Unusual Accidents

Captain allowed his children to manipulate the controls.

    03/23/1994     00:57
    LOCATION: Near Mezhduretshensk, Russia
    CARRIER: Russian International Airways     FLIGHT: 593
    AIRCRAFT: Airbus A310-304
    REGISTRY: F-OGQS   S/N: 596
    ABOARD: 75    FATAL: 75    GROUND: 
    DETAILS:The aircraft crashed after the captain allowed his child to
    manipulate the controls of the plane.  The pilot's 11 year old
    daughter and 16 year old son were taking  turns in the pilot's seat,
    flying the plane. While the boy was flying, he put the airliner in a
    bank of 90 degrees and the nose dropped sharply.  Some one pulled
    back on the yoke to obtain level flight but the plane stalled.
    Amazingly, rather than the co-pilot in the right hand seat taking over
    the controls, the captain began to coach his son in recovery
    techniques.  After several stalls and rapid pull-ups the plane went
    into a spiral descent. In the end the co-pilot initiated a 4.8g pull-up
    and nearly regained a stable flightpath but the aircraft struck the
    ground killing all aboard.

Captain almost sucked out of plane

    06/10/1990     c 08:20
    LOCATION: Oxfordshire, England
    CARRIER: British Airways     FLIGHT: 5309
    AIRCRAFT: BAC One-Eleven
    REGISTRY:    S/N: 
    ABOARD: 85    FATAL: 0    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: On a flight from Birmingham, England to Malaga, Spain,
    at FL 230, a large section of windshield  fell away from the aircraft. 
    The decompression pulled the captain out from under his seatbelt.
    Despite trying to hold onto the yoke, the captain was sucked out into
    the opening. A steward in the cockpit was able to grab hold of his
    legs.  Another steward was able to strap himself into the vacant seat
    and aid in holding onto the captain's legs. The copilot wearing full
    restraints made an emergency landing at Southampton. The captain
    remained half way out of the aircraft for 15 minutes and suffered
    only frostbite and some fractures. Improper bolts used to replace the
    windshield two days earlier.

Ran out of fuel while in holding pattern

    01/25/1990     21:34
    LOCATION: Cove Neck, NY
    CARRIER: AVIANCA (Colombia)     FLIGHT: 052
    AIRCRAFT: Boeing B-707-321B
    REGISTRY: HK 2016   S/N: 19276
    ABOARD: 158    FATAL: 73    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft was put in a series of extended holding
    patterns as it approached New York. The crew informed ATC they
    were running out of fuel but did not declare an emergency and were
    cleared to land. After a missed approach and during  a go-around,
    the plane ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area.   The captain
    speaking very little English and communicating through the first
    officer at no time declared an emergency. The first officer used the
    term "we need priority" several times, rather than declaring an
    emergency. The ATC did not realize the peril of the aircraft.  Failure
    of the crew to properly communicate the emergency situation to the
    ATC.

Crew preoccupied with listening to a World Cup Soccer match

    09/03/1989     c 20:45
    LOCATION: Near Sao Jose do Xingu, Brazil
    CARRIER: VARIG (Brazil)     FLIGHT: 254
    AIRCRAFT: Boeing B-737-241
    REGISTRY: PP-VMK   S/N: 21006
    ABOARD: 54    FATAL: 13    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft ran out of fuel due to a navigation error and
    crashed into the jungle. The crew, preoccupied with listening to a
    World Cup championship match, flew in the wrong direction. It is
    alleged that the pilot led the survivors two days through the jungle to
    rescue and the first words out of his mouth  were "who won". 

Nine passengers sucked out of plane and lost at sea

    02/24/1989     02:09
    LOCATION: Honolulu, HI
    CARRIER: United Air Lines     FLIGHT: 811
    AIRCRAFT: Boeing B-747-122
    REGISTRY: N4713U   S/N: 
    ABOARD: 356    FATAL: 9    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: After leaving Honolulu, on a flight from Los Angeles to
    Sidney, Australia, the loss of an improperly latched cargo door
    resulted in explosive decompression and loss of power in the No. 3
    and 4 engines. Nine passengers were sucked out of the plane and lost
    at sea.  The plane landed safely. 

Both pilots shot by fired airline employee

    12/07/1987     16:16
    LOCATION: San Luis Obispo, CA
    CARRIER: Pacific Southwest Airlines     FLIGHT: 1771
    AIRCRAFT: British Aerospace BAe-146-200
    REGISTRY: N350PS   S/N: E-2027
    ABOARD: 43    FATAL: 43    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: A fired USAir employee, David Burke, after leaving a
    goodbye message to friends, shot both pilots.  The aircraft went into
    a steep dive and crashed.

Plane crashed after pilot ignored Ground Proximity Warning System

    02/19/1985     09:27
    LOCATION: Mt. Oiz, near Durango, Vizcaya, Spain
    CARRIER: Iberia Airlines (Spain)     FLIGHT: 610
    AIRCRAFT: Boeing B-727-256
    REGISTRY: EC-DDU   S/N: 21777
    ABOARD: 148    FATAL: 148    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft crashed into an antenna on Mt. Oiz. 
    Incorrect interpretation of Ground Proximity Warning System
    (GPWS). The captain was heard shouting "shut up" at the GPWS as
    it announced "pull up". Overconfidence in altitude alert system. 
    Incorrect interpretation of its warnings. 

All four engines failed after flying through volcanic ash

    06/24/1982     20:44
    LOCATION: Mount Galunggung, Indonesia
    CARRIER: British Airways     FLIGHT: 009
    AIRCRAFT: Boeing B-747
    REGISTRY: G-BDXH   S/N: 
    ABOARD: 257    FATAL: 0    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft flew into a plume from a volcanic eruption at
    37,000 feet during the night.  All engines failed and the windshield
    lost transparency because of pitting. The first engine was restarted at
    12,000 feet, followed by the other three and the plane landed safely
    at Jakarta.

Aircraft crashed after crew struggled with mentally ill pilot

    02/09/1982     
    LOCATION: Tokyo, Japan
    CARRIER: Japan Air Lines     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-8-61
    REGISTRY: JA-8061   S/N: 45889
    ABOARD: 174    FATAL: 24    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft flew into shallow water after a struggle with
    a mentally ill pilot.  It appears the captain, known to have mental
    problems, put an engine into reverse while the co-pilot and flight
    engineer battled to restrain him.  

Captain experimented with autothrotle system

    11/03/1973     c 16:40
    LOCATION: Near Albuquerque,  NM
    CARRIER: National Airlines     FLIGHT: 27
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-10-10
    REGISTRY: N60NA   S/N: 
    ABOARD: 128    FATAL: 1    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: Overspeeding of the starboard engine caused the engine
    to disintegrate.  Pieces struck the fuselage, breaking a window,
    causing rapid explosive decompression and a passenger was sucked
    out of the plane.  The plane landed safely. The captain and flight
    engineer experimenting with the autothrottle system to see its
    response to various other instrument settings caused overspeeding of
    the engine. 

Twenty-nine survivors rescued after 2 months in the Andes mountains

    10/13/1972     
    LOCATION: Near San Fernando, Chile
    CARRIER: TAMU     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: Fairchild-Hiller FH-227D/LCD
    REGISTRY: T-571   S/N: 572
    ABOARD: 45    FATAL: 29    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The flight crashed into Andes mountains.  The survivors
    were not found until 12/22/72.   Survivors resorted to cannibalism to
    stay alive.   The book and move "Alive" is based on this accident.

Crew member fell 33,000 feet and survived

    01/26/1972     c 17:00
    LOCATION: Near Hermsdorf, Czechoslovakia
    CARRIER: JAT Yugoslav Airlines     FLIGHT: 364
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-9-32
    REGISTRY: YU-AHT   S/N: 47482
    ABOARD: 28    FATAL: 27    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The plane crashed after the detonation of bomb in the
    forward cargo hold.    A stewardess fell 33,000 feet in the tail
    section and although breaking both legs and being paralyzed from
    the waist down, survived.  The bomb was believed to be placed on the
    plane by a Croatian extremist group.
 

Co-pilot accidently deployed spoilers 60 feet off the ground

    07/05/1970     08:09
    LOCATION: Toronto, Canada
    CARRIER: Air Canada     FLIGHT: 621
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-8-63
    REGISTRY: CF-TIW   S/N: 46114
    ABOARD: 109    FATAL: 109    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: While landing and approximately 60 feet above the
    runway, the spoilers were inadvertently deployed causing the aircraft
    to fall and lose the No. 4 engine.  The crew then decided to go-
    around.  The aircraft exploded while attempting the go-around.
    Inadvertent deployment of spoilers while the aircraft was still in the
    air by the first officer.  Faulty design by allowing the spoiler handle
    to perform two different unrelated tasks.

Captain suffered heart attack

    04/22/1966     20:30
    LOCATION: Near Ardmore, OK
    CARRIER: American Flyers Airline     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: Lockheed 188C Electra
    REGISTRY: N183H   S/N: 1136
    ABOARD: 98    FATAL: 83    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft crashed into foothills during landing attempt
    at Ardemore Municipal Airport .  Incapacitation of captain with a
    heart attack during final stages of approach.

Pilot decided to give passengers a view of the mountain

    03/05/1966     c 14:15
    LOCATION: Near Gotemba City, Mt. Fuji, Japan
    CARRIER: British Overseas Airways     FLIGHT: 911
    AIRCRAFT: Boeing B-707-436
    REGISTRY: G-APFE   S/N: 17706
    ABOARD: 124    FATAL: 124    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft crashed into Mt. Fuji after encountering
    severe turbulence when the pilot decided to give the passengers a
    view of the mountain.  The aircraft encountered severe clear air
    turbulence and started to come apart in the air before crashing.  
   

Aircraft crashes after collision with a whistling swan

    11/23/1962     
    LOCATION: Ellicot, MD
    CARRIER: United Air Lines     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: Vickers Viscount 745D
    REGISTRY: N7430   S/N: 128
    ABOARD: 18    FATAL: 18    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft struck a flock of Whistling Swans at night, at
    6,000 ft.  One, estimated to be 13 pounds, struck the leading edge of
    the tail stabilizer, weakening the structure and causing it to detach.
    The aircraft lost control and crashed.

Son placed bomb aboard aircraft to collect insurance on his mother

    11/01/1955     c 19:00
    LOCATION: Longmont, CO
    CARRIER: United Air Lines     FLIGHT: 629
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-6B
    REGISTRY: N37559   S/N: 43538
    ABOARD: 44    FATAL: 44    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft crashed 11 minutes after taking off from
    Denver on a flight to Seattle.  Detonation of a bomb in the No. 4
    cargo hold, placed by John Graham in his mother's luggage in order
    to collect 37,500 dollars in insurance. A delayed flight caused the
    bomb to detonate over flat land rather than the mountains as planned. 
    He was executed for the crime.

Husband placed a bomb aboard aircraft to collect insurance on his wife

    09/09/1949     10:45
    LOCATION: Sault-aux-Cochons, PQ, Canada
    CARRIER: Canadian Pacific Airlines     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-3
    REGISTRY: CF-CUA   S/N: 4518
    ABOARD: 23    FATAL: 23    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft disintegrated in flight 40 miles outside of
    Quebec.  Detonation of a dynamite bomb in the forward baggage
    compartment.  Planted by Albert Guay, a jeweler,  in a plot to kill
    his wife, a passenger on the plane. Guay, who assembled the bomb,
    had his mistress Marguerite Pitre airmail the bomb on the aircraft. 
    Ms. Pitre brother, a clockmaker, helped make the timing
    mechanism. The insurance policy was for 10,000 dollars.  All three
    were hanged for the crime.

Falulty design caused aviation fuel to be sucked into heating vent

    10/24/1947     
    LOCATION: Bryce Canyon, UT
    CARRIER: United Air Lines     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-6
    REGISTRY: NC37510   S/N: 42875
    ABOARD: 52    FATAL: 52    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: Fire was reported on board the aircraft before it crashed.
    An almost identical accident with the same cause occurred on 11/11/47.
    The flight crew transferred fuel either intentionally or inadvertently
    from the No. 4 alternate tanks to the No. 3 alternate tanks and failed 
    to stop the transfer process in time to avoid overflowing the No. 3 
    alternate tank.  Gasoline flowed through the No. 3 alternate vent line, 
    out the vent, and was carried back by the slip stream, entering the cabin 
    heater combustion air intake scoop.  When the cabin heater came on, an 
    explosion and fire occurred.  Design flaw in the aircraft.

Captain intentionally engaged the gust lock in flight

    10/08/1947     
    LOCATION: El Paso, TX
    CARRIER: American Airlines     FLIGHT: 311
    AIRCRAFT: Douglas DC-4
    REGISTRY: NC90432   S/N: 
    ABOARD: 56    FATAL: 0    GROUND: 
    DETAILS: The aircraft went into steep dive and pulled out 350 feet
    from the ground.  As an experiment, a captain riding in the jump
    seat engaged the gust lock in flight. The command pilot rolled the
    elevator with no response as the jump seat captain disengaged the
    gust lock causing the aircraft to go into a steep dive, execute part of
    an outside roll and become inverted. Neither the command or jump
    seat captain had seat belts on and accidently feathered No. 1, 2 and 4
    engines.  The co-pilot managed to unfeather the props and pull out of
    the dive.
    

U.S. Army Air Corps plane crashed into Empire State Building

    07/28/1945     9:49
    LOCATION: New York, NY
    CARRIER: Military     FLIGHT: 
    AIRCRAFT: USAAC B-25 Bomber
    REGISTRY: 0577   S/N: 
    ABOARD: 3    FATAL: 3    GROUND: 11
    DETAILS: A U.S. Army Air Force plane crashed into the 79th floor
    of the Empire State Building in heavy fog.  Lt. Col. William
    Franklin Smith Jr., the pilot, became disoriented while trying to land
    at Newark Airport. Lt. Smith was told he had a 3 hour wait to land
    at Newark.  Impatient to get his plane on the ground, he falsely
    declared he had official business at La Guardia Airport with the
    intention of diverting to Newark as soon as he was cleared. The 12
    ton plane smashed a 20 ft. hole in the building.  Fuel from the
    ruptured gas tanks poured out and set two floors ablaze killing 10
    people.  One engine exited the south side of the building and plunged
    into a penthouse below.