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Basque Country

Crash of an Embraer EMB-120RT Brasília in Zaldíbar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 2002 at 0728 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-GTJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid - Bilbao
MSN:
120-024
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
IBT1278
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
7500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1575.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2648
Copilot / Total hours on type:
832
Aircraft flight hours:
23578
Aircraft flight cycles:
29468
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Madrid-Barajas at 0635LT on a cargo service (flight IBT1278) to Bilbao, carrying one company mechanic, two pilots and a load of cargo consisting of 2,873 kilos of various goods. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared to start the descent to Bilbao-Sondica Airport for an ILS approach to runway 30. During the descent, the crew encountered control problems which he attributed to an autopilot malfunction. While trying to identify the problem, the crew failed to realized that the rate of descent increased when the GPWS alarm sounded three times. Shortly later, while attempting to gain height, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Santa Marina Vieja located 33 km from Bilbao Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all three occupants were killed. The wreckage was found near the village of Zaldíbar.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to maintain an adequate separation with the ground because his attention was focused on the disconnection of the autopilot system. It was also determined that the crew failed to comply with the Standard Operating Procedures published by the operator.
Final Report:

Crash of an Airbus A320-214 in Bilbao

Date & Time: Feb 7, 2001 at 2309 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-HKJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barcelona – Bilbao
MSN:
1278
YOM:
2000
Flight number:
IB1456
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
136
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10805
Copilot / Total flying hours:
423
Aircraft flight hours:
1149
Aircraft flight cycles:
869
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its final approach to runway 30 of Bilbao Airport. The aircraft, operated by Iberia, was employed on flight IB1456, a scheduled domestic flight from Barcelona to Bilbao, with 136 passengers and 7 crew members on board. The expected flight time was 53 minutes. The current conditions in Bilbao were night VMC, with a 10 knots and southwest (SW) wind and gusts of up to 25 knots. Visibility was more than 10 km and there were scattered clouds above 5,600 feet. The sun had set four hours earlier and all electronic and visual aids in the airport were fully operational. There was no rain and the flight was conducted unter IFR rules. Since the takeoff from Barcelona at 2201LT, the flight had been uneventful. The pilot flying was seated on the right hand side, and he was in line flying under supervision. The captain seated on the left hand side was supervising the flight. A third flight crew member, seated in the jumpseat, was the first officer who had given his seat to the pilot under supervision on the right hand seat. On course to Bilbao, the aircraft flew over Pamplona at FL150, where they were informed of possible light turbulence. A about 25 NM from their destination and at 7,500 feet altitude, they crossed a small cumulus with strong turbulence. Descending through 6,000 feet and established on the Bilbao localizer they found winds of 55 knots. The ATC tower (TWR) of Bilbao cleared them to land on runway 30, and informed the decision height, 247 feet, under VMC conditions and continued the approach to land. One minute prior to touchdown, the tower informed of wind conditions of 240° 8 knots. The aircraft conditions during the approach were: weight, 62,380 kilos; centre of gravity, 28,66% MAC, full flaps. The reference speed (Vref) was 132 knots and the approach speed (Vapp), 142 knots. Autopilot was disconnected by the crew at 400 feet to continue the approach manually. In the last few seconds prior to touchdown, the vertical descent speed was very high, around 1,200 feet per minute (6 metres per second) and the 'sink rate' warning of the GPWS sounded twice. The aircraft did not react to the pitch-up order input applied by both pilots on the side-sticks, due to the design software logic that operates at these specific moments, and did not flare. Announcements of 'dual-input' warning were heard at the time. Then the captain, in view of the 'sink rate' warnings, selected TOGA power setting to go around and abort the landing. The pilot's actions on the flight controls could not avoid a hard touchdown of the aircraft in a slight nose down attitude, and the captain decided to continue the landing and to stop the aircraft. The aircraft slowed-down along 1,100 metres of the runway within the paved surface. It finally came to a stop with its horizontal axis at an angle of 60° to the right of the runway centerline. During the landing roll the nose landing gear collapsed, the four tires of the main gear burst and the engine nacelles, on which the aircraft was leaning after the collapse, dragged along the pavement. Once the aircraft came to a halt, the captain ordered its evacuation, which was carried out using all the exit doors and their slides. During the evacuation a cabin crew member and 24 passengers were injured. All injuries were considered minor except for one, a female passenger whose injuries were considered serious. Seven injured people were taken to hospital.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was the activation of the angle of attack protection system which, under a particular combination of vertical gusts and windshear and the simultaneous actions of both crew members on the sidesticks, not considered in the design, prevented the aeroplane from pitching up and flaring during the landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-580F in Vitoria

Date & Time: May 19, 1995 at 1839 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-899
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vitoria - Vitoria
MSN:
354
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Vitoria Airport. In good weather conditions, the crew was approaching the airport in a flapless configuration when an alarm sounded in the cockpit. The crew turned off the circuit breaker so the alarm stopped. The aircraft landed on its belly and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft belly landed after the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and turned off the circuit breaker.

Crash of a Boeing 727-256 near Bilbao: 148 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1985 at 0927 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-DDU
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid - Bilbao
MSN:
21777
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
IB610
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
141
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
148
Captain / Total flying hours:
13678
Captain / Total hours on type:
4671.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5548
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2045
Aircraft flight hours:
13408
Aircraft flight cycles:
12347
Circumstances:
Iberia Flight 610 departed Madrid at 08:47 for a scheduled flight to Bilbao, where it was scheduled to land at 09:35. The Boeing 727, named "Alhambra de Granada", climbed to the cruising altitude of FL260. At 09:09 the crew were instructed to descend to FL100. Seven minutes later the copilot contacted Bilbao Tower. The controller then cleared the flight for an ILS approach: "Iberia 610, you can continue descent, for an ILS approach to Bilbao, runway 30, wind is 100 degrees 3 knots, QNH 1025 and transition level 70." This was confirmed by the crew. The controller subsequently offered them a direct clearance to the approach fix, which is located at 13 DME from the airport. The captain declined and decided to fly the standard approach procedure. At 09:22 flight 610 reported over the Bilbao VOR at 7000 feet, starting the standard approach procedure. The airplane further descended to 5000 feet, which it reached three minutes later. The crew switched the Altitude Alert System to 4300 ft (the minimum sector altitude is 4354 feet) and continued the descent. The altitude alert horn sounds 900 feet prior to reaching the preset altitude (approach mode) and 300 feet below that altitude (deviation mode). Since the flight had 700 feet to go, the horn would only sound at around 4000 feet. Since the crew descended below the minimum sector altitude, the altitude alert horn sounded at 4040 feet. The crew interpreted this being the approach mode alert, and continued their descent. Fifty-seven seconds after passing through the minimum sector altitude, the airplane struck the base of a structure of antennas located close to the top of Mount Oiz (3356 feet high). The left wing broke off and the remaining fuselage crashed onto the hillside, cutting a swath through the trees. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 148 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Their confidence on the automatic capture performed by the Altitude Alert System, the misinterpretation of its warnings, as well as a probable misreading of the altimeter made the crew to fly below the safety altitude, colliding into the television antennas' base, thus losing the left wing, falling to the ground with no possible control of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Bilbao

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1978
Registration:
G-BAEI
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
421B-0259
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed on the Getxo golf course located approximately six km short of runway 12 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were injured.

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 off Fuenterrabia

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UD.13-9
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1037
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing on rough water, the airplane struck rocks and came to rest partially submerged. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.121 Trident 1E-140 in Bilbao

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 1548 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AVYD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bilbao - London
MSN:
2138
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
BA552
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
110
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10895
Captain / Total hours on type:
1685.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5359
Copilot / Total hours on type:
782
Aircraft flight hours:
12892
Circumstances:
The taxi drills were actioned by the First Officer and the Flight Engineer during this time and "runway items" were completed after the Commander turned the aircraft through 180° close to the threshold of runway 28, aligned it on the runway centre line, and selected the wheel brakes to park. A power setting of 100 per cent thrust was made, all engine indications were checked as correct, and the engine relight switches were selected 'ON' before the wheel brakes were released and the takeoff run commenced at about 13:46 with the Commander piloting the aircraft. The aircraft accelerated normally ; the First Officer called out the indicated airspeeds at 80 knots and 100 knots and made a call of 'Wet V1' at 117 knots then removed his hand from the throttles. At the time or just after 'Wet V1' was called the Flight Engineer and the First Officer heard a noise which the latter crew member attributed to the aircraft's entry into standing water. According to the Flight Engineer the aircraft appeared to decelerate at the same time that he heard the noise. The Commander felt a marked deceleration consistent with a loss of engine power, whereupon he immediately closed the throttles, called "Abandon", deployed the airbrakes and lift dumpers and applied the wheel brakes fully. However according to the Flight Engineer all engine indications had been normal prior to the closing of the throttles. On seeing a hand close the throttles the First Officer selected emergency reverse thrust on the pod engines, checked the engine indications were correct and maintained the application of emergency reverse thrust until the aircraft eventually came to rest. The First Officer and the Commander checked the indicated pressures on the wheel brake gauges which showed the wheel brakes were fully applied. The initial deceleration felt satisfactory to the crew, then quickly deteriorated and the First Officer formed the impression that the aircraft was aquaplaning. The Flight Engineer then noticed that the aircraft had begun to drift gradually to the left of the runway centreline apparently as the result of a deliberate action by the Commander. Subsequently it became evident to the Commander that he could not bring the aircraft to a halt within the runway confines. Some 200 metres to 300 metres before the end of the runway he turned the aircraft to the left using nose-wheel steering and applied full left rudder. As the nose wheels ran off the runway onto the grass, the aircraft slewed to the left then skidded broadside to the right for a short distance before it came to an abrupt stop at the side of the runway in a right wing down attitude with the right wing tip close to the threshold lights of runway 10. Evacuation drills were initiated and the passengers left the aircraft in a reasonably orderly manner, the majority by slide from the main exit doors and foremost right overwing emergency exit. Catering equipment in the galleys came out of stowage during the accident obstructing access to the forward emergency exit door and preventing use of this exit and its slide during the evacuation. All 117 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the Commander's decision to abandon take-off on a wet runway at or close to V 1 . Contributory factors were the low effective braking coefficient of friction achieved by the aircraft and the failure of the Commander to ascertain the extent and depth of water present on the runway prior to takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 in Bilbao

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-BVC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bilbao - Bilbao
MSN:
11023
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7634
Aircraft flight cycles:
6447
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Bilbao-Sondica Airport. Following several touch and goes, the crew started a new approach when he was faced with a flaps asymmetry warning. The captain decided to continue the approach and to perform a flapless landing. In heavy rain falls and with a tailwind component, the airplane landed long on a wet runway. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. While contacting soft ground, the nose gear and the right main gear collapsed then the aircraft came to rest, broken in three. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration. The crew decided to land in a flapless configuration with a tailwind component at a too high speed, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway. In such conditions, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance.

Crash of a Piaggio PD-808 in San Sebastian: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1968 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-PIAI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid – San Sebastian
MSN:
503
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a demonstration tour within Europe on behalf of the Italian manufacturer Piaggio. On approach to runway 22 in poor weather conditions, the pilot decided to make a go around and initiated a turn to the right when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Jaizkibel located 4 km west of the airport. The wreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit and all six occupants were killed, among them the Italian businessman Lino Zanussi.
Crew/passengers:
Lino Zanussi,
Alfio di Vora,
Giovanni Battista Talotti,
Diego Hurtado de Mendoza,
Sergio Milich,
Davide Albertazzi.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot neglected the published go-around procedures at San Sebastian Airport while initiating a turn to the right as he must turn to the left. The lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas SC-54D Skyraider in Bilbao

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72566
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10671
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Bilbao-Sondica Airport, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen yards farther. There were no injuries among the occupants while the aircraft was written off.