[Accident Report] PLAAF accident in March 2005 in PRC

[Don Chan]

In the Chinese (China) news site china.com, an article dated 2005.04.22 at
http://military.china.com/zh_cn/impo.../12261678.html
with photos of the crash site after it was cleaned up, *claimed*:

In middle March 2005, a PLAAF J-7 crashed in the Min Nan region.
Its pilot was martyred.
It belonged to an unit based in Zhe Jiang Province, and was deployed to an AB in the Min Nan region.
It had mechanical problem, RTB, circled around, tried to resolve the problem, and crashed near the AB, about 200 m from a highway. It dived into the ground at 30 degrees AOA.

[Lightndattic]

'It's pilot was martyred'

If the pilot was able to RTB and circle, why wouldn't he have been able to eject when it became clear it wasn't going to recover from it's nose down attitude?

[Fulcrums]

'It's pilot was martyred'

If the pilot was able to RTB and circle, why wouldn't he have been able to eject when it became clear it wasn't going to recover from it's nose down attitude?

If the J7 has the same ejection seat as the early MiG-21, then it is quite possible it didn't work. Those early Russian ejection seats were not known for their dependability. Of course, they more than corrected that with the K-36 series - arguably the best ejection seats around now.

Still, may the pilot's soul rest in peace and condolences to his family.

[plawolf]

'It's pilot was martyred'

If the pilot was able to RTB and circle, why wouldn't he have been able to eject when it became clear it wasn't going to recover from it's nose down attitude?

might have only been a minor problem (or at least it seemd that way) to start off with. the pilot tried to save the plane, but when the real danger became apparent, he might not have had time to eject.

also, some older ejection seats require the plane to be at a certain posture (and maybe within a certain speed braket as well) for the ejection to be successful. if the plane have control problems, the pilot might not have been able to right the plane in time to eject.

there are loads of possible reasons, its almost impossible to tell which is the real cause unless more detailed info becomes available.

sad news nonetheless.

[yerna1]

may be he tried to steer it away from the expressway seen in the first pic.

[Don Chan]

If the original article is true, then of course I don't intend any disrespect to the PLAAF pilot.
But personally, I tend to be sceptical about PRC military news, unless they are posted at an authoritative site, such as Xin Hua Net and Yahoo! China News.
For example, in late 2004, several PRC regional newspaper sites cross-posted an article that claimed some ROCAF F-16s had defected to PRC, escorted by PLAAF Su-27s. But PRC Netters who read the articles weren't as daft as one may think, as they wrote such funky comments as: former ROC President Li had joined the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), and current ROC President Chen would declare unconditional surrender tomorrow.

[Don Chan]

In the Chinese (China) news site Sina News, an article dated 29 November 2005 at
http://jczs.sina.com.cn/2005-11-29/1104334276.html
reported:

On 17 October 2005, a PLAAF aircraft of a division in the Nan Jing military district, made an emergency landing at an abandoned AP, because of fuel system problem.
In middle November, its pilot QIAO Wen Dian was commended.

At 13:42, a flight of four aircraft took off.
At 14:12, Qiao checked the instruments and discovered the fuel gauge indicated 2,200 litres and decreasing, but the secondary fuel tank light didn't light up.
He compared fuel state with flight leader ZHAO Jian Fu, and decided he (Qiao) had fuel system problem. When the 500 litres warning light lit up, he knew he could fly for 10 or so minutes.
He reported to ground control and changed course to a diversion AP, but knew he didn't have enough fuel to reach the diversion AP.
He had 1,800 safe flight hours, didn't want to bail out, as long as he had a chance to return to ground, and looked for somewhere to land.
He descended to altitude 2,000 metres and saw a runway, but he remembered this AP was abandoned for 10+ years, and had no functional landing guidance equipment.
He checked the runway, prepared to land, and avoided 400 metres of the runway covered by corn (probably there for sun-drying).
As he was landing, a (farm) tractor drove onto the runway. He avoided it and successfully landed, at 14:29.
The instruments indicated the secondary tank was empty.

[Don Chan]

http://news.sohu.com/20041118/n223044351.shtml

17 November 2004:

PLAAF. Trainer.
Chang Chun City, Ji Lin Province.
About 13:00, belly-landing.
Two crew not wounded.

[Don Chan]

http://news.tom.com/1006/20050311-1939467.html
http://news.163.com/05/0311/16/1EIV2V6C0001122B.html

Articles dated 11 March 2005.

On 8 March 2005, about 3 PM, in Hai Nan Province, Wan Ling City, at a reservoir, while some brick factory workers were digging for clay to make bricks, they found the wreck of a J-6 that crashed about 30 years ago...

7 October 1974:

About 8 AM or PM, about 60 km from Ling Shui AB, the J-6 was having an emergency and returning to base.
Reportedly, the control tower authorised the pilot to eject, but he said he was above a village, and flew on, until it was too low for him to safely eject, and he was martyred.
Back then, it crashed into a farm and made a big crater. When rescue personnel arrived, it was heavily raining. Water filled the crater, and the rescue personnel recovered only some debris.
After 1975, the villagers were relocated, and the farm became a reservoir.

[Don Chan]

http://www.takungpao.com/news/06/04/05/ZM-548366.htm
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/060404/12/1moui.html
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/060404/12/1moqt.html
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/060404/43/3053p.html
were inaccurate.

http://www.takungpao.com/news/06/04/06/ZM-548842.htm
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/060405/12/1mpgb.html

4 April 2006:

About 14:30, a PLAN J-8II two-seat trainer crashed into a mountain near Shan Cong Village, Nan Yang Town, Wen Chang City, Hai Nan Province.

South Sea Fleet, PLAN, based at Ling Shui AB, Hai Nan Province.
About 14:00, one of a flight of three aircraft that took off at Ling Shui AB. Armed with four missiles and one cannon.
During training sortie, returning to base, lost communications contact above Nan Yang Town, had mid-air explosion, and crashed in a pepper forest.
Crater diameter four metres, depth five metres.
Two pilots martyred. One body recovered.

[Pepe Rezende]

It´s different of original MiG 21 one. In 1986 it was capable of safe ejecting at zero altitude and a 100 KPH speed. They were exchanged by a improved model zero-zero capable.


Pepe Rezende

[Don Chan]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2007-0...nt_5568756.htm
to
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2007-0..._5568756_5.htm
with photos (of crash site, pilot, his wife and sons), reports:

14 November 2006:
Single-engine jet fighter.
Lan Zhou AF, PLAAF.
After training, while landing, collided with flock of pigeons, and crashed, 600 m from end of runway.

After collision, pilot comrade Colonel Li Jian Ying chose to not eject, avoided crash-landing onto local villages, retracted landing gear, attempted to emergency belly-land, and was martyred.
Aircraft carrying 800+ litres of fuel, 120+ rounds of cannon ammo, and one round of rocket.

Weather excellent. Visibility 10+ klicks.
11:17, Li (callsign 639) and wingman took off.
12:04, returned to base. While landing, at altitude 194 m, distance 2,900 m, had bird strike.
At 127 m, engine shut down.

[Don Chan]

http://www.zaobao.com/special/newspa...s070111zb.html
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070109/12/1zmzh.html
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070109/12/1zmx0.html
http://news.phoenixtv.com/mil/2/2007...40_61543.shtml

9 January 2007:
Probably fighter or trainer.
Probably 9th Division, Guang Zhou military region, PLAAF, based at Cheng Hai AB, Shan Tou City, Guang Dong Province; which operates J-7, J-8IID, Su-27, and trainers.
About 3:30, crashed into a valley near Nan Shan Town, Jie Xi County, Jie Yang City, Guang Dong Province.
Reportedly one of two pilots martyred.
The other ejected (reportedly parachute had holes, damaged by debris or fire), wounded (reportedly cracked ribs or lightly burnt), and taken to Nan Shan Town clinic, then Jie Yang City hospital; after he requested villagers to preserve wreck and debris, and to contact police.

[Don Chan]

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url...9/4/17bnx.html
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url...8/5/179x0.html
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/081008/4/8m0v.html
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/081007/4/8lal.html

*RUMOUR*

7 October 2008:
Two J-7s.
PLAN, based in Fu Jian Province.
About 10 AM, during training above Long Shan Town, collided.
One crashed in a banana farm in Tai Bao Village, Long Shan Town, Nan Jing County, Zhang Zhou City, southern Fu Jian Province.
Its pilot killed; didn't eject.

The other crash-landed or emergency landed near Long Yan City, southwestern Fu Jian Province, and caught fire. 50 klicks from Nan Jing County.

No civilian casualty on ground.

PLAN, East Sea Fleet, 4th Division, 12th Regiment at Lu Qiao AB, Zhe Jiang Province, has 36 J-7s.
PLAN, East Sea Fleet, 6th Division, 17th Regiment at Yi Wu AB, Zhe Jiang Province, has FBC-1s.

[Don Chan]

8 January 2009:

*RUMOUR*

Su-27.
33rd Division, Cheng Du Military District, PLAAF, based at Bai Shi Yi AB, Chong Qing.
About 3 PM, exploded three times above/near Bai Shi Yi AB, and crashed into mountain.

About 5 PM, mobile phone networks in nearby areas temporarily disabled.

*RUMOUR*

No aircraft crashed.
33rd Division is tasked with protecting the Three Gouges Dam.
The explosions that scared the locals, were probably PLAAF fighters practising interception of target drones posing as cruise missiles.

Previous interceptions were at high altitudes and didn't scare anyone. This time, at low altitudes.
Telecom networks temporarily disabled to prevent interference.

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090108/4/a4bo.html
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url.../78/1cqex.html

[Don Chan]

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090112/4/a5xl.html
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090112/4/a6hf.html

11 January 2009:
Cheng Du military distrct denied any aircraft crashed on 8 January.
All training ended by 17:26 on 8 January.

[Don Chan]

7 February 2009:
Heavy fighter. Two-seater. (Probably Su-30.)
Unknown regiment, Dong Hang ("Eastern Aviation", probably a squadron of the East Sea Fleet), PLAN, based at an air base in Jiang Nan (south of Chang Jiang River), where division commander is YE Bin.

Two pilots. Front-seater XU Hong Guang. Back-seater YAN Shao Lin.

Afternoon, just after took off, retracted flaps and landing gear, and climbed. Suddenly, a loud bang.
Flight control digital warning light, main lubricant warning light, and master warning light turned on. Left engine tachometer at 15%, and temperature at 700 degrees Celsius.
Plane took off for barely 44 seconds, and was 300 m AGL. Xu reported to ATC, that left engine stopped. Turned left to avoid city.
ATC ordered them to shut down left engine, rev up right engine, climb to 1,000 m, dump fuel, and ready for straight-in landing.
Four minutes later, finished dumping fuel, turned in for straight-in landing, and used rudder(s) to correct heading.
13:45, emergency landed, released drag chute, decelerated, and stopped.

http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2009-03-05/0739544352.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-0...t_10947367.htm

[Don Chan]

7 March 2009:
J-10.
PLAAF.
Afternoon, during training, at 4,500 m AGL, transmission problem, lost thrust, declared emergency, and RTB.
Seven klicks from home base (at 500 m AGL?), engine flamed out, descended at 25 m/sec, and glided towards home base.
During touch down, lost hydraulics, and couldn't deploy drag chute. After 1,400 m on the runway, stopped.
Excitement lasted 104 seconds.

Pilot was LI Feng. Regiment deputy commander, special class pilot.

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/090322/4/baf2.html
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url...2/5/1ghrk.html
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url...2/1/1ghui.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-0...t_11062360.htm
to
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-0...11062360_4.htm

Li's interview and photos, and transcript of his radio traffic with ATC.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-0...t_11080742.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2009-0...t_11074224.htm

Analysis and lessons learnt from Li's (lucky) J-10 emergency landing.

[Don Chan]

http://bbs.sogou.com/471250/6Awb5byBtOwHBAAAA.html

BBS article dated 2009-01-23, in Chinese. Apparently, summary of a few PLAAF/PLAN accidents in '60s to '90s.
Has dates and maybe types, but as usual, credibility unknown. No photo either.

[Don Chan]

20 May 1999:
J-8.
Probably PLAAF.
After take-off, engine caught fire, and disabled flight control. Although the plane could've exploded anytime, the pilot stayed in it for 42 seconds, attempted to memorise the instrument displays, and ejected when altitude was down to 200 m.

Pilot was wounded, and hospitalised for four months.
XU Yong Ling.
By February 2010, he's test-flown J-10 for six years.

http://mil.news.sohu.com/20100222/n270348648.shtml

February 1987:
Plane x 2.
PLAAF.
At about 10,000 m, wingman misheard command, and collided with leader.
Wingman ejected, but don't know about leader.

Wingman was XU Yong Ling.

In 1989, Xu was approved for test pilot training. In late October 1993, he and other PLAAF test pilots went to Russia for more test pilot training.
Later, his adventures included: at 15,000 m, flew in clouds, and instruments malfunctioned because of low temperature. During a rain storm, landed with visibility below 200 m.
By February 2010, he's test-flown J-10 for six years.

http://mil.news.sohu.com/20100222/n270348648.shtml

[Don Chan]

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/...bdate=20100422

*RUMOUR*

15 April 2010:
Su-30MKK.
East Sea Fleet, PLAN.
Crashed, in Ning Hai County, Ning Bo, Zhe Jiang Province.

Two pilots were killed.

99 Su-30s of PLAAF 18th Division, PLAAF 29th Division, and PLAN are grounded for inspection.

[Don Chan]

16 April 2010:
H-6.
Nan Jing military district AF, PLAAF.
During night training, bird strike.

Pilot and plane commander was QIN Jun. 1st Group deputy commander. 2,400 hours.
On 18 April 2010, he and his crew were awarded.

7:30 PM, took off.
8:13 PM, arrived at designated area.
8:16 PM, descended, and entered bombing course. First navigator ZENG Chao Qun (1,380 hours) opened bomb bay, and turned on pickle button.
8:20 PM, the plane approached its target, and flew into a flock of birds. The 1 cm thick windshield before Zeng broke, and bloody foreign objected entered the cabin. He announced bird strike, closed bomb bay, and turned off pickle button. His left eye, right shoulder, and arm(s) felt wounded.
Second navigator ZHANG Wen Hui replaced him.
Qin climbed, decelerated, and RTB.
8:40 PM, began to land, although the plane tended to slip or yaw right.
8:43 PM, landed.
Left windshields, left propeller, left wing, left horizontal stabiliser, &c, were damaged.

Photos:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...t_13424682.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...t_13426149.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...t_13426291.htm

[Don Chan]

] 15 April 2010:
] Su-30MKK.

*RUMOUR*

http://www.anhui365.net/club/archiver/tid-1331660.html
http://club.mil.news.sohu.com/read_e...0054&a=9728064

One of the pilots, or the only pilot, who bought the farm was:
Senior Colonel XIE Feng Liang.
Spawned in December 1964. Joined the military in 1982. Joined the CCP in July 1985.
Flew for 20+ years, for 2,600+ flight hours. Participated in China-Russia joint exercises a few times.
Tasked with the aerial refuelling training programme.

[Deino]

reportedly PLAAF Div 9 lost another J-10 in Dao County, Hunan Province on April 22nd, Division commander Sr. Col. Xie Fengliang died during the crash.

[Don Chan]

*RUMOUR*

Two separate crashes in April 2010? One with J-10, another with Su-30MKK?
Or, same crash?

If same crash, then Senior Colonel Xie was PLAAF, not PLAN; unless TDY to PLAN.

[Don Chan]

9 April 2010:
K-8.
2nd Regiment, aviation school, Bei Jing AF, PLAAF.
Restarted engine at 300 m AGL. One of a flight of two, during low-altitude two-plane formation flight training.

Two pilots in accident K-8.
Instructor pilot: HU Pei Chao. Squadron commander.
Student pilot: ZHOU Yu Guang.

Hu's photo:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...3081251052.jpg

13:11:20, when levelling after a turn, their engine suddenly stopped, at 950 m. Hu took over, climbed for more altitude, and looked for an emergency landing site.
(Again, the Chicom are sooo precise WRT times.)

Before them was Qun Shan (Qun Mountain); left was a city. They turned right.
Hu told Zhou to restart engine, but failed, and their plane descended. Because of their low altitude, and far distance from home base, they couldn't communicate with the tower, but their wingy relayed the instructions from the tower to them.
They didn't find an emergency landing site, couldn't RTB, and could eject, at 540 m.
Hu told Zhou to restart the "small generator", which restarted at 450 m, then restared the "large generator" (main engine) at 300 m. The plane accelerated and recovered, at 170 m.

13:28:05, RTB, and safely landed.

The K-8 manual teaches: when altitude down to 1,500 m and can't restart engine, should eject or emergency land.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...t_13435330.htm

[Don Chan]

:(

22 April 2010:
J-10.
9th Division, PLAAF, based in Guang Dong Province.
About 9 AM, crashed in Dao County, Hu Nan Province.

Pilot was killed.
Senior Colonel XIE Feng Liang. 9th Division commander.

(Reportedly, he ejected too late, and didn't survive?)

Xie was one of four sons, and had a son.
On 26 April 2010, in the morning, his ashes returned to Fo Shan City, Guang Dong Province.
On 28 April 2010, 9 AM, memorial ceremony at 9th Division, in Fo Shan City.

Reportedly, J-10s became active service in this order: 44th Division, 3rd Division, 2nd Division, 1st Division, and 24th Division.
(No 9th Division?)

http://www.anhui365.net/club/archiver/tid-1331660.html
http://club.mil.news.sohu.com/read_e...0054&a=9728064

Xie was spawned in December 1964. Joined the military in 1982. Joined the CCP in July 1985.
Flew for 20+ years, for 2,600+ flight hours. Participated in a few China-Russia joint exercises.
Tasked with the aerial refuelling R&D and training programmes.

http://www.chnqiang.com/article/2010...il_19400.shtml
http://china-defense.blogspot.com/20...0-crashed.html

[J-20 Hotdog]

oh noes, J-10s are falling out of the sky!
maybe they should've stuck to a two engined design.

[Don Chan]

6 May 2010:
Fighter-trainer. Possibly JJ-7.
Ji Nan AF, PLAAF, based at Ji Nan, Shan Dong Province.
Crashed.

Front-seater: Captain FENG Si Guang (28). Third class pilot.
In June 2005, joined the PLAAF Academy.
In June 2007, graduated at the PLAAF 3rd Aviation School.

Wife is TIAN Wen Jun. Got their marriage certificate in August 2009, but hadn't performed wedding ceremony.

Rear-seater: ZHANG De Shan. Squadron commander.

At night, during night training, after the second touch-and-go, at 9:30 PM and 50 m AGL, engine flamed out. Zhang reported the flame-out to the tower.
The tower commander = division chief of staff SHEN Shu Fan told the pilots to eject.
Ahead of them was a brightly lit night market in a residential area, near Ji Nan City. Both pushed their control sticks, and turned away the plane. AOA dropped from +12.3 degrees to -9.8 degrees; flight data recorder recorded control sticks were pushed forwards 44 mm.
Then, they ejected. Zhang successfully ejected 1.1 sec before Feng.
Feng ejected at 32 m and AOA -16 degrees, his chute didn't open, and bought the farm. Crash site was 230 m from residential area with about 4,000 residents.

On 7 May 2010, Feng was posthumously awarded the title of "Revolution Martyr". His funeral ceremony was at his home city Liao Cheng, Shan Dong Province, on 12 May 2010.

Apparently, Zhang's blog, with more gory details:
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_67f9a...ioil.html?tj=1

Photos:
http://www.takungpao.com.hk/news/10/...01-1260785.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...t_13525957.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...13525957_1.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...13525957_2.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2010-0...t_13526088.htm

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/100520/4/i4qz.html
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url...0/5/2605u.html

[Don Chan]

9 April 2010:
Helo with two or more engines.
Assigned to Sovremenny Class destroyer 139 Ning Bo, East Sea Fleet, PLAN.

7:55 (probably AM), at sea, during ASW training with Ning Bo, right engine lubricant pressure dropped to "0". Crew heard right engine bearing stem grinding noise. Pilot shut down right engine, and increased left engine.

7:58, flight commander ordered Ning Bo to prepare for helo single-engine landing.
Helo self weight was 10 tons. To lighten up, tactical commander jettisoned sonar buoys and signal rounds.

8:28, helo descended. 185 m to 90 m. 109 km/h to 50 km/h. LSO NI Rong waved off its first landing.
8:31, helo went around.
8:36, second wave-off.
8:40, third descent.
8:42, landed on Ning Bo.

Three crew were OK.
Pilot: SUN Zi Wu. Regiment deputy commander.
Tactical commander: WANG Mao Xiang.
ASW operator: WANG Li Zhi.

On 18 May 2010, Sun was awarded a second class merit.

http://www.cns.hk:89/gn/news/2010/05-22/2298323.shtml