March Disasters!

This Month in History

These pages are always under construction

If you have information about a disaster not listed here, or additional information or corrections to disasters listed here, please send us an email.

- MARCH -

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-31

March 1

03/01/1990 - Mongolia - Airline/Aircraft - 30 Fatalities

MIAT Monolian Airlines, Antonov AN-26

03/01/1990 - Near Meerut, India - Airline/Aircraft - 50 Fatalities

Military - Indian Air Force, MiG-23. After the pilot ejected safely, the aircraft crashed into two trucks killing 50 people on the ground.

03/01/1988 - Near Johannesburg, South Africa - Airline/Aircraft - 17 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 206, Commercial Airways (Comair), Embraer EMR-110P1. The aircraft crashed and burned 8 miles from Jan Smuts Airport while attemping to land. Detonation of a bomb consisting of nitro-glycerine and ammonium nitrate. A mineworker who heavily insured himself was thought to have committed suicide.

March 2

03/02/1986 - Bugulma, Russia - Airline/Aircraft - 38 Fatalities

Aeroflot, Antonov AN-24. Failure of the autofeather sensor electrical breaker caused propellers to feather.

March 3

03/03/1991 - Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA - Airline/Aircraft - 25 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 585, United Air Lines, Boeing B-737-291. While on final approach the aircraft rolled to the right and pitched nose down until it reached an almost vertical attitude before hitting the ground. Uncommanded deflection of the rudder caused by the jamming of the main rudder PUCservo valve. First female pilot to die on the flight deck of a U.S. airliner.

March 4

03/04/1988 - Near Fontainebleau, France - Airline/Aircraft - 23 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 230, Transport Arien Transregional. Crashed after hitting power lines. Possible electrical system failure.

March 5

03/05/1993 - Skopje, Macedonia - Airline/Aircraft - 83 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 301, Palair Macedonian, Fokker F-Friendship100. The aircraft shuttered violently after takeoff, rolled to the left, then right and crashed. Icing. Failure to deice the plane before takeoff.

03/05/1991 - La Puerta, Venezuela - Airline/Aircraft - 43 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 108, Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (Venezuela), Douglas DC-9-32. The aircraft crashed into the Las Torres plateau in the Andes mountains on a flight from Maracaibo to Santa Barbara de Zulia after taking off in fog. Controlled flight into terrain.

March 6

March 7

03/07/1999 - New Delhi, India - Airline/Aircraft - 22 Fatalities

Indian Air Force, Antonov AN-32 Transport. The aircraft was on a flight from Gwalior to Pokhran with a stop in New Delhi. While approaching Delhi Airport, the plane suddenly veered off its landing path and crashed into a building site and careened into a water tank reservoir. A witness said the plane came in very low and crashed, exploded and burned after severing power lines. A heavy layer of fog covered the area prior to the crash. The crash site was 1.5 miles from the airport.

March 8

March 9

03/09/1983 - Off Macae, Brazil - Airline/Aircraft - 11 Fatalities

Aeroleo Taxi, Aereo. Crashed into the sea.

March 10

03/10/1989 - Dryden, Ontario, Canada - Airline/Aircraft - 24 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 1363, Air Ontario, Fokker F-28 Fellowship 1000. While flying from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba, the plane crashed on take-off from Dryden, Ontario. The aircraft filed to gain altitude clipping the tops of trees causing debris to clog the engines leading to the plane crashing. The captain's decision to take off in deteriorating weather conditions with an accumulation of snow and ice on the wings. Decision not to de-ice the plane before taking off. The failure of the Canadian air transport system in placing the crew in a situation where they did not have the resources to make a proper decision.

03/10/1989 - Lima, Peru - Airline/Aircraft - 10 Fatalities

Aero Condor, IRMA BN-2A Islander. Crashed after striking radio tower while on approach.

03/10/1983 - Near Shach Goan, Afghanistan - Airline/Aircraft - 19 Fatalities

Bakhtar Afghan Airlines, de Havilland Canada Twin Otter 300

March 11

03/11/1983 - Barquisimeto Venezuela - Airline/Aircraft - 23 Fatalities

Avensa, Douglas DC-9-32. The aircraft landed past the runway threshold, experienced a hard landing in fog, slid off the runway and broke up. Improper in-flight decisions & inadequate supervision of the flight.

03/11/1982 - Mehamn, Norway - Airline/Aircraft - 15 Fatalities

Wideroe's Flyveselksap, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300. The aircraft crashed while on a flight from Berlevåg to Mehamn after the failure of the tail fin and rudder in moderate turbulence. Overload due to a combination of clear air turbulence, mountain wave and the pilots spontaneous improper actions. There is some controversy surrounding this crash including the possiblity the aircraft was shot down by a NATO jet fighter.

03/11/1888 - 03/14/1888 - East Coast, USA - Weather - 400(Est.) Fatalities

“The Blizzard of 1888.” As much as five feet of snow. Damage was estimated at $20 million.

March 12

03/12/1996 - Karabogazgol Bay, Turkmenistan - Airline/Aircraft - 13 Fatalities

Akhal Air, Mil Mi-8T (helicopter). Crashed while attemping an emergency landing.

03/12/1993 - 03/14/1993 - Atlantic Coastline of the USA - Weather - 270(Est.) Fatalities

-The Storm of the Century- "Storm of the Century" hits entire eastern seaboard of the United States with tornadoes, high winds, and heavy snows (2-4 feet); $3.0-$6.0 (3.3-6.6) billion damage/costs; approximately 270 deaths. More Information Here.

03/12/1990 - Off Freetown, Sierre Leone - Airline/Aircraft - 11 Fatalities

Helicsa, Sikorsky S-58ET (helilcopter), Crashed into the sea after takeoff.

03/12/1988 - Katmandu, Nepal - Misc - 80 Fatalities

Soccer fans seeking cover during a violent hail storm at the national stadium were trampled to death in a stampede because the stadium doors were locked.

03/12/1928 - Santa Paula, CA. USA - Misc - 450 Fatalities

Collapse of the St. Francis Dam.

March 13

03/13/1997 - Near Mashhad, Iran - Airline/Aircraft - 88 Fatalities

Military - Iranian Air Force, Lockheed C-130HF. The aircraft was en route from Dezful to Mashhad. The plane was carrying military personnel and their families and crashed 24 miles NE of Mashhad. The pilot reported engine failure prior the crash.

March 14

03/14/1980 - Near Warsaw, Poland - Airline/Aircraft - 87 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 007, Polskie Linie Lotnicze (Poland), Ilyushin IL-62. While attempting to land at Warsaw, the crew initiated an overshoot procedure after there were indications that the landing gear was not down. When thrust was applied, the No. 2 engine disintegrated, damaging two other engines and severing the rudder and elevator control lines. The plane crashed one-half mile from the runway threshold The dead included 22 members of the U.S. boxing team and Polish singer Anna Jantar.

March 15

March 16

03/16/1991 - San Diego, CA. USA - Airline/Aircraft - 10 Fatalities

Duncan Aircraft Sales, Hawker-Siddeley DH-125-1A/522. The aircraft hit rising terrain near the top of a mountain 8 miles NE of Brown Field at an elevation of 3,300 feet shortly after taking off. Improper planning/decision by the pilot. Failure of the crew to maintain proper altitude and clearance over mountainous terrain and the failure of the copilot to adequately monitor the progress of the flight. Seven members of the Reba McEntire band were killed.

03/16/1984 - San Borja, Bolivia - Airline/Aircraft - 23 Fatalities

Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, Fairchild F-27M. Crashed into the jungle.

March 17

03/17/1988 - Near Cucuta, N of Santander, Colombia - Airline/Aircraft - 143 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 410, AVIANCA (Colombia), Boeing B-727-21. The aircraft struck a mountain at 6,200 feet after taking off in mist and haze. The crew took off under VFR conditions during adverse weather conditions. Inappropriate presence of a non-crew pilot in the cockpit and his great talkativeness distracting part of the crew which resulted in carelessness and disorientation in monitoring the heading and altitude necessary to maneuver the plane. VFR flight into IFR conditions.

March 18

03/18/1998 - Off Hsinchu, Taiwan - Airline/Aircraft - 13 Fatalities

Formosa Airlines (Taiwan), Saab340B. The aircraft crashed in the ocean shortly after taking off from Hsinchu, bound for Kao Hsiung. Possible instrument failure and loss of power in the aircraft's right engine.

03/18/1997 - Cherkessk, Russia - Airline/Aircraft - 50 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 1023, Stavropol Airlines, Antonov AN-24. The aircraft lost altitude from FL 197 and crashed into a forest while on a flight from Stavropol, Russia to Trabzon, Turkey. Reports indicated that fire, explosion and in-flight separation of the tail section preceded the crash.

March 19

03/19/1998 - Charasyab, Afghanistan - Airline/Aircraft - 45 Fatalities

Boeing B-727-228. The aircraft was on a flight from Sharjah to Kabul via Kandahar. The plane was descending for a landing at Kabul when it struck 3,000 ft. Sharki Baratayi Mountain, 300 feet below the summit in dense fog.

March 20

03/20/1982 - Branti Airport, Indonesia - Airline/Aircraft - 26 Fatalities

Gardua Indonesia Airlines, Fokker F-28 Fellowship 1000. The plane overran the runway in heavy rain, crashed into a field and burned.

March 21

03/21/1991 - Ras-al-Mishab, Saudi Arabia - Airline/Aircraft - 98 Fatalities

Royal Saudi Air Force, Lockheed C-130H. Crashed while attempting to land in poor visibility caused by oil fires during the Persian Gulf War.

03/21/1989 - Guarulhos, Brazil - Airline/Aircraft -21 Fatalities

Transbrazil, Boeing B-707-349C. The plane crashed into houses during an approach. Crew error. High speed approach. Deep stall.

03/21/1980 - Off Macae, Brazil - Airline/Aircraft - 14 Fatalities

VOTEC, Sikorsky S-76. Crashed into the ocean.

March 22

03/22/1992 - Near Yakutia, Russia - Airline/Aircraft - 15 Fatalities

Aeroflot, Antonov An-30. Autopilot engagement and disengagement resulted in oscillations of the aircraft which led to a loss of control and break-up in mid air. Pilot error.

03/22/1992 - La Guardia Airport, New York, New York, USA - Airline/Aircraft - 27 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 405, USAir, Fokker F-28-MK4000. The plane was deiced two times while at the gate. Thirty-five minutes elapsed between the last deicing and takeoff during which ice accumulated on the wings. After liftoff, the plane stalled and came to rest inverted and partially submerged in Flushing Bay. Failure of the airline industry and FAA to provide flight crews with procedures compatible with departure delays in conditions conducive to airframe icing.

March 23

03/23/1994 - Near Mezhdurechensk, Russia - Airline/Aircraft - 75 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 593, Russian International Airways, Airbus A310-304. The aircraft crashed after a captain allowed his child to manipulate the controls of the plane. The pilot's 11 year old daughter and 16 year old son were taking turns in the pilot's seat. While the boy was flying, he inadvertently disengaged the autopilot linkage to the ailerons and put the airliner in a bank of 90 degrees which caused the nose to drop sharply. The co-pilot pulled back on the yoke to obtain level flight but the plane stalled. With his seat pulled all the way back, the co-pilot in the right hand seat could not properly control the aircraft. After several stalls and rapid pull-ups the plane went into a spiral descent. In the end the co-pilot initiated a 4.8g pull-up and nearly regained a stable flight path but the aircraft struck the ground in an almost level attitude killing all aboard.

03/23/1991 - Navoi, Uzbekistan - Airline/Aircraft - 34 Fatalities

Uzbek Civil Aviation Administration, Antonov AN-24B. The aircraft overran the runway and crashed into concrete blocks.

March 24

March 25

March 26

03/26/1982 - Queate, Colombia - Airline/Aircraft - 21 Fatalities

Aeropesca Colombia, Vickers Viscount 745D. Crashed into mountain during poor weather conditions.

March 27

03/27/1990 - Kabul, Afghanistan - Airline/Aircraft - 11 Fatalities

Aeroflot, Ilyushin Il-76MD. On a flight from Kokand to Kabul, the aircraft stalled and crashed while on approach after being ordered by ATC to discontinue the approach. Pilot error.

March 28

03/28/1985 - Florencia, Colombia - Airline/Aircraft - 46 Fatalities

Satena, Fokker F-28 Fellowship 3000. Crashed into a fog covered mountain.

March 29

03/29/1998 - Piura, Peru - Airline/Aircraft - 22 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 388, Fuerza Aerea del Peru, Antonov 32. A Peruvian air force plane carrying villagers stranded by flooding crashed while attempting to land at Piura Airport. The pilot tried to glide the plane after losing an engine but crashed near a shantytown 2 kilometers from the airport. The plane began losing altitude after an engine failed and crashed into a drainage canal and broke in two. Engine failure.

March 30

03/30/1987 - Parachinar, Pakistan - Airline/Aircraft - 40 Fatalities

Bakhtar Afghan Airlines, Antonov AN-26. Shot down by Pakistani F-16s.

03/30/1980 - Stavanger, Norway - Misc - 123 Fatalities

A floating hotel in North Sea collapses, killing 123 oil workers.

March 31

03/31/1995 - Near Balotesti, Romania - Airline/Aircraft - 60 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 371, Transporturile Aeriene Romane (Romania). Shortly after takeoff in poor visibility and heavy snow, with autothrottles engaged, climb thrust was selected. The right engine throttle jammed and remained at takeoff thrust, while the left engine throttle slowly reduced to idle. The increasing thrust asymmetry resulted in an increasing left bank angle, which eventually reached about 170 degrees. The airplane lost altitude and impacted the ground.

03/31/1986 - Maravatio, Mexico - Airline/Aircraft - 167 Fatalities

FLIGHT: 940, Mexicana. While climbing through 29,000 feet, an overheated tire exploded in the wheel well after takeoff and damaged the hydraulic and electrical systems of the aircraft. The plane lost control and crashed.