Selected international accidents and incidents 1 January to 31 March 2023

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The remains of Yeti Air flight 691. Image: Bhupendra Shrestra (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2 January

  • Aircraft: Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300
  • Location: Provo Airport, Utah, US
  • Fatalities: 1
  • Description: Business jet crashed on take-off in snowy conditions killing pilot and injuring 3 passengers. Refueller told NTSB of frozen droplets on wings when aircraft was being topped up soon before take-off.

7 January

  • Aircraft: Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee
  • Location: Suffolk, Virginia, US
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Pilot who had held a certificate since 29 November 2022, took an aircraft from maintenance facility in contravention of engineer’s instruction that it not be flown until engine misfire was fixed. Aircraft crashed en route killing both on board.

9 January

  • Aircraft: Antonov AN-2
  • Location: Near Karatakya, Russia
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Aircraft made forced landing in icy conditions with cockpit windows fogged because heating system had failed. Captain and one of 10 passengers died.

15 January

  • Aircraft: ATR 72-500
  • Location: Pokhara, Nepal
  • Fatalities: 72
  • Description: Aircraft stalled at low level and crashed into gorge. FDR/CVR data shows flap initially not selected on approach, despite checklist call-out, and propellers feathered at same time. After 39 seconds, crew applied full power but stickshaker activated after another 13 seconds as aircraft stalled.

19 January

  • Aircraft: Cessna 182 Skyland
  • Location: Talpa de Allende, Mexico
  • Fatalities: 3
  • Description: Aircraft crashed on take-off, running off 1200-metre runway, hitting a cow feeding trough, a cow and a stone wall. Two killed at scene, survivor died on 4 February.

22 January

  • Aircraft: Helium balloon
  • Location: Taiping, Sichuan, China
  • Fatalities: 1
  • Description: Balloon (also described as hot air balloon) broke free from tether during loading for sightseeing flight. Balloon rose and eventually burst, falling on sloping wooded ground. Child killed, 4 others injured.

7 February

  • Aircraft: Sonex Waiex
  • Location: Near Stratford Aerodrome, Taranaki, New Zealand
  • Fatalities: 1
  • Description: Single-seat sport aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances.

17 February

  • Aircraft: Robinson R44 Raven II
  • Location: Tsjechov Peak, Sakhalin, Russia
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Aircraft collided with mountain under unknown circumstances.

18 February

  • Aircraft: Cessna 340A
  • Location: Mt Mayon, Philippines
  • Fatalities: 4
  • Description: Aircraft went missing. Wreckage found near summit of active volcano. Dead included 2 Australian engineers.

22 February

  • Aircraft: Beechcraft B200 Super King Air
  • Location: Little Rock, Arkansas, US
  • Fatalities: 5
  • Description: Aircraft crashed 1500 m from runway in gusty conditions with thunderstorms in vicinity.

28 February

  • Aircraft: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
  • Location: Chaucer Lake, Ontario, Canada
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Aircraft went missing en route in northern Ontario. Wreckage found after 4 days.

1 March

  • Aircraft: Aerospatiale SE3130 Alouette II
  • Location: Near Lumbucan Island, Philippines
  • Fatalities: 5
  • Description: Emergency medical helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances after picking up casualty for hospital transfer. Wreckage found in sea.

11 March

  • Aircraft: Cessna R182 Skylane RG
  • Location: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  • Fatalities: 1
  • Description: Video shows aircraft making high and fast approach to runway 27 before bouncing and going round. It landed long on runway 9 soon after and made runway excursion into nearby houses. Passenger seriously injured.

16 March

  • Aircraft: Shark.Aero Shark
  • Location: Xizhou, Taiwan
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Light sport aircraft aborted landing and went into steep climbing turn. It stalled soon after and fell to ground, catching fire on impact.

18 March

  • Aircraft: Diamond DA40 CS Diamond Star
  • Location: Near Kirnapur, India
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Aircraft struck hill during flight in adverse weather. Student and instructor killed.

26 March

  • Aircraft: Robinson R44 Raven II
  • Location: Baton Rouge, Louisana, US
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Tail rotor of police helicopter struck tree; aircraft crashed inverted into field.