Historical Events tagged with "pilot error"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Accidents & Tragedies

Thai Airways Flight 261 crashes near Surat Thani Airport

December 11th, 1998 26 years ago

Thai Airways Flight 261, an Airbus A310-200, encountered difficulties shortly before landing at Surat Thani Airport, resulting in a crash that claimed 101 lives. The incident is attributed to the pilot's possible spatial disorientation during an attempted approach to the airport. The flight was carrying various passengers, including tourists and locals, contributing to the tragedy's broader implications for air safety regulations in the region.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Avianca Flight 052 crash in New York

January 25th, 1990 35 years ago

Avianca Flight 052, a Boeing 707, crashed in Cove Neck, New York, while attempting to land at JFK Airport. The flight was carrying 158 passengers and crew from Colombia when it ran out of fuel due to a series of miscommunications and weather conditions. The aircraft crashed into a residential area, resulting in 73 fatalities and 85 survivors. This incident marked one of the deadliest aviation events in the area.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Surinam Airways Crash during Approach to Paramaribo

June 7th, 1989 35 years ago

Surinam Airways Flight 764, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8, crashed on approach to Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport due to pilot error, resulting in the deaths of 176 of the 187 people aboard. The flight commenced from Amsterdam, Netherlands, carrying passengers and crew when it encountered difficulties during landing procedures. The aircraft reportedly failed to maintain proper altitude and airspeed, leading to a devastating impact shortly before touchdown.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Northwest Airlines Flight 255 Crash in Detroit

August 16th, 1987 37 years ago

Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, took off from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport but crashed shortly after becoming airborne due to a loss of control. With 155 passengers and crew on board, only one person survived the accident. Additionally, two individuals on the ground were killed by the aircraft, which struck a nearby road, highlighting a tragic series of events resulting from pilot error and the aircraft's configuration.

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Accidents & Tragedies

Pan Am Flight 806's Fatal Crash in Samoa

January 30th, 1974 51 years ago

Pan Am Flight 806, a scheduled flight from Los Angeles to Pago Pago, faced a tragic fate when it crashed while on approach to Pago Pago International Airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 707, came down in a rugged terrain near the airport, resulting in the death of 97 individuals aboard, including passengers and crew. The cause of the crash was attributed to pilot error and adverse weather conditions, which severely impacted visibility and control, leading to the disaster.

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