Aviation Accident Summary Archive

A vintage Douglas C-47 Skytrain, known as a 'Rosinenbomber' (Raisin Bomber), performed an emergency belly landing in a field shortly after takeoff from Berlin Schönefeld Airport following a failure of the left engine. Although the aircraft suffered substantial damage and a small post-crash fire occurred, all 28 occupants survived the accident.

Engine Failure

Air India Express Flight 812 overran the tabletop runway at Mangalore International Airport, plunged down a steep hillside, and burst into flames, killing 158 people. The captain, who had been asleep for approximately 110 minutes of the flight, attempted to land from a severely unstabilized approach despite multiple warnings from the first officer to go around. The aircraft touched down 5,200 feet beyond the runway threshold, leaving insufficient distance to stop. A late attempt to initiate a go-around after deploying thrust reversers failed to prevent the aircraft from exiting the runway and falling into a gorge.

Pilot Error

Pamir Airways Flight 112 crashed into the Hindu Kush mountains during a domestic flight from Kunduz to Kabul. The aircraft, an Antonov An-24, disappeared from radar approximately 10 minutes after departure, though the impact occurred much later in the flight during the approach phase, approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Kabul International Airport. The flight operated in severe weather conditions including heavy wind, dense fog, and snow. The wreckage was located four days later at an altitude of 13,500 feet. Investigators determined the crew descended below safe altitudes against ATC instructions and failed to respond correctly to Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashed during a go-around attempt in low visibility at Tripoli International Airport. The flight crew suffered from spatial disorientation, leading the Captain to push the nose down while the aircraft was close to the ground, resulting in a high-speed impact just short of the runway.

Pilot Error

Cathay Pacific Flight 780 performed a high speed emergency landing at Hong Kong International Airport after fuel contamination caused both engines to lose thrust control. The aircraft touched down at 231 knots, approximately 95 knots above normal landing speed, after the crew found they could not reduce thrust on the No. 1 engine below 74% N1 while the No. 2 engine remained stuck at a sub-idle speed of 17% N1. The contamination originated from a recently extended hydrant refueling system at Surabaya, where salt water compromised filter monitors and released superabsorbent polymer (SAP) particles into the fuel. These particles caused the fuel metering units to seize. All 322 occupants survived, though 63 people were injured during the subsequent emergency evacuation.

Mechanical Failure

AeroUnion Flight 302, an Airbus A300 cargo freighter, stalled and crashed onto a motorway during a missed approach at Monterrey International Airport, killing all five occupants and one person on the ground. The investigation determined that the crew failed to maintain adequate airspeed and failed to manage the aircraft's pitch trim during a go-around in adverse weather conditions. The aircraft reached an extreme nose-up attitude of 41 degrees before stalling and impacting the ground approximately 0.7 kilometers from the runway.

Human Factors (Operational)

A Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-322 overran the runway while landing at Rendani Airport during heavy rain and mist. The aircraft veered left near the end of the runway, struck trees, and was substantially damaged, with the fuselage splitting and the tail breaking off before coming to rest in the Rendani River. All 110 occupants (103 passengers and 7 crew members) survived the accident, with 44 people sustaining injuries, including 10 serious injuries.

Weather

A Polish Air Force Tu-154M carrying the President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, and numerous high-ranking officials crashed in thick fog while attempting to land at Smolensk North Airport. The aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude without visual contact with the ground, eventually striking a birch tree. The impact severed approximately 6.5 meters of the left wing, causing an immediate and uncontrollable left roll. The aircraft impacted the ground inverted, killing all 96 people on board. Investigations highlighted a combination of crew errors, including ignoring TAWS warnings, and deficiencies in Russian air traffic control guidance.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

An Aviastar-TU Tupolev Tu-204-100 crash-landed in a birch forest approximately 1,450 meters short of runway 14R and 150 meters to the right of the centerline at Domodedovo Airport during a ferry flight from Egypt. The aircraft was attempting to land in heavy fog with visibility as low as 100 meters, well below the required weather minima. Despite multiple failures of the autoflight systems and warnings from air traffic control regarding their position, the crew continued the descent without visual contact with the ground. All eight crew members survived the impact, though several sustained serious injuries.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

On February 18, 2010, Andrew Joseph Stack III intentionally crashed his Piper PA-28-236 into the Echelon I office building in Austin, Texas, which housed offices for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The impact and subsequent fire killed the pilot and one IRS employee inside the building (a ground fatality), while injuring 13 others. Prior to the flight, Stack set fire to his own residence and posted a manifesto online detailing his grievances against the IRS and the federal government. The NTSB classified the event as an intentional act, and the FBI assumed jurisdiction over the criminal investigation.

Security / Sabotage

Trigana Air Service Flight 162 performed a forced landing in a field near Samboja after both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The flight was originally scheduled from Berau to Samarinda, but after the left engine failed during the final approach to Samarinda, the crew attempted to divert to Balikpapan. During the diversion, the right engine also failed. All 52 occupants survived the emergency landing, though two people sustained serious injuries. The NTSC investigation concluded that both engines flamed out due to a lack of fuel reaching the engines, describing fuel management as 'out of control' during the flight. A definitive analysis of whether this was caused by crew negligence or misleading fuel quantity indications was hindered by the fact that both the Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder were inoperative.

Human Factors (Operational)

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after takeoff from Beirut during a thunderstorm, killing all 90 people on board. The investigation determined that the flight crew mismanaged the aircraft's flight path through inconsistent control inputs, leading to a loss of control and a spiral dive. Contributing factors included spatial disorientation, chronic fatigue of the captain, and a breakdown in Crew Resource Management (CRM) as the first officer failed to intervene during the captain's erratic handling of the aircraft.

Human Factors (CRM)

Taban Air Flight 6437, operated by Kolavia, was destroyed during an emergency landing at Mashhad International Airport in thick fog. Despite visibility being significantly below minimums, the crew attempted an ILS approach to Runway 31R due to a passenger medical emergency. During the landing, the aircraft suffered a tail strike, veered off the runway (runway excursion), and caught fire after the nose gear collapsed and the right wing struck the ground. All 170 occupants survived, with 47 sustaining injuries.

Pilot Error

A Cargolux Boeing 747-400 freighter struck a maintenance van while landing on Runway 24 at Luxembourg Airport in low visibility. The aircraft's tire made contact with the roof of the vehicle. While the van sustained substantial damage, the driver suffered only minor injuries, and the aircraft taxied to the ramp with minor damage to one tire. The investigation identified a breakdown in coordination between Air Traffic Control and airport maintenance, exacerbated by the decision to conduct work on an active runway during low-visibility operations.

Human Factors (Operational)

A 23 year old Nigerian national attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device concealed in his underwear as Northwest Airlines Flight 253 approached Detroit. The device, containing PETN and TATP, failed to fully explode but caused a fire in the cabin. Passengers and crew quickly subdued the assailant and extinguished the flames, allowing the aircraft to land safely with no fatalities.

Security / Sabotage

American Airlines Flight 331, which originated at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with a stopover in Miami, overran the runway at Norman Manley International Airport during a landing in heavy rain and tailwind conditions. The aircraft touched down 4,100 feet beyond the runway threshold, leaving insufficient distance to stop. The Boeing 737 broke through the perimeter fence, crossed a road, and came to rest on a beach, breaking into three sections. Of the 154 occupants, 14 passengers were seriously injured, while 134 suffered minor or no injuries; there were no fatalities.

Pilot Error

On November 18, 2009, an IAI 1124A Westwind II air ambulance flight ditched in the Pacific Ocean after failing to land at Norfolk Island during deteriorating weather. The aircraft, which lacked sufficient fuel to divert to an alternate destination after multiple missed approaches, was intentionally ditched 6 kilometers west of the island in darkness. All six occupants, including a patient and medical staff, evacuated the sinking aircraft and were rescued by local fishermen after 90 minutes in the water. The accident became the subject of intense political scrutiny due to initial investigative failures by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

Human Factors (Operational)

RwandAir Flight 205 crashed into the VIP terminal building at Kigali International Airport following an emergency landing caused by a jammed left engine thrust lever. After landing with the left engine stuck at takeoff power, the crew taxied to the apron and shut down the right engine and all hydraulic systems. Without hydraulic pressure to maintain the brakes, the aircraft jumped its chocks under the continuous thrust of the left engine, accelerated across the apron, and struck the terminal building. One passenger died from injuries sustained in the collision.

Human Factors (Operational)

An Ilyushin Il-76MD transport aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Mirny Airport when the crew attempted to fly with a partially locked control system. Despite a 'Lock On' warning light remaining illuminated during pre-flight checks, the captain dismissed it as a false alarm and initiated takeoff. The right aileron remained physically locked, causing the aircraft to bank uncontrollably to the right immediately after liftoff. The jet reached a bank angle of 90 degrees before impacting a slag heap approximately 2 kilometers from the runway, killing all 11 people on board.

Pilot Error

On October 29, 2009 (local time), a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130H Hercules and a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra collided in mid-air over the Pacific Ocean. The HC-130 was conducting a search and rescue mission for a missing boat, while the Super Cobra was participating in a multi-aircraft training exercise. All nine personnel across both aircraft were killed. Investigations by the Coast Guard and Marine Corps identified significant failings in Navy air traffic control, which was responsible for the airspace, as well as limitations in the 'see and avoid' principle under the mission conditions.

Human Factors (Operational) · Multi-aircraft

A Britten-Norman Islander ditched in the Caribbean Sea after suffering a starboard engine failure shortly after departure. The aircraft was unable to maintain altitude on a single engine because it was overloaded by approximately 9 percent beyond its maximum structural take-off weight. While all nine passengers successfully evacuated the sinking wreckage and were rescued by nearby divers, the pilot was rendered unconscious upon impact and drowned as the aircraft submerged.

Human Factors (Operational)

Sudan Airways Flight 2241, a cargo flight operated by Azza Transport, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharjah International Airport when the No. 4 engine core cowls separated and fell onto the runway. The cowl separation ruptured a flex line, causing an erroneous Engine Pressure Ratio (EPR) reading, which led the crew to believe the engine had failed. During an attempted return to the airport, the crew exceeded the aircraft's maximum bank angle, resulting in an unrecoverable stall and loss of control. All six crew members were killed when the aircraft impacted the desert approximately 1.6 kilometers from the runway.

Human Factors (Maintenance)

During a positioning flight from Durban, the aircraft suffered a catastrophic failure of the right-hand engine shortly before liftoff. As the crew climbed, they misidentified the failed engine and inadvertently shut down the remaining functional left-hand engine. The aircraft lost all power, stalled, and crashed into a school fence in the Merebank residential area. The captain was fatally injured, while the first officer, flight attendant, and one person on the ground sustained serious injuries.

Pilot Error

An Iranian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76MD, modified as an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platform, crashed during a military parade flyby near Varamin. While the leading technical theory is that the radar dome detached and struck the tail fin following an engine fire, multiple official and secondary sources document a possible mid-air collision with an escorting HESA Saeqeh fighter (registration 3-7167). The detachment or collision caused a total loss of control, leading the aircraft to spiral into the ground, killing all seven crew members on the Il-76. The HESA Saeqeh involved in the potential collision reportedly survived with two crew members injured.

Structural Failure