Canadair CL-44

Tradewinds Airlines

On approach to Aguadilla-Rafael Hernández, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and thunderstorm activity. On final, the aircraft was struck by lightning. The crew was able to continue the descent but the aircraft landed hard, bounced and came to a halt on the main runway. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Líneas Aéreas Suramericanas

Two minutes after takeoff from Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the engine n°4 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After completing a turn, the captain continued the approach when the aircraft banked right and crashed few hundred meters short of runway 04. Five occupants were injured while three others were killed.

Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos

After takeoff from Miami-Intl Airport, outbound to Managua on a cargo flight, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage due to a hydraulic pressure fault. Decision was taken to return for a safe landing and the landing gears were lowered. The nose gear was down and locked but not both main gears which remained partially deployed and not locked. Upon touchdown, both main gear partially retracted and the airplane came to rest on the runway. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Transporte Aereo Rioplatense

After completing two round-flights from Tel Aviv to Tehran via Larnaca (Cyprus), the aircraft was returning to Cyprus after having delivered the third tranche of cargo to Iran (a load of tank spare parts and ammunition). On its return flight from Tehran to Cyprus on its third trip, while on a 300° heading to the Turkish border, the crew was instructed to turn left heading 240° direct to Cyprus. For unknown reasons, the plane went off course to the north and crossed the Azerbaijan border without any clearance. Few minutes later, a Soviet Sukhoi Su-15 fighter was dispatched to intercept the CL-44. According to Soviet accounts at that time the crew failed to respond to radio calls as well as signals from the fighter pilot flying close to the CL-44's nose. The cargo plane, while probably making the procedure turn to the left, tried to get away. In unclear circumstances, both aircraft collided. They went out of control and entered a dive before crashing about 50 km from Yerevan. All four crew people on board the CL-44 were killed while the fighter pilot was able to bail out and was found alive. It is unclear whether the collision was intentional, the Soviet pilot said it was a deliberate attempt to down the enemy aircraft, while Western aviation experts examining his account believed he misjudged a turn and subsequently invented a story of self-sacrifice.

Cyprus Airways

Following an uneventful cargo flight (service CY205) from Dubai, the crew started the descent to Larnaca Airport when the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left main gear that remained stuck in its wheel well. The crew was instructed to divert to RAF Akrotiri where the emergency services have been dispatched and the runway covered with foam. The crew completed a belly landing and after touchdown, the airplane slid for few hundred meters before coming to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

ALAS - Atlantida Linea Aérea Sudamericana

On approach to Montevideo-Carrasco Airport, the crew encountered technical difficulties with the right main gear that would not deploy. The gear was recycled manually and all three green lights came on in the cockpit, indicating that all three landing gears were down and locked. Upon touchdown, the right main gear collapsed, causing the right wing to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Tradewinds Airways

After takeoff from Mombasa-Moi Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the right main gear that would not lock up. The captain decided to divert to Nairobi to complete an emergency landing. Upon touchdown at Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest. All four crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was carrying 17 tons of cement from Mombasa to Kigali.

Transmeridian Air Cargo

After takeoff from Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport runway 13, while climbing, smoke was seen from the rear of number 4 engine. The propeller was feathered and the crew contacted ATC. About a minute after takeoff, the crew requested the permission to return for an emergency landing on runway 31. After being cleared to descend to 2,000 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Waglan Island. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants were killed. They were completing a cargo flight from Hong Kong to UK with an intermediate stop in Bangkok.

Aeronaves del Peru

The four engine airplane was completing a cargo flight from Lima to Caracas when it crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous and wooded area located near the Shanisu River, about 400 km north of Lima. All six crew members were killed.

Aerotransportes Entre Rios

At 0600LT, Aerotransportes Entre Rios Cargo Flight 501/90, crashed while attempting a night VMC takeoff from runway 27L at the Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. The aircraft did not become airborne, and the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to reject the takeoff. The aircraft ran off the departure end of the runway and crashed on the west bank of a canal, about 960 feet from the departure end of the runway. Six of the ten persons aboard were killed. Two crewmembers and two passengers survived the accident. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. The aircraft struck and destroyed an automobile; one occupant of the car was injured.

Aerocondor de Colombia - Aerovias Condor

The crew departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport by night on a cargo flight to Miami via Barranquilla. Seven minutes after takeoff, the four engine airplane struck a 15 meters high pine tree with its right wing, went out of control and crashed on the slope of Mt Piedras Blancas (1,200 meters high) located about 11 km north of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Tradewinds Airways

Apparently following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed nosewheel first. Upon touchdown, the nosewheel was torn off and the airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to rest in flames. All five crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Aerotransportes Entre Rios

The four engine aircraft departed Montevideo-Carrasco Airport on a cargo flight to Santiago-Pudahuel Airport, carrying six crew members and a load of 28 tons of meat. En route, while cruising in poor visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Andes, or in Chile or in Argentina. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was found.

Cargolux

The aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight from Hamburg to Dhaka with an intermediate stop in Tehran, carrying a crew of four and 27,5 tons of foods on behalf of the International Red Cross Comity. On final approach to Dhaka-Tejgaon Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed onto several houses located in a district 10 km northwest of the airport. All four crew members were killed as well as four people on the ground.

Mobil Oil Corporation

Upon landing on runway 06L at Anchorage-Intl Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the right and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Flying Tiger Line

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Tachikawa AFB to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng on a subcontract mission for the US Air Force, carrying various equipments and goods. On final approach to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and fog. In low visibility, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck an obstacle, stalled and crashed in flames in the district of Binh Thai located few dozen yards short of runway. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and several houses were destroyed. All four crew members were killed as well as 107 people on the ground. 50 others were injured, among them 19 seriously.

Flying Tiger Line

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Indianapolis to Chambers Field NAS in Norfolk. The copilot was in command on final approach to runway 10 and failed to realise that the aircraft position was inappropriate. The airplane touched down with its left main gear and nose gear first. At impact, the left wing was torn off and out of control, the airplane crashed inverted and burst into flames. All six crew members were quickly evacuated and the aircraft was totally destroyed.