Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227D in Ambato

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1997 at 1617 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BUF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quito - Ambato
MSN:
573
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, the crew started the descent to Ambato Airport in good weather conditions but was stressed by the presence of another aircraft in the approach area. On approach, the aircraft was too high on the glide and its speed was 100 knots, about 12 knots above the reference speed. This caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway 19, about 900 metres past the runway threshold (Ambato's runway 19 is 2,000 metres long). After touchdown, the crew decided to initiate a go-around procedure and increased engine power. The aircraft adopted a high angle of attack, causing the base of the empennage to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the aircraft continued, overran and came to rest in a ravine located 60 metres past the runway end. All seven occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Wrong approach configuration as the aircraft was too high on the glide with an excessive speed,
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available,
- Poor flight planning,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The copilot failed to calculate properly the approach and landing speeds,
- The captain was not aware of the total weight of the aircraft upon landing,
- The operator failed to train the crew according to the specificities related to Ambato Airport,
- The operator failed to prepare documentation required for the operations at Ambato Airport,
- When the crew initiated the go-around procedure, the aircraft' speed was insufficient, and the input on the control column was sudden, causing the base of the empennage to struck the runway surface.

Crash of a Boeing 727-251A in San Cristóbal

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1997 at 1438 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BVU
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Guayaquil – San Cristóbal
MSN:
21322
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
EH800
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Guayaquil to San Cristóbal, the crew encountered technical problems with the antiskid system. It was decided to perform a low approach to runway 16 to land on the first metres of the runway. On short final, the aircraft was too low, struck approach lights and landed 36 metres short of runway 16 threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft skidded for about 700 metres before coming to rest. All 56 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323C in Manta: 34 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1996 at 2244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N751MA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Manta - Miami
MSN:
19582
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
OX406
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Manta-Eloy Alfaro Airport on a cargo flight to Miami, carrying one passenger, three crew members and a load of frozen fish and flowers. Seven seconds after liftoff, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC that the engine n°3 caught fire. The captain elected to maintain control but the aircraft lost altitude, struck the bell tower of the church La Dolorosa and crashed in a populated area located about 4 km west of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and several houses and building were destroyed. All four occupants as well as 30 people on the ground were killed. Fifty other people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the engine n°3 suffered an uncontained failure during the takeoff roll as debris were found on runway 23.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2B6 in Quito

Date & Time: May 1, 1996 at 1656 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LBY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quito - Guayaquil
MSN:
21297
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
79
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from runway 35 at Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, just before V1 speed, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with the ILS antenna, went down an embankment, struck a concrete wall and came to rest. All 90 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. On board were all staff and players of the Brazilian soccer team Corinthians.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 69,620 kilos, some 9,700 kilos above the MTOW. The crew had been told by the operator that MTOW was 70,000 kilos.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII on Mt Sincholagua: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1995 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N409MA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – La Paz – Quito
MSN:
83
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
105
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Quito with an intermediate stop in La Paz, carrying five passengers and two pilots. The descent to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport was initiated by night and good weather conditions. While descending to the altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Sincholagua (4,899 metres high) located about 45 km southeast of Quito. The wreckage was found the following morning and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew selected the wrong frequency, using Condorcocha VOR instead of the Monjas VOR. This caused the aircraft to follow a wrong pattern for the approach to Quito Airport. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew was not familiar with the region of Quito,
- The crew's experience on this type of aircraft was limited,
- Crew fatigue,
- The crew had a private conversation that was not in accordance with flight rules,
- The crew failed to proceed to appropriate controls during the descent,
- Poor approach planning.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Ambato: 17 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1994
Operator:
Registration:
FAE450
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Taura - Latacunga
MSN:
436
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
En route from Taura to Latacunga, the crew was cleared to climb to FL155 when, at an altitude of 13,400 feet, the twin engine aircraft stuck the slope of Mt Lozan shrouded in clouds. All 17 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 100 metres below the summit.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Ecuador: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1993
Operator:
Registration:
HC-BQC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
207-0467
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. Three occupants were rescued while four others were killed. The exact place of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Pastaza: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1993 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
E-185
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pastaza - Taisha
MSN:
859
YOM:
1987
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Pastaza Airport, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the engine lost power. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a cemetery. One of the pilot was killed while 10 other occupants were injured, some seriously.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 75 in Quito: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1992 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AEE-402
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Machala - Quito
MSN:
380-45
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
FAE001A
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The descent to Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck a 10-floor building under construction and crashed about 3 km short of runway 35. All 10 occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed, among them General Carlomagno Andrade, Chief of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Capahuari

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1992
Operator:
Registration:
E-180
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
750
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Capahuari, the pilot lost visual contact with the ground due to a rain squall. Suddenly, the single engine aircraft struck the runway 36 surface and bounced. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a ravine. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.