Aviation Accident Summary Archive

A scenic hot air balloon flight ended in disaster when the pilot allowed the aircraft to descend below the level of high-voltage power lines during a landing attempt. The basket became entangled in a 33,000-volt line, leading to electrical arcing that ruptured a fuel cylinder and ignited a catastrophic fire. The pilot attempted to out-climb the wires rather than using the rapid descent system, a decision investigators attributed to impaired judgment. All 11 people on board were killed, including two passengers who jumped from the burning basket before it plummeted to the ground.

Pilot Error

A Beechcraft Queen Air cargo flight crashed into a residential area and the Felixberto Serrano Elementary School shortly after takeoff from Manila, killing all three occupants and 10 people on the ground. The accident was triggered by a failure of the left engine due to oil starvation. The pilot, who had received inadequate emergency procedure training, failed to maintain control of the aircraft during the engine-out condition. The situation was further complicated by an air traffic control instruction to perform an early right turn that deviated from standard departure procedures, reducing the pilot's time to stabilize the aircraft.

Pilot Error

A Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee carrying Oklahoma State University women's basketball coaches Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna crashed into a wooded area in the Ouachita National Forest. The flight was a recruiting trip from Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Little Rock, Arkansas. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft spiraling or nose-diving before impact. All four occupants, including the pilot and his wife, were killed. The accident occurred approximately 45 miles west of Little Rock.

Pilot Error

LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16 performed a successful gear-up belly landing at Warsaw Chopin Airport after a total failure of the landing gear extension systems. The accident was initiated by a hydraulic leak in the center system shortly after takeoff, but the aircraft could have landed safely if the crew had noticed a tripped circuit breaker for the alternate extension system. All 231 occupants evacuated safely, though the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Human Factors (Operational)

Iran Air Flight 742 performed a successful emergency nose-gear-up landing at Mehrabad International Airport after the nose landing gear failed to extend. The crew, led by Captain Hushang Shahbazi, diverted from their original destination of Imam Khomeini International Airport to avoid closing its only runway. Despite the aircraft coming to a halt on its nose, all 113 occupants evacuated safely without injury.

Mechanical Failure

A Moremi Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Xakanaka Airstrip, killing the pilot and seven passengers. The investigation determined that the aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure when the compressor turbine blades failed due to sulphidation corrosion. The accident was exacerbated by the pilot's decision to exceed the maximum passenger limit for the specific airfield and the presence of tall trees near the runway, which the aircraft struck after losing power.

Engine Failure

Airlines PNG Flight 1600 crashed during a steep descent toward Madang after the flight crew inadvertently moved the power levers into the ground beta range while airborne. This action triggered a catastrophic double propeller overspeed, causing severe engine damage and a total loss of usable thrust. The crew, overwhelmed by deafening noise and smoke in the cockpit, failed to follow emergency checklists or feather the windmilling propellers effectively. The aircraft performed a forced landing on a riverbank, where it broke apart and was consumed by fire, killing 28 of the 32 people on board.

Pilot Error

Nusantara Buana Air Flight 823 crashed into a 70 degree slope in the Mount Leuser National Park after the crew elected to continue a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions. The aircraft impacted terrain at 5,055 feet altitude while the pilots were flying in cloud, resulting in the deaths of all 18 people on board. Investigators determined the crew lost situational awareness and visual reference to the ground, failing to take any recovery action before the impact.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

Buddha Air Flight 103, a Beechcraft 1900D, crashed into a hillside at Kotdanda while returning from an 'Everest Experience' sightseeing flight. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in deteriorating weather conditions when it entered a thick cloud bank and struck terrain approximately 5,400 feet above sea level. All 19 occupants, including 16 tourists and 3 crew members, were killed. Investigators determined the primary cause was the crew's decision to continue the flight under VFR into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), leading to controlled flight into terrain.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

A highly modified P-51D Mustang racing aircraft, The Galloping Ghost, crashed into the spectator box seating area during the Reno Air Races after a mechanical failure of the left elevator trim tab. The failure caused an abrupt pitch-up maneuver that subjected the pilot to 17 g, resulting in immediate incapacitation and loss of consciousness. The aircraft then nosedived into the apron at over 400 mph, killing the pilot and 10 spectators on the ground. In addition to the 11 fatalities, at least 69 people on the ground were injured, with 16 of those sustaining serious injuries.

Human Factors (Maintenance)

A Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl professional ice hockey team crashed during takeoff after failing to become airborne within the runway distance. The investigation determined that one of the pilots inadvertently applied braking force during the takeoff roll while attempting to pull back on the control column. This created a nose-down moment that countered the elevator's authority, preventing the aircraft from rotating. The plane eventually lifted off 400 meters past the runway end, struck a localizer antenna, stalled at a height of approximately 6 meters, and crashed into the banks of the Volga River. Of the 45 people on board, 43 died at the scene; one player died five days later, leaving the flight mechanic as the sole survivor.

Pilot Error

An All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-700 experienced a severe in-flight upset and near-inversion after the First Officer mistook the rudder trim switch for the cockpit door-lock selector. While the Captain was returning from the restroom, the First Officer attempted to unlock the door but instead applied full left rudder trim. The aircraft banked to a maximum of 131.7 degrees and entered a steep dive, losing 6,000 feet of altitude and reaching 2.68 G's before recovery. Two cabin crew members sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft landed safely at Haneda Airport.

Human Factors (Operational)

On September 2, 2011, a Chilean Air Force CASA C-212 Aviocar crashed into the sea while attempting to land at Robinson Crusoe Airport in the Juan Fernández Archipelago. The aircraft, carrying 21 people including popular television presenter Felipe Camiroaga and members of the NGO Desafío Levantemos Chile, encountered severe adverse weather conditions including strong crosswinds and wind shear. After two unsuccessful landing attempts, the aircraft performed a low-altitude turn between Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara islands, where it encountered powerful down gusts and vortexes. The aircraft rolled past 90 degrees, became inverted, and struck the water at high speed, killing everyone on board. The accident remains one of the deadliest in the history of the Chilean Air Force.

Weather

A Boeing 737-200 combi crashed into a hill 1 nautical mile east and abeam the runway midpoint during an instrument approach in poor visibility. The investigation revealed that the aircraft drifted off course due to an inadvertent autopilot mode change and a significant compass error caused by proximity to the North Magnetic Pole. Despite the First Officer's repeated warnings that the aircraft was off track, the Captain continued the approach until a Ground Proximity Warning System alert triggered a late go-around attempt. The crash occurred during a military exercise, which facilitated an immediate rescue of the three survivors.

Human Factors (CRM)

Two Piaggio P.166S Albatross aircraft (registrations ZS-NJX and ZU-MMI) flying in formation crashed into a near-vertical escarpment on Mamotswiri Peak while returning from the Tzaneen Air Show. Both aircraft entered low cloud and struck the mountain at approximately 5,030 feet, roughly 300 feet below the ridge line. The investigation determined that the pilots attempted to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) without adequate flight planning for the mountainous terrain and prevailing weather. All 13 occupants across both aircraft were killed, and both airframes were destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fires. The wreckage sites were located approximately 75 to 100 meters apart.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) · Multi-aircraft

Avis-Amur Flight 9209, an Antonov An-12AP cargo flight, crashed into mountainous terrain after an in-flight engine fire led to a catastrophic loss of structural integrity and lateral control. The aircraft was carrying 17.43 tonnes of cargo and 11 occupants when a fuel leak in the number one engine nacelle ignited. Despite the crew's attempt to return to Magadan and perform an emergency descent, the fire weakened the left wing structure and damaged aileron control wiring, causing the aircraft to roll uncontrollably into a mountain slope. At the time of the accident, RA-11125 was the oldest aircraft in commercial service in Russia.

In-flight Fire

A U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook, callsign Extortion 17, was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) while attempting to insert a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) in the Tangi Valley. The helicopter was carrying 30 U.S. military personnel, seven Afghan National Army commandos, and one civilian interpreter. The RPG struck the aft rotor assembly as the aircraft approached the landing zone at low altitude, causing an immediate loss of control and a catastrophic crash. All 38 occupants and one military working dog were killed, marking the single deadliest incident for U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan.

Military Action

Caribbean Airlines Flight 523 overran the runway while landing in rainy weather at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, resulting in the aircraft breaking into two sections. Despite the hull loss, all 163 occupants survived. Seven people were injured in total, with two passengers suffering serious injuries (broken legs). The investigation determined that the flight crew touched down nearly two-thirds of the way down the runway after failing to execute a go-around despite recognizing a poor approach.

Pilot Error

A Boeing 777-266ER suffered a severe cockpit fire while parked at the gate during passenger boarding. The fire originated in the crew's emergency oxygen system storage area on the right side of the cockpit. Although the captain attempted to extinguish the flames, the fire intensified rapidly, fueled by escaping oxygen. All 317 occupants evacuated safely via jet bridges, though seven individuals were treated for smoke inhalation. The aircraft sustained significant structural damage to the forward fuselage and was declared a hull loss.

Mechanical Failure

Asiana Airlines Flight 991, a Boeing 747-400 freighter, crashed into the East China Sea after an uncontained cargo fire led to an in-flight breakup. The aircraft was carrying 58 tonnes of cargo, including lithium batteries and flammable liquids such as paint and photoresist. Approximately 50 minutes after takeoff, the crew reported a fire on the main deck and attempted to divert to Jeju Island. As the fire propagated, the crew reported a loss of flight controls and heavy vibrations before the aircraft disappeared from radar. Both crew members were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.

In-flight Fire

A Royal Moroccan Air Force C-130H Hercules crashed into Tayyert Mountain while attempting to land at Guelmim Airport during a scheduled stopover. The aircraft was transporting 60 soldiers and approximately 20 others, including crew and civilians (reports vary between 8 crew and 12 civilians, or 9 crew and 11 civilians). Thick fog and poor visibility were reported at the time of the accident. Although three individuals were initially pulled alive from the wreckage, they later succumbed to their injuries, resulting in the deaths of all 80 people on board.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

Noar Linhas Aereas Flight 4896 crashed shortly after takeoff from Recife following a left engine failure caused by a turbine blade fracture. The aircraft failed to maintain altitude due to a combination of improper rudder application, an overweight takeoff condition, and poor cockpit resource management. Despite the co-pilot's repeated suggestions to perform an emergency landing on the beach, the captain insisted on returning to the airport. The aircraft eventually stalled and crashed into a vacant lot 1,700 meters from the runway, killing all 16 people on board.

Human Factors (CRM)

Angara Airlines Flight 9007 ditched into the Ob River following an uncontained engine fire in the port engine. The fire was initiated by the failure of a compressor rotor support bearing, which led to oil leakage and ignition. The ditching in shallow, uneven water caused the aircraft to break up, resulting in seven fatalities. Investigators determined that the fire became inextinguishable because the crew delayed shutting down the engine after the initial fire alarm and abnormal indications.

Human Factors (Maintenance)

Hewa Bora Airways Flight 952 crashed into a wooded area while attempting to land at Kisangani during a severe thunderstorm. The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 1,000 meters short of the runway threshold after the crew discontinued an approach to runway 13 and attempted a visual approach to runway 31 in poor visibility. The investigation revealed significant regulatory and operational failures, including the use of unlicensed flight crew and air traffic controllers, as well as the provision of erroneous weather data to the pilots.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)