weather

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    French Researchers Lost Lives in Antarctica

    What: Institut Polaire Français Aérospatiale AS 350 Squirrel helicopter carrying supplies between the French research vessel and supply ship, l’Astrolabe and the country’s Dumont d’Urville research base in Adélie Land.
    Where: Antarctica
    When: October 28, 2010
    Who: 4 Fatalities
    Why: After taking off from the French research vessel L’Astrolabe which is icebound northeast of the Dumont-d’Urville station, the helicopter went down in bad weather. The helicopter was last seen flying at 29 feet. The helicopter normally supplied the research base. Initially there was hope of one survivor. A U.S. Air Force C-17 flew over; the distress beacon was activated off Adelie Land, but cloud cover prevented visibility; bad weather complicated rescue efforts. An Australian unit which spotted three bodies dropped supplies and survival equipment. A doctor flown in later confirmed that the pilot, the mechanic and two employees of the French Polar Institute who had been aboard the helicopter were dead. The remains were recovered and flown back in an Australian Hercules C-130 to a chapel at the base. (US) McMurdo base and AMSA’s rescue coordination centre are assisting the French recovery team.

    Two researchers were from l’Institut polaire Paul-Emile Victor, in Brest, Brittany, France.

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    Aero Champ Dies in Crash

    What: Renaud Écalle’s Jodel DR 1050
    Where: between Jonzac Neulles and Salon-Eyguières, in Aude, France
    When: Oct 3 2010
    Who: 4 aboard, all fatalities (Renaud Écalle, wife and family)
    Why: Renaud Écalle was returning from an aerobatic show performance at Jonzac when he encountered storms and high wind. The pilot lost contact with Montpellier ATC at 17:30 Sunday; rescue services located the wreckage

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    Windjet Antenna strike; Collapses on Palermo Runway


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mario Serrano

    What: Windjet Airbus A319-100 en route from Rome to Palermo
    Where: Palermo Sicily
    When: Sep 24 2010 8:00 pm
    Who: 123 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: Landing in Palermo in thunderstorms and windshear, the plane landed shy of the runway and struck an antenna. The plane’s two main gear struts collapsed.

    3 of the passengers evacuated via emergency chutes were injured. The ANSV has commenced the investigation. The jet is owned by a US based aircraft leasing company with offices in Dublin, one of four aircraft leased to Windjet by International Lease Finance Corporation who has offices in Dublin’s North Wall Quay.

    The Palermo airport will be closed until the jet is removed from the runway. The Palermo airport is renowned for mechanical turbulence.

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    MAK Finds Aviastar Inadequate

    MAK, the Interstate Aviation Committee investigated the Mar 22nd crash of the Aviastar-TU Tupolev TU-204-100 ferry flight en route from Hurghada Egypt to Moscow, and banned it from operating as a passenger airline. On the day of the crash, after the flight control computer failed, the Tu-204 flew 700 feet left of the runway when it was landing. The pilot was found to have “poor training” on simulators that did not correspond with the plane. According to Flight Global, “the crew failed to execute a go-around.”

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    Indian Chopper Crashes in Bad Weather

    What: Indian Air Force HAL Chetak/Alouette III en route from Kalaikunda to Bagdoghra
    Where: Sundarpahari area, Godda district, Jharkhand state
    When: Sept 11 2010
    Who: 3 aboard, 3 fatalities
    Why: While en route in bad weather, the flight crashed in Sundarpahari near Sinharsi air base. Two pilots and a co pilot were killed. Weather is assumed to be the cause, but the IAF has ordered an inquiry .

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    All Lost in Agni Air Crash, Nepal


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Vivek Manvi

    What: Agni Air Dornier 228-101 en route from Katmandu to Lukla
    Where: Bastipur, ~18nm SSW of Kathmandu, Nepal
    When: Aug 24, 2010
    Who: 14 aboard, 14 fatalities. 11 passengers, 3 crew (At one point there was an announcement of an additional passenger whose nationality was unknown. This is unconfirmed.)
    Why: Due to poor weather conditions in Katmandu, the crew diverted to Simara Airport. ATC lost contact at 7.30 am. The plane’s generator had been causing problems and it failed, then the backup generator failed. Without a generator, the pilot is flying blind, without avionics. The flight crashed at 9000 feet in a hillside near Bastipur in Shikhapur.

    Other reports say the engine failed.

    The casualties were Capt. Lucky Shah, co-pilot Sophia Singh, flight attendant Sahara Sherpa, and passengers R Rijal, P Humagain, P Bhote, K Rai and P Sherpa.

    Six foreigners were aboard:four Americans: Irina Shekhets (30), Levzi Cordoso (49), Heather Finch (40), and Kendra Fallon (18), one Japanese: Yuki Hayashe (19) and a Brit: Jeremy Taylor (30) .
    This is monsoon season, and the area is remote, and roads many roads are blocked due to landslides. Villagers report scattered plane parts and body parts, and rescue teams are en route.

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    Thai Helicopter Crash Kills 5


    Pictured: A Eurocopter AS-350B-2 Ecureuil owned by Thailand – Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (KASET)
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer M Radzi Desa

    What: Thai Eurocopter AS 350 helicopter en route from Phitsanulok province to take the officials to the inauguration of a river basin development project
    Where: remote area of jungle in Na Muen district of Nan province northern Thailand
    When: August 18 2010
    Who: 5 passengers including Permanent Secretary for natural resources and environment Saksit Tridech, inspector-general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and a senior adviser to the Royal Household Bureau. The pilot who worked for the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was Major Jenwit Arunsawat. Sergeant Withoon Thienngern, who was the machinist, also aboard.
    Why: While flying over a remote jungle in stormy weather, the helicopter disappeared from radar. The search involved 350 rangers, soldiers, forestry officials, village headmen and villagers. Ground search of 17 separate search parties led by local guides and four search helicopters were utilized to find the wreckage which was located Wednesday, three kilometers from the closest settlement. The helicopter crashed into a mountainside at 1,500 meters. There was no fire.

    Wednesday, rescue teams encountered steep terrain, making the recovery of the remains difficult but the five bodies were recovered.

    Funeral services will be at Wat Phra Si Maha That in Bangkok.

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    Aires Boeing Struck by Lightning on San Andres Island


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Juan_BOG

    What: Aires Boeing 737-700 en route from Bogota to San Andrés Island Colombia
    Where: Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport on the Colombian island of San Andres
    When: August 15 2010, 2:15 a.m.
    Who: 131 aboard, 6 crew, 4 minors, 121 adult passengers
    Why: Prior to touchdown, the plane was struck by lightning (11 strikes recorded within 6 miles of the runway within a five-minute span of the crash); the plane impacted 80 meters shy of the runway. The impact scattered pieces of the plane, and it broke at the midsection into three main parts. When help arrived, passengers were already strewn about the area. Praise Boeing for no actual fatalities.

    The injured are being treated at “Amor de Patria Hospital” and “Villarreal Clinic” on San Andrés Island, with the most injured being ported to Bogata via air ambulance.

    After the crash-landing, Mrs. Amar Fernández died of a heart attack en route to the hospital. She was 73. 66 were reported injured, five of them seriously, 35 hospitalized. Alejandro Colmenares Rua (18 months), Yiseth Rua Rojas (23), Catherine Rua Rojas (27), Jacqueline Rua Rojas(23), María Alejandra Ballesteros (21) and Andrés Cagua Calderón (33) were unhurt.

    A room has also been opened for relatives at the Sheraton Hotel in Bogota. Aires published a release regretting what has happened. They are working with Aerocivil to serve the passengers and their families. They have provided a care line number: 018000-949490
    Relatives of the occupants may contact the Hotel Habitel where they will receive all Aires information.

    Flights at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla are suspended. Civil Aeronautics, the Navy, the Colombian Air Force, National Police, Red Cross, the company Aires and other institutions of the Regional Committee for Disaster Prevention and Response have responded.

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    Qantas Airbus Blocks Runway

    What: Qantas Airbus A380 en route from LA to Sydney
    Where: New Caledonia’s La Tontouta airport
    When: August 11, 2010
    Why: Forced to land because of the bad weather, the plane was actually too big to turn on the runway, so it had to sit on the tarmac blocking traffic until it was towed.

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    2nd Alaska Crash: Piper Strands 5 on Glacier

    What: PA-32 sight-seeing in Alaska
    Where: Knik Glacier, about 113km northeast of Anchorage
    When: Sunday August 8, 2010 1 pm
    Who: pilot, Donald Erbey, 49 and 4 friends
    Why: Erbey had taken Texas friends sightseeing in his small family Piper 32. When he realized he was flying into bad weather, he turned to head back, “hit a downdraft” and crashed in a snowbank, leaving them stranded since Sunday on Knik Glacier, Alaska.

    Monday evening, highly trained pararescuers—Maj. Jesse Peterson, Master Sgt. Al Lankford, Tech. Sgt. Chris Uriarte and Tech. Sgt. Angel Santana—braved a 4 mile trek to walk in food and supplies. The plane’s locator beacon was operable.

    Helicopters with additional supplies and support are in the area but weather conditions have not permitted drops or a rescue. They have adequate resources to wait till weather clears enough for helicopters to land as hiking out is a last resort.

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    Otter Crash in Alaska, 8 Aboard, Survivors


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer John Olafson

    What: GCI Communication Corp de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Texas Turbine Super O en route to Agulowak Lodge near Lake Aleknagik, Alaska
    Where: 20 miles north of Dillingham, AK
    When: August 9, 2010
    Who: 8 aboard
    Why: The 1957 DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter owned by GCI Communication Corp crashed on encountering weather. After the wreckage was discovered, two National Guard rescue teams in helicopters were dispatched but they could not handle the weather and their arrival was (expected to be) delayed until after midnight.

    A volunteer team on the ground was assisting rescue efforts and a doctor is on the scene. Half of those aboard the plane survived. Former Sen. Ted Stevens was aboard the plane.

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    UA Airbus Diverts to Omaha. Twice.


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Royal S King

    What: United Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Denver to Des Moines
    Where: Omaha
    When: Aug 10th 2010
    Why: After take-off, the flight ran into weather.

    The pilot diverted to Omaha, where they made a safe landing. However, on departure from Omaha, the plane developed engine vibration, and had to return to Omaha.

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    Russian Passenger jet Crashes in Igarka


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Senior

    What: Katekavia Antonov 24RV passenger jet en route from Krasnoyarsk to Igarka
    Where: Eastern Siberia
    When: August 2 2010
    Who: 3 crew and 11 passengers (also listed as 5 crew 10 passengers)
    Why: 700 meters from the landing at Igarka, the plane the plane veered to right and crashed before the runway, in bad weather conditions. (Night time landing, thunderstorms, limited visibility) 11 fatalities have been reported. The plane shattered and caught fire.

    Three crew members and one passengers were hospitalized initially–the only ones pulled alive from the plane– but now only 3 crew members remain fighting for their lives.

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    Thai Boeing Hits Turbulence


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mu yun

    What: Thai Airways Boeing 777-200 en route from Bangkok to Osaka
    Where: Kansai International Airport in the city of Izumisano in Osaka Prefecture
    When: Jun 20th 2010
    Who: 227 passengers and 17 crew, 4 injured
    Why: The flight encountered turbulence at 6:30 am over the Pacific Ocean off Kochi Prefecture

    The flight landed safely Osaka 15 minutes later. Three cabin crew and one passenger were hospitalized for injuries. The weather service says that the atmosphere was unstable due to a rain front.

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    Canada: United Airlines Overrun


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Hediye Akyuez

    What: United Airlines Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Washington DC to Ottawa
    Where: Ottawa
    When: Jun 16 2010
    Who: 33 passengers and 3 crew
    Why: On landing in rainy conditions, the plane was unable to slow down and overran the end of the runway. There were a few minor injuries (one pilot injured his leg, the other his neck and an elderly passenger injured her neck) and the plane’s collapsed nose gear damage is considered substantial.

    Passengers disembarked by following the exit route and jumping from one of the wings to the grass.

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    Mangalore Crash: Air India Express Boeing 737-800


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer WT

    What: Air India Express Boeing 737-800 en route from Dubai to Mangalore
    Where: Mangalore airport
    When: 6:00 a.m May 22 2010
    Who: 160 (?) passengers including 23 children, 6 crew= 158 fatalities and 8 survivors
    Why: Air India Express flight 812 attempted touch down was around the middle marker. (Conflicting) reports are that it overshot the runway, and that the pilot intended a go round (tapes reveal the co pilot was urging a go-round) but the plane hit the localizer antenna at the runway’s end, plowed through the perimeter losing part of a wing, and went down 75 feet into a ravine, and broke into pieces and burst into flames. On touchdown, there was a reported “bang” which may have been a tire bursting. A drizzle started after the accident. From 5 to 10 people have been hospitalized, but according to reports there are possibly 3 survivors.

    Survivor Abdul Puttur suffered burns. He was seated near the wing exit and said that the pilot had announced the landing, then there was a thud. He saw huge flames after the plane fell into the ravine and then he jumped out from the back entrance. Another passenger said the pilot made no announcement.

    The Serbian pilot was Zlatko Glusica, first officer was S.S. Ahluwalia.

    According to DGCA rules, Mangalore International Airport is deemed a “critical airfield” which means that “supervised take offs and landings” are prohibited. Only the captain (not the first officer) can pilot take-offs and landings. Mangalore International Airport has a controversial table top runway and which forces pilots to make a precision landing. The airport has no buffer zone, and pilots landing planes must fly precisely or risk hurtling off the edge.

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    Antonov Crash in Kabul

    What: Pamir Airways Antonov AN-24 en route from Kundus to Kabul Afghanistan
    Where: Kabul on May 17th 2010
    When: May 17th 2010
    Who: 38 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: Lost connection with ATC 40 minutes from the airport. The wreckage, found at Salang Pass, displayed no sign of life.

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    Pamir Flight Lost in Mountain Pass


    Pictured: A Pamir Airways flight. This one is a Boeing 737-4Y0 over Dubai, not the plane involved in the crash
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Szabo Gabor

    What: Pamir Airways Antonov 24B en route from Kunduz to Kabul
    Where: Salang Pass (Afghanistan)
    When: May 17, 2010
    Who: 5 crew 38 passengers
    Why: While embarking on a flight in poor weather, the plane disappeared from radar while en route. The wreckage was found in a mountainous region (Salang Pass.) Recovery efforts are impeded by location, and current weather conditions which are snowy/rainy.

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    3rd Blue Wing Crash Kills 8 in Suriname


    src: fleet photo

    What: Blue Wing Airlines Antonov 28 passenger plane en route from Godo Holo Airstrip to Paramaribo-Zorg en Hoop Airport
    Where: Upper-marowijne district 3 miles north-east of Pokisi, Suriname.
    When: May 15, 2010
    Who: 2 crew including pilot Peter Veldkamp, 6 passengers employed by IAMGOLD mining company, 8 fatalities
    Why: Ten miles into the flight, the plane lost radio contact. The last message reporting the plane encountered bad weather. The plane disappeared in bad weather on the 15th, in a forest 200 miles southeast of Paramaribo, near the Tapanahony River where it is presumed the plane was flying (off course) to try to fly around the weather. Since then, search parties have been able to fly over the wreckage and confirm it a total loss

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    Merpati Crashes in West Papua NG


    Click to view full size photo at Airplane-pictures.net
    Contact photographer chaity

    What: Merpati Nusantara Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Sarong to Manokwari West Papua. (Sorong-Dominique Edward Osok Airport to Rendani Airport)
    Where: Rendani Airport, Indonesia
    When: 12 April 2010
    Who: 97 passengers ( 76 men, 21 women, three children and three infants) 6 crew
    Why: While landing at Rendani in heavy fog and rain, the flight overshot the runway and/or hydroplaned on the wet runway, lost a wing in a forest at the end of the runway and partially ended up with the tail suspended in river shallows. The fuselage split in two. No one was trapped; everyone got out alive. Reports of injury vary, from 80 minor injuries to 20 individuals who sustained varying degrees of injury (broken bones and head injury), one who had facial injury and trouble breathing.

    Merpati is on the banned list. Nevertheless, Merpati spokesmen say this was entirely due to weather and not pilot error.


    View Manokwari Crash in a larger map

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    Helicopter Crash in Russia; German tourists lost

    What: Kamchatka Airlines Mil Mi-8T helicopter
    Where: Elizovo, Kamchatka Russia
    When: April 9 2010
    Who: 18 aboard, 7 fatalities
    Why: After an avalanche, the bodies of 7 German tourists aboard a helicopter have been recovered. Two survivors (the captain and one tourist) have been taken to a medical center and search is ongoing for the rest of those aboard. Inhospitable mountainous terrain is impeding the search

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    Tupolev Crashes in Moscow


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Ilya Morozov

    What: Aviastar-TU Tupolev TU-204-100 ferry flight en route from Hurghada Egypt to Moscow
    Where: Moscow
    When: Mar 22nd 2010
    Who: 9 crew
    Why: While nearing its destination in poor weather conditions with limited visibility, .6 miles from the runway, the flight went off radar, landing 3300 feet shy of the runway– ostensibly a belly landing–crashing in a forested area. Five aboard had minor injuries and two were injured seriously. One wing separated, and the rest of the plane incurred serious damage.

    Sunday, another Tu-204 plane bound for Hurghada, left Domodedovo but had to return to Moscow.

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    Lufthansa Wing Strike


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Gerry Stegmeier

    What: Lufthansa A320-200 en route from Munich to Hamburg
    Where: Hamburg
    When: Mar 1 2008
    Who: 132 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On approach to Hamburg in stormy windy (47 knot wind gusts) weather, the left wing struck the runway on an attempted landing, veered, and had to make another go-round before a final landing.

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    Pakistan: Runway Excursion


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Asuspine

    What: Shaheen Air International Boeing 737-200 en route from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar
    Where: Peshawar
    When: Feb 8th 2010
    Who: 112 passengers
    Why: While landing on a wet runway, the Shaheen Air flight either hydroplaned or experienced a “technical fault.” If the plane had hydroplaned off the end of the runway instead of veering off the side, it could have impacted the traffic like the Congonhas crash. Instead we have a minor muddy runway excursion.

    No on one was injured. An airline spokesman said “It was tremendously heavy rain and the aircraft skidded off the runway” but others say it was not raining that much. The plane may return to service this week.


    View Peshawar International Airport in a larger map

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    Skyservice Airbus Hard Landing in Cuba


    Pictured: The Airbus in the incident, photo taken a year ago in Toronto
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mark Kryst

    What: Skyservice Airbus A320-200 en route from Toronto to Varadero Cuba
    Where: Varadero
    When: Jan 31 2010
    Why: While landing during high rain with little visibility, the flight made a hard landing and blew three tires. The passengers disembarked safely, and there were no injuries reported, except to the plane.