Narrative:
Nightexpress Flight 114, a Beechcraft 99, departed Luton Airport at 01:25 UTC for a flight to Frankfurt. The aircraft carried 733 kg cargo. Failure of both engines caused the pilot at 02:34 UTC to request radar guidance to the nearest airport. The crew were told to maintain a course of 60 degrees and was cleared to descend to FL60. The crew switched to ATC Brussels Approach and were cleared to descend further. Liège runway 23L was available for landing and Brussels Approach told the crew to maintain 4000 feet. The Beech 99 crew replied that this was not possible because both engines were not operating and they asked for a direct course to Liège. Brussels Approach directed the flight to head 320 degrees. Last radio contact was at 02:40:40 UTC when the crew reported descending through 1700 feet and asked their distance to the runway, which was 5nm. The aircraft crashed into the woods a few hundred meters from a residential area and caught fire.
The failure of both engines was caused by a lack of maintenance. The crew did not follow company regulations and a misunderstanding between the crew and ATC contributed to the accident, as did the darkness.
All engine powerloss
Loss of control
» Jeroen Lapidaire (Verzekeringmaatschappij De Nederlandse Luchtvaartpool N.V.)
» Olivier Chalvet
accident date: 30-06-1999
type: Beechcraft 99
registration: D-IBEX
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 30 June 1999 |
| Time: | 04:41 |
| Type: |  Beechcraft 99 Airliner |
| Operator: | Nightexpress |
| Registration: | D-IBEX |
| MSN: | U- 45 |
| First flight: | 1968 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Seraing ( Belgium)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | London-Luton Airport (LTN/EGGW), United Kingdom |
| Frankfurt International Airport (FRA/EDDF), Germany | |
| Flightnumber: | 114 |
Nightexpress Flight 114, a Beechcraft 99, departed Luton Airport at 01:25 UTC for a flight to Frankfurt. The aircraft carried 733 kg cargo. Failure of both engines caused the pilot at 02:34 UTC to request radar guidance to the nearest airport. The crew were told to maintain a course of 60 degrees and was cleared to descend to FL60. The crew switched to ATC Brussels Approach and were cleared to descend further. Liège runway 23L was available for landing and Brussels Approach told the crew to maintain 4000 feet. The Beech 99 crew replied that this was not possible because both engines were not operating and they asked for a direct course to Liège. Brussels Approach directed the flight to head 320 degrees. Last radio contact was at 02:40:40 UTC when the crew reported descending through 1700 feet and asked their distance to the runway, which was 5nm. The aircraft crashed into the woods a few hundred meters from a residential area and caught fire.
Probable Cause:
The failure of both engines was caused by a lack of maintenance. The crew did not follow company regulations and a misunderstanding between the crew and ATC contributed to the accident, as did the darkness.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Language/communication problemsAll engine powerloss
Loss of control
Sources:
» Dirk Leismann» Jeroen Lapidaire (Verzekeringmaatschappij De Nederlandse Luchtvaartpool N.V.)
» Olivier Chalvet
Photos
accident date: 30-06-1999
type: Beechcraft 99
registration: D-IBEX
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from London-Luton Airport to Frankfurt International Airport as the crow flies is 652 km (407 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from London-Luton Airport to Frankfurt International Airport as the crow flies is 652 km (407 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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