Apr 04 2011

4L-GAE Accident

Reports have been received that CRJ 100ER (MSN 7070) 4L-GAE has crashed at Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) in the Congo during a landing attempt at that airport.

The flight was operating for the United Nations with a crew of four and twenty-eight passengers. All were lost save one passenger when the aircraft impacted the ground on final approach.

According to reports, there was severe rain in the area and poor flying conditions existed. It was flying as flight UNO834 from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) to Kisangani (FKI) and Entebbe (EBB), Uganda and then returning to Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport. The airplane was operating on the final leg of the flight when it crashed in rainy weather.

Little news reports exist, one of them notable at the Aviation Herald here which in part reads:

An Airzena Georgian Airways Canadair CRJ-100 on behalf of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), registration 4L-GAE performing flight 834 from Kisangani to Kinshasa N’Djili (Democratic Republic of Congo) with 29 passengers and 4 crew, was on an instrument approach to Kinshasa N’Djili’s runway 24 around 13:30L (12:30Z) in torrential rain, thunderstorms and low visibility, when the airplane missed the runway, broke up into several parts upon ground contact and came to rest off the runway abeam the military apron. 33 occupants perished, only one occupants survived with serious injuries, the airplane was destroyed.

The (flight data and cockpit voice) recorders were recovered on Apr 5th.

A witness on the ground said that the all white aircraft apparently caught a windshear at a height of about 20 meters (65 feet) and basically fell down.

Several post crash photos exist which indicate a total destruction of the airframe in this accident.

4L-GAE of Georgian Airways Post-Crash Remnants

4L-GAE of Georgian Airways Post-Crash Remnants

This airframe, MSN 7070, passed through only two operators in its history:

  • First Operator: Brit’Air as F-GRJA (First CRJ in fleet of this operator)
  • Last Operator: Georgian Airways as 4L-GAE
  • Manufactured: 09/06/95
  • Image as F-GRJA
  • Image as 4L-GAE

Accident is currently assumed to be weather related.

Apr 03 2011

N377SK Incident at Dubuque, Iowa

On April 3, an Embraer EMB-135KL (MSN 145579) N377SK, operating as flight CHQ 5019, sustained substantial damage when the jet bridge was blown into the side of the forward fuselage as the airplane was being pushed back for departure from the Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ), Dubuque, Iowa.

The captain, first officer, flight attendant, and 44 passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled passenger flight under American Connection colors and titles.

Apr 02 2011

N845AS Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 5087 Birdstrike

On April 1st, 2011 Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 5087 was coming in for a landing at the Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas when the pilot made an emergency call at 4:38pm. The aircraft struck a flock of large cranes, causing significant damage.

ASA 5087 CRJ Bird Strike Damage

ASA 5087 CRJ Bird Strike Damage

ASA 5087 CRJ Bird Strike Damage

ASA 5087 CRJ Bird Strike Damage

 

ASA 5087 CRJ Bird Strike Damage

ASA 5087 CRJ Bird Strike Damage

 

A total of 46 passengers and 3 crew members were aboard the plane when the incident occurred. Officials say no one was injured.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines is a regional partner of Delta Air Lines. The aircraft involved was CRJ 200ER (MSN 7324) N845AS which has been in service with ASA since its delivery from the manufacturer.