginal weather conditions consisting of wind and rain showers. Shortly after departure, the aircraft crashed into the Bruce Channel located between Cochenour and McKenzie Island. The aircraft sank and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Harbin SH-5 (Shuishang Hongzha 5) off Qingdao: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 2013
Operator:
Registration:
9113
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Qingdao - Qingdao
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft Harbin SH-5 (Shuishang Hongzha 5) was engaged in a training mission off Qingdao with a crew of five on board. In unknown circumstances, the seaplane crashed in the Jiaozhou Bay few km offshore, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a Comp Air CA-8 in Sorocaba: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 2013 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-XLR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sorocaba - Jundiaí
MSN:
0204CA8
YOM:
2006
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Sorocaba Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to return. While trying to land in a wasteland, the single engine aircraft crashed in a street and was destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire. Both occupants were killed as a house was also destroyed.

Crash of a Harbin Yunsunji Y-12-II in Shenyang

Date & Time: May 16, 2013 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-3801
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Shenyang - Shenyang
MSN:
0006
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Shenyang-Taoxian Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on a road short of runway, bursting into flames. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. The crew was returning to his base in Shenyang following a cloud seeding mission over the Liaoning Province.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 in North Rawajitu: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 2013 at 1125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-PNC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Rawajitu - North Rawajitu
MSN:
243
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Pilot was engaged in a spraying mission over an oil palm plantation in the region of North Rawajitu, Lampung Province. Less than three minutes after takeoff, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Learjet 60 in Valencia: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2013 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N119FD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Charallave – Valencia
MSN:
60-029
YOM:
1994
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Valencia-Arturo Michelana Airport in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in a residential area some 2,055 metres short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire and both pilots were killed. A building, several houses and cars were also damaged by fire.

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

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2013 at 1435 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34180
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sam Neua – Vientiane
MSN:
231
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
LOA201
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sam Neua-Nathong Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft collided with trees, lots height and crashed in a small river located 200 metres past the runway end. All 18 occupants were injured, five seriously. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Doro

Date & Time: Apr 10, 2013
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK-26407
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
64 07
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight to Doro Airfield, South Sudan, carrying four crew members and a load consisting of food. After landing, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, struck a drainage ditch and came to rest against an earth mound. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C-1 off São Tomé: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 2013 at 1613 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-PHL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Ondangwa – São Tomé – Accra – Bamako
MSN:
UC-74
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10756
Aircraft flight hours:
23388
Aircraft flight cycles:
29117
Circumstances:
The aircraft was planned to fly from Lanseria airport (FALA) in Republic of South Africa to Bamako airport (GABS) in Mali with a stopover in Ondangwa airport (FYOA) in Namibia, São Tomé International airport (FPST) in São Tomé and Príncipe and Accra airport (DGAA) in Ghana, with a rough estimating time of approximately 15hrs flying, not including the ground time at airports of stopover. The aircraft had been in Lanseria airport (FALA) in Republic of South Africa (RSA) for maintenance check (including but not limited to engine work and interior refurbishing). Prior to the planned flight, the aircraft underwent flight check for 45 minutes after completed planned maintenance on Saturday, April 6th, flown by the Captain and another SAS company pilot. The aircraft departed FALA to FYOA for its first stop over whose flight time was 03:35h. The planned departure from FYOA was delayed due to trouble in starting the right engine. The aircraft took off at 1021hrs contrary to planned 0830hrs. For the second leg of the flight, the aircraft departed FYOA to FPST with filed flight plan of 05 hours and 20 minutes (flight time) having FYOA as alternate. Leaving the Namibian airspace the pilot only contacted Luanda ATC and São Tomé Tower as destination, and at no time did he contact Brazzaville or Libreville for any further clearance within Brazzaville FIR: It is important to emphasize that on that day, the west coast of Africa in the vicinity of Gulf of Guinea had widespread moderate to severe thunderstorm activity with lighting and heavy rain. When initiating descent to São Tomé from FL 200 to 4000 feet as instructed by São Tomé ATC, the pilot was advised that weather was gradually deteriorating at airport vicinity. At 1610hrs the pilot had last transmission with Control Tower informing them about his position which was 9 nm inbound to São Tomé VOR at 4000 feet and also informed the ATC that he was encountering heavy rain. Having lost contact with aircraft at 1613hrs, the São Tomé ATC tried several times to contact the airplane by VHF118.9, 127.5, 121.5 and HF 8903 without success. Facing this situation the ATC sent messages to FIRs of Brazzaville and Accra and Libreville Control as well, some airlines flying within São Tomean an adjacent airspace were contacted for any information but all responses were negative. A Search and Rescue operation started on 7 April 2013 the same day the accident occurred and was conducted on the sea and on the island; no trace of aircraft or its debris, pilot or any cargo were found. The search was terminated on 20 April at 1730hrs.
Probable cause:
By the fact that there is no evidence of the crash, the cause of the accident cannot be conclusively decided, however the investigation discovered series of discrepancies and noncompliance which includes:
Pilot:
- Planned long flight as solo pilot from Lanseria to Bamako is excessive for pilot fatigue perspective (over 15 hours flying).
- The First Class FAA (USA) medical Certificate issued on April 23rd 2012 had expired on October 31st 2012.
Meteorological Conditions:
- Adverse weather conditions enroute and on arrival on that day, the west coast of Africa in the vicinity of Gulf of Guinea had widespread moderate to severe thunderstorm activity with lighting and heavy rain. When initiating descent to Sao Tome, the pilot was advised that weather was gradually deteriorating at airport vicinity.
Final Report: