Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During a night approach to Kisangani Airport, the four engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few km from the runway threshold. The wreckage was found the following morning and all 31 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter near La Paz: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter

Operator:

Registration:

65-0274

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Howard - La Paz

MSN:

6126

YOM:

1965

Location:

La Paz

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16339

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from Howard AFN, Panama, to La Paz. While descending to La Paz-El Alto Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds from 700 to 24,000 feet. The crew informed ATC about his position about three minutes from La Paz VOR when he was cleared to descend from 24,000 to 18,000 feet. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 18,700 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (20,000 feet high) located 28 km north of El Alto Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain probably caused by a navigational error on part of the crew or a wrong instruments interpretation while descending in marginal weather conditions. The crew probably thought he was above the La Paz VOR when in reality, the airplane was few km to the east of this VOR.

Crash of a Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard in N'Djamena

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard

Operator:

Registration:

259/F-RAHF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

314

YOM:

1960

Location:

N'Djamena

N'Djamena Capital City

Country:

Chad

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed upon landing at N'Djamena Airport. All occupants were injured.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas in Nicosia: 31 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1974 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Operator:

Registration:

52-133

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chania - Nicosia

MSN:

YOM:

1954

Flight number:

Niki 4

Location:

Nicosia

Country:

Cyprus

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Greek troops were deployed in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion. While on a night approach to Nicosia Airport under callsign 'Niki 4', the airplane was mistakenly shot down by Greek soldiers based by the airport and crashed in flames 3 km short of runway. A passenger was injured while 31 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by friendly ground fire.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-1 Skyservant near Nicosia

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Involved in the invasion of the Cyprus Island, the twin engine airplane was shot down by Greek fire while approaching Nicosia. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. Apparently, all occupants were killed but the exact number remains unknown.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Cairo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

In unknown circumstances, the four engine airplane crashed onto UNO facilities located at the Cairo-Almaza Airfield. All five occupants were killed while there were no injuries on the ground.