Mountains | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after takeoff from Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered technical problems and lost control of the airplane that crashed in hilly terrain located near Chingaza, about 40 km southeast of Bogotá. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P near Bidzhan: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1983 at 1443 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-07741

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Amurzet – Birobidzhan – Khabarovsk

MSN:

1G159-16

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

SU274

Location:

Bidzhan

Evreyskaya oblast (Jewish Autonomous oblast)

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8866

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Amurzet at 1414LT on a flight to Khabarovsk with an intermediate stop in Birobidzhan, carrying 11 passengers and a crew of two. Weather conditions were considered as marginal with a visibility reduced to 5 km due to rain showers. The crew decided to take off despite the VHF radio communication system was unserviceable. About half an hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 400 meters, weather conditions deteriorated with limited visibility due to mixed rain and snow. The aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 15 km north of Bidzhan, bursting into flames. The copilot and four passengers were critically injured while eight other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the followings:
- The crew decided to take off while the visibility was below minimums,
- The crew decided to take off while the VHF radio communication was unserviceable,
- The crew failed to inform ATC about the deterioration of the weather conditions,
- When weather conditions deteriorated, the crew failed to return and continued the flight into such conditions,
- The crew modified its route without ATC clearance.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Hato Viejo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31 Cheyenne

Operator:

Registration:

YV-251P

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ciudad Bolívar – Mérida

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Ciudad Bolívar to Mérida, the twin engine airplane struck a mountain and crashed near Hato Viejo. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Campo dei Fiori: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

D-IMWH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Vilshofen - Milan

MSN:

31-7712058

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Both occupants, German citizens, were completing a flight from Vilshofen, Germany, to Milan-Malpensa. While cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located in the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, near Varese. Both occupants were killed.
Photos: Isaia Laudi.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Leninakan: 21 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1983 at 1809 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87291

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Volgograd - Nalcik - Leninakan

MSN:

9 32 06 28

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

SU047E

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Nalcik, the crew started the descent to Leninabad Airport when he encountered limited visibility due to low clouds. At an altitude of 3,300 meters and following several navigational errors, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path by 29 km. On his side, the ATC controller was unable to determine the exact position of the aircraft and cleared the crew to descent to 900 meters. While descending at an altitude of 2,523 meters at a speed of 330 km/h, the three engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Shishtepe (2,836 meters high) located about 40 km from Leninabad Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 21 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane deviated from the prescribed flight path following several navigational errors on part of the flying crew. Poor ATC assistance was considered as a contributing factors as he cleared the crew to descent to the altitude of 900 meters despite he was unaware of the exact position of the aircraft. Poor flight preparation, poor approach planning and lack of crew coordination were also considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Kawasaki C-1 on Suga Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1983 at 0720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Kawasaki C-1

Operator:

Registration:

68-1015

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Komaki - Iruma

MSN:

8015

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Nagoya-Komaki on a flight to Iruma AFB with four other similar airplanes. While approaching the Suga Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low ceiling, heavy rain falls and fog. While cruising at an altitude of 600 feet under a special VFR clearance, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,018 meters high), killing all six crew members. A second Kawasaki C-1 crashed in similar conditions, killing all eight crew members while a third airplane struck tree tops but was able to complete an emergency landing on the nearest airport.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Kawasaki C-1 on Suga Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1983 at 0720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Kawasaki C-1

Operator:

Registration:

58-1009

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Komaki - Iruma

MSN:

8009

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Nagoya-Komaki on a flight to Iruma AFB with four other similar airplanes. While approaching the Suga Island, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low ceiling, heavy rain falls and fog. While cruising at an altitude of 600 feet under a special VFR clearance, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,018 meters high), killing all eight crew members. A second Kawasaki C-1 crashed in similar conditions, killing all six crew members while a third airplane struck tree tops but was able to complete an emergency landing on the nearest airport.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Beechcraft 90 King Air near Chiguará: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Servicio de Transporte de la Guardia Nacional

Registration:

YV-706P

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

La Carlota - Mérida

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed La Carlota-Francisco de Miranda AFB at 1430LT on a flight to Mérida, carrying two passengers and two crew (one civilian and three military personnel) on behalf of the Servicio de Transporte de la Guardia Nacional. While descending to Mérida, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Chiguará, about 40 km west of Mérida Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680E in Sitio Alimit: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Operator:

Registration:

C-FPDA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

680-0735-35

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress near St George: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

58-0161

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

464229

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

Lure 75

Location:

Saint George

Utah

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Robins AFB on an exercise (Red Flag mission) bound for California. En route, it deviated from the prescribed flight path several times and was assisted and reoriented by an AWACS crew. While cruising over Utah in poor visibility, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Square Top located 9 km northwest of Gunlop. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald W. Hiebert, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas C. Lennep Jr., copilot,
Cpt Jonathan M. Bishop, radio navigator,
1st Lt Matthew W. Cervenak, navigator,
1st Lt Bernard S. Russell, EWO,
Col Caroll D. Gunther, pilot observer,
S/Sgt Major Carter, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Navigation error on part of the crew.

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