Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Schedule:

Leningrad – Moscow

MSN:

0 2 19 03

YOM:

1960

Flight number:

SU2420

Location:

Leningrad-Shosseynaya

Leningrad oblast

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

17095

Aircraft flight cycles:

10698

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Leningrad-Shosseinaya Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 7,800 meters, a stewardess informed the cockpit crew about a passenger who wanted to fly to Stockholm and was carrying a pistol and a hand grenade. After entering the cockpit, the hijacker stand by the flight engineer. The crew returned to Leningrad-Shosseinaya and on final approach, while at a height of 120-140 meters, the captain asked the copilot to lower the gear. When the hijacker realized they were flying back to Leningrad, he unpin the grenade that exploded in the cockpit, causing a huge hole in the fuselage. The hijacker and the flight engineer were killed while both pilots were slightly injured. 30 seconds later, the pilots were able to land the airplane at a speed of 310 km/h. After touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to a halt. All 55 other occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was not repaired.

Probable cause:

Hijacked after takeoff and severely damaged by the explosion of a grenade and the failure of the nose gear after landing.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Goroka: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UBY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During initial climb, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed by an airport road. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed, a pilot, a missionary and two passengers.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Davenport: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1973 at 1704 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N310WA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Muscatine - Davenport - Chicago

MSN:

BA-12

YOM:

1954

Location:

Davenport

Iowa

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Davenport Airport, the right wing detached. The twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Structural failure of the right wing on descent due to fatigue cracks. The following factors were reported:
- Airframe, wings spars,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Preexisting crack on lower spar cap WS-81 that was discernible but not detected over a 6-year period,
- Right wing folded upward.

Final Report:

Ground accident of a Nord 2501D Noratlas in Israel

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Operator:

Registration:

4X-FAO/072

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Parked on apron, the airplane was completing an engine run with three technicians on board. The airplane jumped over the chocks, rolled for few meters before colliding with a concrete wall. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas in Djibouti City

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Operator:

Portalia Air-Cargo

Registration:

9XR-KH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Schedule:

Djibouti City - Kigali

MSN:

YOM:

1956

Location:

Djibouti City

Djibouti City District

Country:

Djibouti

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taking off from Djibouti City Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured. They were completing a cargo flight on behalf of Wolfair.

Probable cause:

The aircraft stalled just after rotation following an engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Bamyan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

YA-GAT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Bamyan - Kabul

MSN:

111

YOM:

1968

Location:

Bamyan

Country:

Afghanistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At liftoff at Bamyan Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while 15 other occupants were injured. All passengers were US and Canadian citizens.

Crash of a Vickers 735 Viscount in Mosul

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

YI-ACL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Baghdad - Mosul

MSN:

YOM:

1955

Location:

Mosul

Nīnawā (Nineveh) (نينوى)

Country:

Iraq

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

24498

Aircraft flight cycles:

14649

Circumstances:

While descending to Mosul, the crew encountered technical problems with the fuel supply system and declared an emergency. In a certain confusion, the pilots did not follow the approach checklist and failed to lower the undercarriage. The airplane landed on its belly and slid for dozen meters before coming to rest. While all 33 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Improper operation of the fuel system followed by failure to extend the undercarriage.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Greensboro: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1973 at 2212 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Rusk Aviation

Registration:

N4599Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Greensboro - Greensboro

MSN:

402A-099

YOM:

1969

Location:

Greensboro

North Carolina

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10500

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Greensboro, while engaged in a local demo flight, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent following a failure of the elevator tab control system. The following factors were reported:
- Flight control system disconnected,
- Bolt connecting aft elevator bellcrank and elevator pushrod came loose,
- 100 h ours inspection completed 66 hours prior to the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 60 in Montrose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1973 at 1635 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 60

Operator:

Registration:

N743R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site: