Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Real Aero Club de Barcelona

Schedule:

Zaporozhie - Ternopol

MSN:

9 24 17 24

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was cleared of snow prior to departure but as it was snowing continuously, the aircraft was again covered by snow between the moment it was deiced and the takeoff procedure. During the takeoff roll in poor weather conditions (snowfall and poor visibility), the pilot-in-command started the rotation. The aircraft lifted off and climbed for few meters when the left wing dropped, causing the left main gear to struck the runway surface. The airplane landed back and the crew decided to attempt an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and the left wing collided with the building of a meteorological post located 25 metres behind the runway threshold. All 3 crew and 14 passengers escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was contaminated with snow during the takeoff procedure and that the stabs were positioned in a -5,9° angle instead of the prescribed -3,9°.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28A-1 in Vernier: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1975 at 0905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.28A/B

Operator:

Registration:

EC-BNH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Geneva - Sion

MSN:

3030

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3381

Captain / Total hours on type:

1.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2990

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1400

Aircraft flight hours:

2530

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed runway 23 at Geneva-Cointrin Airport at 0903LT. During initial climb in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the crew encountered technical problems with instruments and the airplane completed several turns at a height between 10 and 40 meters. The crew spotted a building of nine floors and elected to make an evasive manoeuvre when the airplane stalled and crashed on a railway track located in Vernier, about three km from the airport. The accident occurred about two minutes after takeoff. At the time of the accident, the horizontal visibility was 500 meters, the vertical visibility 65 meters with a runway visual range of 750 meters for runway 23.

Probable cause:

Investigations determined that after departure, the pilots were confronted with various technical issues on several instruments. Indeed, the crew had started the flight under instrument flight rules but was forced to continue under VFR mode, which was impossible due to the lack of visibility caused by the presence of fog. The aircraft maintenance did not comply with the published requirements due to corrosion detected on the bearings of the electrical turn indicator that led to the assumption that this instrument was not working at takeoff, and probably for a long time. In addition, the artificial horizon was blocked at the time of impact and investigators believe that this instrument was partially deficient at the time of departure. The pilot-in-command accumulated 3,381 flight hours in total but had only 45 minutes of experience on this type of aircraft. The copilot had a total of 2,990 flying hours including 1,400 on type. Given the presence of fog, the pilot's lack of experience and the malfunctioning of two vital instruments, the crew should not have started the flight, especially since neither pilot had a valid license under IFR mode.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54P Skymaster at Davis Monthan AFB

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975 at 1358 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Transvall Corporation

Registration:

N39AP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Davis-Monthan - Barstow-Daggett

MSN:

10430

YOM:

1944

Location:

Davis-Monthan AFB

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6409

Captain / Total hours on type:

20.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Davis Monthan AFB, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Collision with wires,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Gust locks engaged,
- Operational supervisory personnel: inadequate supervision of flight crew,
- Unqualified person operated aircraft,
- Airport conditions,
- Checklist: failed to use,
- Downwind,
- Mechanic acting as copilot,
- 3,060 feet soft dirt strip.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Mammoth Lakes: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975 at 0835 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Registration:

N2855W

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mammoth Lakes – Santa Ana

MSN:

P-229

YOM:

1973

Location:

Mammoth Lakes-Yosemite

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2400

Circumstances:

Shortly after liftoff from Mammoth Lakes-Yosemite Airport, while in initial climb, both propellers oversped. As the airspeed was insufficient, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Propeller and accessories: hydraulic pitch control mechanism,
- Lack of action on part of the pilot,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Propeller oversped due to congealed oil,
- The pilot failed to exercise props checks before takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in New Orleans: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

58-0721

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS

MSN:

3516

YOM:

1959

Location:

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS, while in initial climb, the engine n°1 failed. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the airport. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the engine n°1 for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Bozoy: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1974 at 1346 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-40518

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Yuzhnyy - Shalkar

MSN:

1G83-21

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6006

Aircraft flight cycles:

6686

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in several flights between Shalkar and Yuzhnyy, carrying oil field workers. After takeoff from Yuzhnyy, the crew decided to make a stop in Bozoy but there was no passengers to embark so it was decided to continue quickly. Shortly after takeoff, while flying at a relative low height in limited visibility, the single engine airplane struck a radio mast (160 meters high) located near Bozoy. The airplane embedded in the mast at a height of 85 meters. Few debris fell down and all three occupants were ejected and killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew precipitated the departure from Bozoy without checking weather conditions and flight conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor flight planning,
- Marginal weather conditions with low clouds, patches of fog and limited visibility,
- The passenger was illegally on board,
- The crew failed to communicate with ATC,
- Insufficient altitude,
- Wrong decisions.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Tikal: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Erwin Ortiz

Registration:

TG-HTM

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tikal - Guatemala City

MSN:

2582

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Tikal Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 24 occupants were killed, among them 21 Americans returning to Guatemala City.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident was not determined. However, the assumption that control was lost following an in-flight fire was not ruled out.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Khabarovsk

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1974

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-09611

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G74-32

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It rolled left and right then stalled and crashed near the runway end. All 22 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The total weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident was well above MTOW with 20 passengers on board, eight more than the 12 seats certified.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Seattle: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1974 at 1805 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

N66HA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Seattle - Oak Harbor

MSN:

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

HG308

Location:

Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac)

Washington

Country:

Region: