Accident description
Last updated: 18 May 2013
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | 30 JUN 1999 |
| Time: | ca 02:41 UTC |
| Type: | Beechcraft 99 |
| Operator: | Nightexpress |
| Registration: | D-IBEX |
| C/n / 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 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (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 departed Luton at 01:25 UTC for a flight to Frankfurt. The aircraft carried 733kg 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 FL060. 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 100m 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. Events:
Sources:
» Dirk Leismann
» Jeroen Lapidaire (Verzekeringmaatschappij De Nederlandse Luchtvaartpool N.V.)
» Olivier Chalvet
Official accident investigation report
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Photos
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).
Distance from London-Luton Airport to Frankfurt International Airport as the crow flies is 652 km (407 miles).
