Aviation Accident Summary Archive

Tropical Airways Flight 1301 stalled and crashed into a sugarcane field shortly after takeoff from Cap-Haitien when the forward cargo door opened in flight. While some witnesses reported seeing fire during the initial climb, investigators later found no evidence of a pre-impact fire. During an emergency attempt to return to the airport, the crew was cleared for a right downwind leg but instead performed an uncoordinated left turn while extending the flaps to the maximum 42-degree position at a low altitude. The resulting drag, combined with a possible overweight condition and pilot fatigue, caused the aircraft to stall and impact the ground 2 kilometers from the airport. All 21 people on board were killed in the crash and subsequent fire.

Pilot Error

Sudan Airways Flight 139 crashed into a wasteland while attempting an emergency return to Port Sudan after suffering an engine failure shortly after takeoff. The flight crew reported the loss of power in one engine approximately 15 minutes into the flight. During the subsequent ILS approach to runway 35, which was hampered by low visibility due to blowing sand, the pilots missed the runway. The aircraft descended prematurely during the missed approach and disintegrated upon impact, leaving a two-year-old boy as the sole survivor.

Engine Failure

Brit Air Flight 5672, operating for Air France, crashed during an instrument approach to Brest-Guipavas Airport in poor weather conditions. The crew failed to arm the autopilot's approach mode, causing the aircraft to miss the localizer and glideslope capture. The pilots did not notice the resulting flight path deviations until the aircraft was dangerously low. Despite a late attempt to go-around after Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts, the aircraft struck a wooded embankment and burst into flames. The captain was the sole fatality.

Pilot Error

A chartered Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying Spanish peacekeepers from Afghanistan crashed into Pilav Mountain during its third attempt to land at Trabzon Airport in dense fog. The aircraft was attempting a refueling stop when it struck terrain approximately 23 kilometers (14 miles) from the airport, killing everyone on board. The accident sparked significant political controversy in Spain regarding the identification of remains and the safety of chartered military transport.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

On May 25, 2003, a Boeing 727-223 registered as N844AA was stolen from Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Luanda, Angola, and disappeared without a trace. Shortly before sunset, the aircraft began taxiing erratically without lights or communication with the air traffic control tower. It entered the runway without clearance and took off toward the southwest over the Atlantic Ocean. Despite a massive international search involving the FBI and CIA, neither the aircraft nor the two men believed to be on board, Ben C. Padilla and John M. Mutantu, have ever been located.

Other

An Ilyushin Il-76MD transport aircraft suffered a catastrophic decompression when its rear cargo door burst open while en route from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi. The aircraft was carrying Congolese soldiers and their families in a cargo hold that lacked proper seating, with many passengers sitting on benches or the floor near the rear ramp. When the door opened at altitude, a large number of passengers were sucked out of the aircraft into the darkness. Despite the loss of the door and the decompression, the flight crew managed to maintain control and return the aircraft to Kinshasa for a safe landing. The exact number of occupants and the resulting death toll remain heavily disputed; official government figures cited as few as 7 to 17 deaths, while airport officials and survivors estimated between 129 and 170 fatalities. Total occupants on board are variously reported between 115 and 200.

Mechanical Failure

Air Algérie Flight 6289 crashed shortly after takeoff from Tamanrasset when a turbine failure in the left engine led to a breakdown in cockpit coordination and a fatal stall. During the initial climb, the captain took control from the first officer without a clear diagnosis of the emergency. A conflict in control inputs followed, where the captain repeatedly reduced power on the remaining functional engine while the first officer attempted to increase it. The crew failed to retract the landing gear, increasing drag and causing the aircraft to lose speed and altitude. Despite a 'Don't Sink' GPWS alarm and stick shaker activation, the aircraft struck rocky terrain 1,645 metres past the runway.

Human Factors (CRM)

Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during atmospheric reentry on February 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by a breach in the Thermal Protection System (TPS) on the leading edge of the left wing. This breach allowed superheated plasma to enter the wing structure during reentry, leading to structural failure and the eventual breakup of the orbiter. The damage originated 81.9 seconds after launch when a piece of insulating foam broke off the External Tank bipod ramp and struck the wing's Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panel 8.

Structural Failure

TANS Perú Flight 222 crashed into the vertical face of Cerro Collorque while on approach to Chachapoyas Airport, killing all 46 people on board. The aircraft, a Fokker F28 Fellowship, was executing a turn to align with the runway in poor visibility when it struck the mountain just 35 meters below the summit. Investigators determined the crew lost situational awareness due to overconfidence and a failure to follow standard operating procedures, including the omission of landing checklists and briefings.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

Turkish Airlines Flight 634 crashed into a slope approximately 900 metres short of the runway threshold while attempting a non-precision VOR/DME approach in dense fog. The aircraft broke into three main sections and caught fire. Despite reaching the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) without visual contact with the runway or approach lights, the flight crew continued the descent, leading to a controlled flight into terrain. Of the 80 people on board, 75 were killed, including all five crew members.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

Air Midwest Flight 5481 crashed shortly after takeoff from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport due to a catastrophic loss of pitch control. The investigation revealed that the aircraft's elevator control system had been incorrectly rigged during a recent maintenance check, restricting nose-down travel. This mechanical deficiency was compounded by the aircraft being significantly overweight and having a center of gravity (CG) that exceeded the aft limit, leading to an unrecoverable pitch-up maneuver.

Human Factors (Maintenance)

An Aeromist-Kharkiv Antonov An-140 crashed into a mountain during a night-time approach to Isfahan, Iran, killing all 44 people on board. The flight was carrying Russian and Ukrainian aviation specialists to the inauguration of the Iranian-built version of the An-140. The investigation determined that the crew mismanaged their navigation systems, relying incorrectly on GPS data while failing to utilize other onboard instruments or follow standard approach procedures.

Human Factors (Operational)

During takeoff from Mombasa, Kenya, two shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles were fired at Arkia Israel Airlines Flight 582. Both missiles missed the aircraft, which was carrying 261 passengers and 10 crew members. The attack occurred almost simultaneously with a suicide car bombing at the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel in nearby Kikambala. Despite the attempt, the flight continued to Tel Aviv and landed safely under Israeli Air Force escort.

Security / Sabotage

Laoag International Airlines Flight 585 crashed into Manila Bay shortly after takeoff when both engines failed due to the fuel valves being in the closed position. The flight crew attempted to return to Ninoy Aquino International Airport but, realizing they could not reach the runway, opted for a ditching in the sea. The aircraft broke up and sank in approximately 15 to 18 meters of water. While both pilots and 13 others survived, 19 people on board were killed. The investigation revealed that the pilots failed to ensure the fuel valves were open before takeoff and that the airline was operating scheduled services without proper authorization.

Pilot Error

Luxair Flight 9642 crashed into a field during a low-visibility approach to Luxembourg Findel Airport after the crew inadvertently triggered the propeller reverse pitch mechanism while still in flight. The pilots, rushing to descend after a late approach clearance, bypassed safety interlocks to reduce speed, causing a total loss of thrust and lift.

Pilot Error

Total Linhas Aéreas Flight 5561, an ATR 42 cargo flight, crashed near Paranapanema after suffering an uncommanded pitch trim runaway that sent the aircraft into a steep and high-speed descent. The investigation by CENIPA determined that a failure in the pitch trim system, likely involving relays or wiring, caused the elevator trim tabs to move to the full nose-down position. The crew, who had not been trained for a runaway trim scenario and lacked a specific emergency checklist for the event, were unable to regain control before the aircraft struck the ground at 366 knots.

Mechanical Failure

A Shangri-La Air DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed into a cloud-covered hill during its approach to Pokhara, killing all 18 people on board. The flight was a tourist charter returning from Jomsom, a route known for its challenging terrain through a deep gorge between Mount Annapurna and Mount Dhaulagiri. The accident occurred following three days of continuous heavy monsoon rains, which resulted in total cloud cover at the destination. The aircraft struck a hill approximately 5 kilometers southeast of Pokhara Airport.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

A Russian Air Force Mil Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopter was shot down by Chechen separatists using a MANPADS surface-to-air missile during its final approach to Khankala Air Base. The missile struck the right engine, causing a fire and loss of control. The helicopter crashed into a defensive minefield surrounding the base, where fuel from ruptured tanks ignited in the cargo hold. The disaster remains the deadliest helicopter crash in history, exacerbated by the fact that the aircraft was severely overloaded with 147 personnel despite a standard capacity of approximately 80.

Military Action

Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 9560, a ferry flight with 16 crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sheremetyevo International Airport when its horizontal stabilizers spontaneously moved to a full nose-up position. The aircraft reached a supercritical angle of attack, stalled, and impacted the ground approximately 700 meters past the runway end. Fourteen occupants were killed, while two flight attendants survived. While most reports indicate the aircraft exploded on impact, one surviving flight attendant disputed this. The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) was unable to definitively determine whether the stabilizer movement was caused by a spontaneous electrical failure or accidental pilot input.

Unknown

A Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27UB crashed into a crowd of spectators during an aerobatic display at Sknyliv Airfield, killing 77 people and injuring over 500. The aircraft was performing a rolling maneuver at low altitude when it descended too rapidly, clipped a tree and a parked Il-76, and cartwheeled into the audience. Both pilots ejected and survived. The disaster remains the deadliest air show accident in history.

Pilot Error

FedEx Express Flight 1478 crashed into trees and a construction vehicle during a night visual approach to Tallahassee Municipal Airport. Despite the aircraft being significantly below the glide path, the crew failed to recognize the danger indicated by the PAPI lights and the GPWS until impact. All three crew members survived the crash, though the aircraft was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

A Boeing 707-123B cargo aircraft, owned by New Gomair and operated by Prestige Airlines, crashed two miles short of Bangui M'Poko International Airport's runway 35. The flight originated in N'Djamena, where the landing gear failed to retract after takeoff. The crew declared an emergency and diverted to Bangui. During the final approach, the aircraft suffered fuel exhaustion, likely due to the crew's efforts to lighten the plane or the increased drag from the extended gear. The aircraft descended into the Guitangola neighborhood, exploded upon impact, and killed 28 of the 30 people on board.

Engine Failure

A mid-air collision occurred over Lake Constance when a Bashkirian Airlines Tu-154 and a DHL Boeing 757 collided at Flight Level 350. The accident resulted from a conflict between Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructions and the Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS/TCAS). The ATC controller, working two stations simultaneously due to maintenance, instructed the Tu-154 to descend to avoid the DHL jet. Simultaneously, the TCAS on both aircraft issued Resolution Advisories (RAs): the DHL jet was told to descend, and the Tu-154 was told to climb. The Tu-154 crew followed the controller's instruction to descend instead of the TCAS climb command, placing both aircraft on a collision course.

Human Factors (Operational) · Multi-aircraft

A Royal Navy Westland Lynx HMA8 helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during a missile training exercise after suffering a catastrophic mechanical failure. The aircraft nosedived from approximately 400 feet following a reported bang from the starboard engine and a subsequent double engine failure. Two crew members were killed, while a photographer on board survived the impact and was rescued from the water. The wreckage was later recovered from a depth of 4,000 metres, marking the deepest aircraft salvage operation at the time.

Mechanical Failure