Zone

Crash of a Fokker 50 in Mellila

Date & Time: Jan 17, 2003 at 1201 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH-FZE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Málaga – Melilla
MSN:
20182
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
YW8276
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12900
Captain / Total hours on type:
3500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
457
Copilot / Total hours on type:
64
Aircraft flight hours:
22534
Aircraft flight cycles:
25803
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 15 at Melilla Airport, the pilot-in-command noticed that he could not engage the ground idle/reverse of both propellers, and that the aircraft did not brake normally. The aircraft started to deviate to the left of the runway axis while both pilots were applying brakes. After tyre n°3 burst, the deviation continued until the aircraft left the paved surface of the runway and finally fell through an embankment with around 15 metres of height located at the end of runway 15. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot-in-command and other nine people suffered minor injuries. There was no fire.
Probable cause:
It is considered that the accident probably happened because of a combination of three factors:
1. An unstable approach that resulted in a higher than normal touchdown speed.
2. The inability to select propeller reverse due to the probable tripping of the circuit breaker FLIGHT IDLE SOLENOID 1 & 2 before or at touchdown.
3. The cross connection of the wheel speed transducer wire harness of wheels 3 and 4, which, due to heavy braking, produced a flat spot in wheel 3 and reduced the braking capability of wheel 4.
Final Report:

Crash of a Casa-Nurtanio CN-235-200 (IPTN) in Málaga: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 2001 at 1016 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EC-FBC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Melilla – Málaga
MSN:
C-033
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
AX8261
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
7372
Captain / Total hours on type:
4166.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8485
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4885
Aircraft flight hours:
14577
Aircraft flight cycles:
20780
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Melilla, the crew was cleared to descend to Málaga-Pablo Ruiz Picasso Airport. On final approach to runway 32, the crew encountered an unexpected situation when the engine fire warning light came on in the cockpit panel, indicating a fire on the left engine. The copilot informed ATC and after he declared an emergency, was cleared to land on runway 32. On short final, both engines stopped. The aircraft stalled and crashed 538 metres short of runway threshold and came to rest against the embankment of a motorway. The captain and three passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is considered that the cause of the accident was the incorrect execution, by the crew, of the emergency procedure of fire or serious damage to an engine contained in the Flight Operations Manual that was on board the aircraft, causing the consecutive shutdown of both engines with the consequent total loss of thrust, so that the progression of the flight was impeded. The activation of the emergency procedure occurred as a consequence of a left engine fire warning which turned out to be false. The appearance of the false fire warning could be caused by the presence of moisture and/or dirt in the connectors of the fire detector circuit. It is considered that a contributing factor to these circumstances could be the definition of maintenance tasks for that system in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, which was not compliant to the methods recommended by the manufacturer of the fire detection system to avoid the existence of humidity in the installation. As factors that could have contributed to the incorrect performance of the crew during the application of the emergency procedure, the following are considered:
- A lack of coordination in the piloting tasks, carried out in the absence of 'Crew Resource Management" criteria.
- Insufficient training for the cockpit change received by the copilot, which did not include simulator training for the application of emergency procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a BAe 146-100 in Cap de Trois Fourhces: 38 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1998 at 0750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-GEO
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Málaga – Melilla
MSN:
E1007
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
PV4101
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Captain / Total flying hours:
7818
Captain / Total hours on type:
1648.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3501
Copilot / Total hours on type:
408
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Málaga-Pablo Ruiz Picasso Airport, the crew initiated the descent to Melilla Airport in marginal weather conditions. After being cleared to descend to 7,000 feet from Sevilla ATC, the crew contacted Melilla Tower and was cleared to descend to 5,000 feet. Melilla Tower then reported that runway 33 was in use and reported wind at 270° at 5 knots, visibility 8 km with few clouds at 1,000 feet. At 0645LT the copilot reported that they were at 22 nm at an altitude of 3,000 feet. From this point, the crew descended below the minimum safe altitude of 4,000 feet and crossed the coast line in limited visibility due to low clouds. At 0749 and 52 seconds, the GPWS alarm sounded twice in the cockpit. Few seconds later, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Cap de Trois Fourche. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Given the facts and analysis conducted, the Commission concluded that the accident was caused by a collision with terrain in IMC conditions. This confirms the hypothesis put forward by members of the committee of investigation from the beginning of their investigations, it is a type of CFIT accident (collision with the ground without loss of control) due to the combination of the following factors:
- Non application of the arrival procedure, including descending below the minimum safe altitude,
- Inadequate crew coordination,
- Non application of company procedures regarding the GPWS alarm.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 425 Conquest I off Málaga

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
EC-ETH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Melilla - Málaga
MSN:
425-0151
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a ferry flight from Melilla to Málaga. While on approach to Málaga-Pablo Ruiz Picasso Airport runway 32, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft 80 metres offshore. The pilot was quickly rescued while the aircraft sank.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines on final approach due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Olías: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-IESI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Sevilla - Melilla
MSN:
30036
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route from Sevilla to Melilla, the crew encountered limited visibility due to fog. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Olías, some 11 km northeast of Málaga. Two passengers were rescued while 15 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Dornier Do J Wal off Melilla: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
W-19
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Melilla – Málaga
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Melilla, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the sea, bursting into flames. Three crew members were rescued and two others were killed.

Crash of a Dornier Do J Wal off Cape Figalo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
W-8
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Los Alcázares - Melilla
MSN:
31
YOM:
1925
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The seaplane departed the bay of Los Alcázares at 0900LT on a flight to Melilla, carrying three crew members. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated. Five days later, on 5 January 1929, the wreckage was found four km west of Cape Figalo, Algeria. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cdt Caulac,
Cpt Pauler +1.