Aviation Accident Summary Archive

A Beechcraft C90B King Air crashed into an under-construction building in the Ghatkopar district of Mumbai during a maintenance test flight. The aircraft was returning to Juhu Airport in heavy rain when it stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent. All four occupants, including two pilots and two aircraft maintenance engineers, were killed. One pedestrian on the ground was also killed, and three others were injured. The investigation determined that the crew suffered from spatial disorientation while transitioning from instrument to visual flight conditions in deteriorating weather, compounded by an unexpected bank caused by differential engine power.

Human Factors (Operational)

On June 27, 2018, an Envoy Air Embraer 145 narrowly avoided a collision with an airport operations vehicle (VAN7) during its takeoff roll at Springfield-Branson National Airport. The incident occurred because the local controller cleared the flight for takeoff from Runway 14, which was currently under the operational control of the ground controller due to a NOTAM closing the runway for arrivals. While the aircraft was accelerating, the ground controller authorized the vehicle to cross the same runway, resulting in a near-miss that was reported by an unidentified pilot who observed the proximity and transmitted "truck, truck, truck" over the radio.

Human Factors (Operational)

Cubana de Aviación Flight 972, operated by Global Air, crashed shortly after takeoff from Havana when the flight crew failed to correctly calculate the aircraft's weight and balance. The aircraft was loaded such that its center of gravity was near the aft limit, but the crew used incorrect data to set the horizontal stabilizer trim. Upon liftoff, the aircraft entered an extreme nose-high attitude, stalled, and impacted the ground approximately 40 seconds later. Of the 113 people on board, only one passenger survived.

Human Factors (Operational)

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 suffered a catastrophic left engine failure while climbing through 32,000 feet, leading to the first US passenger airline fatality since 2009. A fan blade separated due to a fatigue crack, causing the engine inlet and fan cowl to disintegrate. Debris from the cowl struck the fuselage and shattered a cabin window, causing a rapid depressurization that partially ejected a passenger. The flight crew performed an emergency descent and landed safely at Philadelphia International Airport.

Engine Failure

An Algerian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76TD crashed shortly after takeoff from Boufarik Air Base, killing all 257 people on board. The aircraft was transporting military personnel and their families to Béchar and Tindouf when it came down in a field and burst into flames. Witnesses reported seeing one of the wings on fire before the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the ground.

Under Investigation

A private Bombardier Challenger 604 crashed into the Zagros Mountains during a flight from Sharjah to Istanbul, killing all 11 people on board. The accident occurred after a discrepancy between the pilots' airspeed indicators led to an inappropriate reduction in engine power, causing the aircraft to stall at cruise altitude. The flight crew, returning from a high-profile bachelorette party in Dubai, failed to correctly identify the instrument failure and mishandled the subsequent stall recovery.

Human Factors (CRM)

A doors-off sightseeing helicopter ditched into the East River after a passenger's supplemental safety harness tether inadvertently snagged and activated the emergency fuel shutoff lever, causing a total loss of engine power. While the pilot successfully performed an autorotation to the water, the helicopter capsized and sank within 11 seconds. All five passengers, who were secured by supplemental harnesses that required tools or complex maneuvers to release, were unable to escape the submerged cabin and drowned. The pilot, who was wearing only the manufacturer-provided restraint, was the sole survivor.

Human Factors (Operational)

Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 3704 crashed into the Mount Dena range during its approach to Yasuj, killing all 66 people on board. The flight crew descended below the minimum safe altitude (MSA) in poor weather conditions and encountered a severe mountain wave downdraft. The aircraft entered a stall condition at low altitude, and the crew failed to execute a proper stall recovery before impacting the mountainside. The investigation highlighted significant human factors, including poor cockpit resource management and the crew's decision to continue the approach despite weather conditions being below the airline's authorized minimums.

Human Factors (Operational)

United Airlines Flight 1175 experienced a catastrophic failure of the No. 2 (right) engine while in cruise flight at FL360, approximately 120 miles from Honolulu. A fan blade fractured due to low cycle fatigue, leading to the separation of the engine's inlet duct and fan cowls. The flight crew declared an emergency, performed a drift-down, and landed safely at HNL. The investigation revealed that the failed blade had shown indications of cracking during previous overhauls, but these were misidentified as 'paint' issues due to inadequate training and oversight of a specialized inspection technique.

Mechanical Failure

Saratov Airlines Flight 703 crashed six minutes after takeoff from Moscow when the flight crew failed to activate the pitot tube heating systems, leading to ice blockages and erroneous airspeed indications. In the resulting confusion, the crew disconnected the autopilot and initiated a steep nose-down dive while reacting to conflicting speed data. The aircraft impacted a snowy field at high speed, killing all 71 people on board, including 65 passengers and six crew members. The investigation highlighted a low safety culture at the airline, including a systematic failure to follow the dark cockpit principle and inadequate training for unreliable airspeed scenarios.

Pilot Error

A Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter crashed into a mesa during a private night flight, killing five of the six people on board. The aircraft was flying in dark night visual meteorological conditions over unpopulated ranchland when it impacted terrain in a level attitude. The sole survivor, who was seriously injured, managed to call for help using a cellphone. The pilot initially survived the impact and told a witness at the scene that he had 'flown into terrain' before he succumbed to his injuries during transport. The NTSB determined the cause to be the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude above mountainous terrain, resulting in controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

A Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 suffered a runway excursion after landing at Trabzon Airport, skidding off the left side of the runway and sliding down a steep cliff. The aircraft came to rest in a precarious position just meters above the Black Sea, held in place by thick mud. While the right engine detached and fell into the water and the airframe was written off, all 168 passengers and crew were successfully evacuated with only minor injuries reported. According to pilot statements, the accident was triggered by an accidental activation of the Take-Off/Go-Around (TOGA) mode during the landing roll, which allegedly caused asymmetric thrust when one engine responded to the go-around command while the other remained in reverse thrust.

Human Factors (Operational)

A Nature Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan stalled and crashed into a wooded hillside shortly after takeoff from Punta Islita Airport, killing all 12 people on board. The flight crew chose to depart toward rising terrain that likely exceeded the aircraft's climb capability and failed to execute a standard turn toward lower terrain used by a preceding flight. While attempting to maneuver out of a valley, the pilots allowed the airspeed to decay, leading to an aerodynamic stall at a steep bank angle.

Pilot Error

A de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver floatplane crashed into Jerusalem Bay shortly after takeoff, killing all six people on board, including the CEO of Compass Group and his family. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) determined that the pilot was likely incapacitated by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, which entered the cabin through holes in the firewall and cracks in the exhaust system. This incapacitation led the pilot to fly into a confined bay at low altitude and perform a steep turn that resulted in an aerodynamic stall from which recovery was impossible.

Pilot Error

West Wind Aviation Flight 282 crashed shortly after takeoff from Fond-du-Lac Airport due to severe ice contamination on the aircraft's critical surfaces. Despite encountering icing during the inbound flight and being aware of forecast ground icing, the crew attempted to depart without de-icing the aircraft. The ATR 42 suffered a significant loss of lift and increase in drag, leading to an uncommanded roll and subsequent loss of control just 17 seconds after liftoff. All 25 occupants initially survived the impact, but one passenger died 12 days later from his injuries. The investigation highlighted the systemic normalization of departing with contaminated surfaces at remote airports lacking adequate de-icing equipment.

Pilot Error

During a final approach to Nelkan Airport, the right-hand engine propeller blades uncommanded moved into a negative pitch angle (beta range), causing a sudden loss of speed and an aggressive roll to the right. The aircraft departed controlled flight at an altitude of approximately 150 meters and crashed into a forest 1.2 kilometers from the runway threshold. Six of the seven people on board were killed, including both pilots. The sole survivor was a three-year-old child who sustained serious injuries.

Mechanical Failure

Air France Flight 66 suffered a catastrophic uncontained engine failure while cruising over Greenland. The number 4 engine's fan hub shattered, causing the entire fan, air inlet, and fan case to separate from the aircraft. Despite significant vibrations and aerodynamic drag, the crew successfully diverted the Airbus A380, carrying 497 passengers and 24 crew members, to Goose Bay, Canada. The investigation identified a rare material fatigue phenomenon known as cold dwell fatigue in the titanium alloy fan hub as the cause.

Engine Failure

A Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter crashed during an attempted autorotation at Flying W Airport after the pilot lost throttle control in flight. The pilot, orientation passenger Troy Gentry, and ground witnesses observed that the engine twist-grip had no effect on engine RPM. After consulting with instructors on the ground, the pilot elected to shut down the engine and perform a power-off autorotation rather than a shallow run-on landing. The pilot initiated the autorotation too early and too far from the runway, subsequently failing to maintain rotor RPM. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted terrain 220 feet short of the runway.

Pilot Error

A Cessna U206G cargo flight, piloted by 22-year-old Joel Black, impacted mountainous terrain in the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve after the pilot continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot, who was in his first season flying in Alaska, encountered low cloud ceilings and visibility while transiting the Alaska Range. Tracking data indicated a descent from over 7,000 feet to approximately 3,900 feet shortly before the aircraft struck trees and terrain in a level attitude. The NTSB determined the pilot failed to sufficiently assess weather conditions during preflight planning and made the decision to descend into an area of obscured terrain rather than turning back or diverting.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

A United States Marine Corps KC-130T transport aircraft suffered a catastrophic mid-air breakup at 20,000 feet after a propeller blade failed due to fatigue cracking. The investigation revealed that the blade, which had been overhauled in 2011, contained pre-existing corrosion pitting and intergranular cracking that maintenance personnel at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex failed to remediate. When the blade liberated, it sliced through the left side of the fuselage, triggering a sequence of structural failures that caused the cockpit and forward fuselage to separate from the aircraft. All 16 personnel on board, consisting of 15 Marines and one Navy sailor, were killed when the remains of the aircraft crashed into a soybean field.

Human Factors (Maintenance)

An Air Canada Airbus A320, carrying 135 passengers and 5 crew members, nearly landed on a taxiway occupied by four fully loaded passenger aircraft after the flight crew mistook the taxiway for their assigned runway. During a visual approach at night, the pilots failed to realize that Runway 28L was closed and unlit, leading them to misidentify Runway 28R as 28L and Taxiway C as 28R. The aircraft descended to a minimum altitude of 59 feet above ground level, overflying the first two aircraft on the taxiway before initiating a go-around. The incident is widely considered the closest near-miss in modern aviation history, as the aircraft came within feet of colliding with the tails of the taxiing planes.

Pilot Error

A Myanmar Air Force Shaanxi Y8 transport aircraft stalled and entered an unrecoverable spin after encountering severe icing and sudden wind shear over the Andaman Sea. The flight was a regular military transport service carrying personnel and their family members, including children. All 122 people on board were killed when the aircraft impacted the water.

Weather

A Piper PA-23-250 stalled and crashed into water shortly after takeoff from San Juan when the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed and improperly managed a left yaw. Although the pilot reported a loss of engine power, post-accident examination found no mechanical malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation. The NTSB determined that the pilot likely confused miles per hour with knots on the airspeed indicator, rotating and attempting to climb at a speed significantly below the aircraft's best rate-of-climb speed, leading to an aerodynamic stall when the aircraft exited ground effect.

Pilot Error

Summit Air Flight 409, a cargo flight, crashed short of the runway at Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport while attempting to land in dense fog. The aircraft descended below the required altitude during the final approach, and in a late attempt to climb back to the runway threshold, the crew induced an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft's left wing struck a tree approximately 180 feet short of the threshold before the fuselage impacted sloping terrain 100 feet short of Runway 06, killing both the Captain and First Officer.

Pilot Error