Region

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Apia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1997 at 1038 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5W-FAU
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Apia
MSN:
678
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
PH211
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
At about 1038 hours on Tuesday 7 January 1997, Polynesian Airlines’ DHC-6 (Twin Otter) 5W FAU collided with the western slopes of Mt Vaea, Apia, in conditions of low cloud and heavy rain. The aeroplane was on a scheduled flight from Pago Pago to Fagali’i, and was being flown to Fagali’i by visual reference after having made an instrument approach to Faleolo. The captain and two passengers lost their lives in the accident. The first officer and one passenger survived.
Probable cause:
The following causal factors were identified:
• The decision by the captain to continue the flight toward Fagali’i in reduced visibility and subsequently in cloud.
• Mis-identification of ground features, or an inappropriate heading and altitude flown, as a result of inadequate visual reference.
• Insufficient forward visibility to ensure effective and timely action to avoid a collision with terrain.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Asau

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5W-FAF
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
109
YOM:
1969
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Asau Airport, the Islander was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged in a lagoon. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Tau

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1988 at 1036 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N202RH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
68
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19455
Captain / Total hours on type:
3393.00
Aircraft flight hours:
18403
Circumstances:
The captain, who was flying the Twin Otter from the right seat, entered a right hand traffic pattern for landing. A left quartering, 15 knot headwind, was gusting across the airport. Upon turning to the final approach the captain reduced the aircraft's engine power to the low speed range for the visual approach. As the aircraft neared the runway the rate of descent accelerated. The captain's application of full engine power failed to arrest the aircraft's rate of descent and the aircraft impacted the ground short of the runway. All 16 occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: undershoot
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Findings
1. (c) planned approach - improper - pilot in command
2. (f) weather condition - turbulence
3. (f) weather condition - gusts
4. (c) powerplant controls - delayed - pilot in command
5. Stall/mush - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1984 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N43SP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
669
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
HK513
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5094
Captain / Total hours on type:
1020.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11281
Circumstances:
The aircraft crash landed after the pilot used flaps and power to semi control pitch after the elevator down control cable failed at about 300 feet agl on final approach. The left wing of the aircraft hit the terminal roof during the stall mush from 50 feet agl. The company is changing their aircraft control cables from steel to stainless steel to aid in the anti-corrosion and modifying their inspection period from 800 to 100 hours between inspections. The cable that separated failed from corrosion. No evidence of fatigue cracking or mechanical wear was found. Corrosion products were found within 2 inches of the serapation on both cable pieces.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
1. (c) flt control syst, elevator control - corroded
2. (c) flt control syst, elevator control - failure,total
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1979 at 1703 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N23BC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
431
YOM:
1974
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6979
Captain / Total hours on type:
1073.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tau Airport, the copilot failed to call out low airspeed. Following an improper level off, the airplane bounced on landing then veered off runway and collided with trees. All 18 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Hard landing and subsequent collision with trees due to improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- The copilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The copilot did not call out low airspeed on final.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B off Apia: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3SP
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Apia
MSN:
402B-0930
YOM:
1975
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On approach to Apia-Fagali'l Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK off Faleolo: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1970 at 0254 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5W-FAC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Faleolo - Pago Pago
MSN:
16964/34224
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
PH208B
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
One minute after takeoff from Faleolo Airport, while climbing, the airplane entered a low pressure area with thunderstorm activity, rain falls, turbulences and windshear. The airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. It exploded while contacting the water surface and all 32 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by severe turbulences and probable windshear.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Apia: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1966 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5W-FAB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Apia - Apia
MSN:
13996/25441
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4812
Captain / Total hours on type:
1060.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1791
Aircraft flight hours:
7290
Circumstances:
The crew departed Apia-Faleolo Airport around 1735LT for a local training flight, carrying three pilots. After several circuits in the area, the crew decided to return to the airport when, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and eventually crashed into the Apolima Strait, few km off shore. Few debris were found floating on water while the main wreckage was not recovered. All three crew members were killed, among them the Chief Pilot and General Manager of the company.
Probable cause:
The in-flight opening and separation from the structure of the air-stair door which struck the aircraft's tail and so damaged it that uncontrollable pitch-down of the nose resulted in the aircraft diving into the sea.
Final Report:

Crash of a Percival P.50 Prince 3C in Faleolo

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BMQ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
38
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Landed on flat tires for unknown reason. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Catalina off Apia: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4048
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
60959
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Apia-Faleolo, the aircraft crashed into the sea. A crew member was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed. The seaplane was on its way back to New Zealand.