What happened
On June 30, 1999, a Beech 99 cargo aircraft departed Luton, England, for Frankfurt, Germany, operating under instrument flight rules. Shortly after takeoff, the crew observed flames emitting from the right engine nozzle and subsequently shut down the engine. While communicating with another aircraft from the same operator, the crew reported that the right engine was inoperable and requested a descent to 9,000 feet.
Shortly thereafter, the crew reported to Brussels Control that the second engine had also failed. The crew requested radar vectors to the nearest suitable airport, likely Liège. While communicating the emergency, the crew used the PAN PAN urgency signal to inform a second aircraft of the situation, though they did not initially notify Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the second engine failure.
As the aircraft descended through 4,000 feet, the crew informed ATC that maintaining altitude was impossible due to the dual engine failure and requested a direct course to the airport. After confirming the availability of runways and inquiring about the distance to the airfield, the crew reported an altitude of 1,700 feet. Following this final transmission, the aircraft disappeared from radar. The aircraft crashed into a wooded area approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of the airport, where it was destroyed by fire. The crash resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted by the Belgian Air Accidents and Incidents Investigation Unit, with participation from the German BFU. The inquiry focused on the sequence of engine failures and the crew's management of the emergency.
Findings
- Maintenance deficiencies in the engines were identified as the cause of the engine failures.
- The crew failed to adhere to their airline's established operating procedures.
- Communication breakdowns and misunderstandies occurred between the crew and ATC.
- Contributing factors included the lack of crew initiative, the nighttime conditions, and the timing of the accident.