Colombo - Colombo

The crew departed Colombo-Ratmalana Airport for a local post maintenance test flight as one of the engine has been changed. During climbout, an engine caught fire. The crew was cleared to return for an emergency landing when the engine exploded and separated from the aircraft. Out of control, the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed. It was reported that the engine that caught fire was not the one that has been changed.

Flight / Schedule

Colombo - Colombo

Aircraft

Shaanxi Y-8

Registration

CR-873

MSN

07 08 02

Year of Manufacture

1993

Date

August 15, 2002 at 12:35 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Test

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Colombo-Ratmalana Western Province (<U+0BAE><U+0BC7><U+0BB2><U+0BCD> <U+0BAE><U+0BBE><U+0B95><U+0BBE><U+0BA3><U+0BAE><U+0BCD>)

Region

Asia • Sri Lanka

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On August 15, 2002 at 12:35 PM, Colombo - Colombo experienced a crash involving Shaanxi Y-8, operated by Sri Lanka Air Force, with the event recorded near Colombo-Ratmalana Western Province (<U+0BAE><U+0BC7><U+0BB2><U+0BCD> <U+0BAE><U+0BBE><U+0B95><U+0BBE><U+0BA3><U+0BAE><U+0BCD>).

The flight was categorized as test and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew departed Colombo-Ratmalana Airport for a local post maintenance test flight as one of the engine has been changed. During climbout, an engine caught fire. The crew was cleared to return for an emergency landing when the engine exploded and separated from the aircraft. Out of control, the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed. It was reported that the engine that caught fire was not the one that has been changed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CR-873, MSN 07 08 02, year of manufacture 1993.

Fatalities

Total

5

Crew

5

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew departed Colombo-Ratmalana Airport for a local post maintenance test flight as one of the engine has been changed. During climbout, an engine caught fire. The crew was cleared to return for an emergency landing when the engine exploded and separated from the aircraft. Out of control, the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed. It was reported that the engine that caught fire was not the one that has been changed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Colombo - Colombo

Flight Type

Test

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Asia • Sri Lanka

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Shaanxi Y-8

Registration

CR-873

MSN

07 08 02

Year of Manufacture

1993

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