29 Apr 2013: BOEING 747-400 BCF — National Airlines

29 Apr 2013: BOEING 747-400 BCF (N949CA) — National Airlines

7 fatalities • Bagram, Afghanistan

Probable cause

National Airlines' inadequate procedures for restraining special cargo loads, which resulted in the loadmaster's improper restraint of the cargo, which moved aft and damaged hydraulic systems Nos. 1 and 2 and horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism components, rendering the airplane uncontrollable. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's inadequate oversight of National Airlines' handling of special cargo loads.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/aviation.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-15/01.

On April 29, 2013, about 1527 local time, a Boeing 747-400 BCF, N949CA, operated by National Air Cargo, Inc., dba National Airlines, crashed shortly after takeoff from Bagram Air Base, Bagram, Afghanistan. All seven crewmembers—the captain, first officer, loadmaster, augmented captain and first officer, and two mechanics—died, and the airplane was destroyed from impact forces and postcrash fire. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental cargo flight was destined for Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Contributing factors

  • Operator
  • Incorrect action selection — Other
  • FAA/Regulator
  • Lack of action — Other
  • Damaged/degraded
  • Damaged/degraded
  • Attain/maintain not possible

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 020/07kt

Related events

Same aircraft

  • 13 Aug 2024 — BOEING 747-400F (Atlas Air Inc.)
  • 8 Feb 2024 — BOEING 747-400 (—)
  • 9 Jun 2013 — BOEING 747-400 (—)
  • 22 Apr 2013 — BOEING 747-400 (UNITED AIR LINES INC)
  • 20 Aug 2012 — BOEING 747-400 (Iraqi Airways)

Same operator

  • 21 Dec 2018 — BOEING 747-428 No Series (National Airlines)
  • 27 Jul 2000 — Boeing 757-200 (National Airlines)

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