Crash of an Airbus A300-600 in New York: 265 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 2001 at 0916 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N14053
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
New York - Santo Domingo
MSN:
420
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
AA587
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
251
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
265
Captain / Total flying hours:
8050
Captain / Total hours on type:
1723.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4403
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1835
Aircraft flight hours:
37550
Aircraft flight cycles:
14934
Circumstances:
On November 12, 2001, about 0916:15 eastern standard time, American Airlines flight 587, an Airbus Industrie A300-605R, N14053, crashed into a residential area of Belle Harbor, New York, shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, New York. Flight 587 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight to Las Americas International Airport, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with 2 flight crewmembers, 7 flight attendants, and 251 passengers aboard the airplane. The airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder separated in flight and were found in Jamaica Bay, about 1 mile north of the main wreckage site. The airplane's engines subsequently separated in flight and were found several blocks north and east of the main wreckage site. All 260 people aboard the airplane and 5 people on the ground were killed, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Flight 587 was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer as a result of the loads beyond ultimate design that were created by the first officer's unnecessary and excessive rudder pedal inputs. Contributing to these rudder pedal inputs were characteristics of the Airbus A300-600 rudder system design and elements of the American Airlines Advanced Aircraft Maneuvering Program.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Puerto Plata: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 2001 at 0815 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HI-535SP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Puerto Plata
MSN:
500-840
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While descending to Puerto Plata Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to low clouds and fog. The twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Loma del Toro located few km from Puerto Plata and was destroyed. All seven occupants were killed. The crew started the approach prematurely and descended too low in poor visibility.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-61F in Miami: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1997 at 1236 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N27UA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Miami - Santo Domingo
MSN:
45942
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
FB101A
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
12154
Captain / Total hours on type:
2522.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2641
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1592
Aircraft flight hours:
46825
Aircraft flight cycles:
41688
Circumstances:
Fine Air Flight 101 was originally scheduled to depart Miami for Santo Domingo at 09:15 using another DC-8 airplane, N30UA, to carry cargo for Aeromar. Due to a delay of the inbound aircraft, Fine Air substituted N27UA for N30UA and rescheduled the departure for 12:00. N27UA arrived at Miami at 09:31 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was parked at the Fine Air hangar ramp. The security guard was not aware of the airplane change, and he instructed Aeromar loaders to load the airplane in accordance with the weight distribution form he possessed for N30UA. The first cargo pallet for flight 101 was loaded onto N27UA at 10:30 and the last pallet was loaded at 12:06. The resulting center of gravity (CG) of the accident airplane was near or even aft of the airplane’s aft CG limit. After the three crew members and the security guard had boarded the plane, the cabin door `was closed at 12:22. Eleven minutes later the flight obtained taxi clearance for runway 27R. The Miami tower controller cleared flight 101 for takeoff at 12:34. Takeoff power was selected and the DC-8 moved down the runway. The flightcrew performed an elevator check at 80 knots. Fourteen seconds later the sound of a thump was heard. Just after calling V1 a second thump was heard. Two seconds later the airplane rotated. Immediately after takeoff the airplane pitched nose-up and entered a stall. The DC-8 recovered briefly from the stall, and stalled again. The airplane impacted terrain in a tail first, right wing down attitude. it slid west across a road (72nd Avenue) and into the International Airport Center at 28th Street and burst into flames. Investigation showed that the center of gravity resulted in the airplane’s trim being mis-set by at least 1.5 units airplane nose up, which presented the flightcrew with a pitch control problem on takeoff.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident, which resulted from the airplane being misloaded to produce a more aft center of gravity and a correspondingly incorrect stabilizer trim setting that precipitated an extreme pitch-up at rotation, was
1) The failure of Fine Air to exercise operational control over the cargo loading process; and
2) The failure of Aeromar to load the airplane as specified by Fine Air.
Contributing to the accident was the failure of the FAA to adequately monitor Fine Airs operational control responsibilities for cargo loading and the failure of the FAA to ensure that known cargo-related deficiencies were corrected at Fine Air.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-53 in San Juan

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1997 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N344MM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Santo Domingo
MSN:
53-26
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
6970.00
Aircraft flight hours:
24793
Circumstances:
After departing from runway 08, the airplane climbed to 400 feet above ground level (agl) where the left engine lost power. After confirming a loss of power, the pilot feathered the left propeller, and called for maximum 'dry' thrust on the right engine. Wet power was available which would have provided 450 additional horsepower, however, the pilot elected not to use it. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, collided with a palm tree, and came to rest on the beach in the surf line. The reason for the left engine malfunction was not determined due to salt water damage. The airplane was 600 pounds over maximum weight.
Probable cause:
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, the pilot's improper emergency procedure after the power loss, and the overloading of the airplane, resulting in an inability to maintain altitude and terrain clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440-98F Metropolitan near La Romana: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1995 at 0950 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N356SA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Aguadilla
MSN:
432
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport at 0822LT on a cargo flight to Aguadilla. Few minutes later, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to return. In unclear circumstances, the aircraft crashed 88 minutes after its departure in an isolated area located in the region of La Romana. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Crash of a BAe 125-400 in Saint Domingo

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1995 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N41953
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Santo Domingo
MSN:
25268
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a short flight from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport to Santo Domingo-Herrera Airport located in the city center. On short final, the pilot-in-command mistakenly reduced the engine power too much, causing the aircraft to lose height and to struck the runway surface with an excessive vertical speed. The aircraft landed hard, bounced and came to rest few hundred metres further. All six occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ground fire of a Boeing 727-281 in Santo Domingo

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-617CA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Santo Domingo
MSN:
20726
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
98
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Twenty minutes after takeoff from San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marin Airport, while in cruising altitude, a steward noticed smoke in the lavatory and informed the crew accordingly. In the meantime, the crew noticed a fire alarm in the cockpit, declared an emergency and became number one for landing at Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport. Following a normal approach and landing, the crew vacated the runway and parked the aircraft at gate A6. While the passengers was disemmarking, smoke spread in the cabin and fire erupted, destroying the airplane.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a fire broke out in the rear lavatory after an engine used to drain the toilet overheated.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF in Santo Domingo

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-599CT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
45208
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport, the copilot started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The captain took over controls when the aircraft started to veer to the left and skidded. The crew aborted the takeoff procedure when the aircraft rolled left and right, causing the right wing to struck the ground. On impact, both right engines n°3 and 4 were torn off. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway to the right, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D in Puerto Plata: 34 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1992 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T1270
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Puerto Plata – Havana
MSN:
187 0103 01
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
While on a VOR approach to runway 26 at Puerto Plata-Gregorio Luperón Airport, the crew decided to make a circling visual approach to runway 08. While turning, the four engine aircraft struck the Peak Isabel de Torres located 14 km west of runway 08 threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 34 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew completed the last 'base leg tun' at an excessive distance of 9 nm instead of the prescribed 4 nm. The approach was completed by night and the crew failed to sea and avoid the mountain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF off Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1992 at 0225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-619SP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Santo Domingo
MSN:
45158
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew reported over radio that the #4 engine failed shortly after takeoff, and they were attempting to dump fuel when the #2 engine overheated. They then intentionally ditched the airplane. The wreckage was recovered about 2 weeks afterward, and the airplane was about 50% corroded away. Due to massive salt water corrosion, no preimpact failure/malfunction of the #4 engine could be identified. No record of airplane/operator being granted cfr part 129 certificate authority. No substantiation of the times in service for the airplane, engines, propellers, and time change components or airworthiness directives could be determined.
Probable cause:
Failure of the #4 engine for an undetermined reasons(s), and the inability of the airplane to remain airborne due to the over gross weight takeoff performed by the pilot. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the questionable airworthiness of the airplane and engines due to the lack of records, and the failure of the federal aviation administration to adequately surveil the operator.
Final Report: