Hiva Oa - Nuku Hiva
Flight / Schedule
Hiva Oa - Nuku Hiva
Aircraft
Dornier DO228Registration
F-OHAB
MSN
8196
Year of Manufacture
1990
Operator
Air TahitiDate
April 18, 1991 at 11:56 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Nuku Hiva Marquesas Islands
Region
Oceania • French Polynesia
Coordinates
-8.8733°, -140.1246°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On April 18, 1991 at 11:56 AM, Hiva Oa - Nuku Hiva experienced a crash involving Dornier DO228, operated by Air Tahiti, with the event recorded near Nuku Hiva Marquesas Islands.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
22 people were known to be on board, 10 fatalities were recorded, 12 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 45.5%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 20, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Nuku Hiva Airport runway 06, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, the left engine failed. The crew decided to perform an approach to runway 24 when on final, the captain ditched the aircraft few dozen meters offshore. The impact was relatively violent and 10 occupants were killed, among them the captain. All 12 other occupants were injured, some seriously.
Aircraft reference details include registration F-OHAB, MSN 8196, year of manufacture 1990.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -8.8733°, -140.1246°.
Fatalities
Total
10
Crew
1
Passengers
9
Other
0
Crash Summary
On final approach to Nuku Hiva Airport runway 06, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, the left engine failed. The crew decided to perform an approach to runway 24 when on final, the captain ditched the aircraft few dozen meters offshore. The impact was relatively violent and 10 occupants were killed, among them the captain. All 12 other occupants were injured, some seriously.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
20
Estimated Survivors
12
Fatality Rate
45.5%
Known people on board: 22
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Hiva Oa - Nuku Hiva
Operator
Air TahitiFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Oceania • French Polynesia
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Réseau Aérien Interinsulaire - RAI
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
The approach to Raiatea lagoon was performed in good weather conditions with a grey ceiling (altostratus) and several fractocumulus at 400 meters, good visibility. No wind and no waves on the sea gaves a very calm lagoon. While completing a last turn to the right to align to the landing area (seaplane base), the right wing tip struck the water surface. The airplane cartwheeled and crashed into the sea about 1,400 meters short of landing point. Eleven passengers were injured while 15 other occupants, among them all three crew members, were killed. The airplane sank by a depth of 36 meters ten minutes later.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Douglas DC-6
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Cessna 411
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Ocean few hundred yards off shore while flying by night. All three occupants were killed. The mission was conducted on behalf of the Groupe aérien mixte (GAM). Crew: Lt Col Desplas, Cdt Lacrouts, Lt Col Lalanne.
French Air Force - Armée de l'Air
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
The four engine airplane departed Hao Island Airport runway 12 at 0500LT for a weather reports mission of seven hours and 40 minutes. During initial climb, both right engines n°3 & 4 lost power simultaneously. The pilot-in-command was able to complete a low pass over the airport before the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred meters offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. Crew: Cdt Dugué, pilot, Lt Frugier, copilot, Cpt Parage, navigator, Adj Hecq, refueling operator. Passengers: - Adj Langlais, weather specialist, 1st Mst Saucillon, weather specialist.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Boeing 707
The airplane was completing a internationaal service from Auckland to Los Angeles with an intermediate stop in Papeete, Tahiti. After a night takeoff from Papeete-Faaa Airport runway 04, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the left according to departure procedures. Then the aircraft entered a left banked, lost altitude and crashed into the sea about 3 km offshore. Few debris were found floating on water and one passenger was evacuated while all 78 other occupants were killed. The aircraft sank by a depth of about 700 meters and both CVR and FDR were not found.
Dornier Flugzeugwerke
Dornier DO228
The twin engine airplane departed Oberpfaffenhofen Airport at 1727LT on a local test flight with one pilot and two inspectors from the UK CAA. The flight was part of the UK Civil Aviation Authority's certification program for the type. En route, the airplane entered a nose-down attitude then dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed. The loss of control occurred after the crew selected nose-down trim.