Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Geneina

Date & Time: Jun 7, 2004
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-ARO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum – Al Fashir – Geneina
MSN:
102 05
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, crossed an unpaved road and some ditches before coming to rest 250 meters further. All 16 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Boende: 33 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2003 at 1516 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9T-TAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Boende – Kinshasa
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Boende to Kinshasa, carrying 18 passengers, six crew members and a load of 672 kilos of various goods. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abandon the procedure and returned to the parking. A second attempt to takeoff was initiated few minutes later. During the takeoff run, at high speed, a tyre burst. The captain rejected takeoff but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,400 metres long). It overran, struck a fence and eventually crashed in a local market. All six crew members and 14 passengers were killed as well as 13 people on the ground. Four passengers and six people on the ground suffered injuries of various degrees.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Beni

Date & Time: Apr 25, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Beni
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew attempted to land by night at Beni Airport which is not equipped for such operations. The aircraft landed too far down the runway, overran and collided with trees. All 10 occupants escaped with various injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Ndjolé: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-AFT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brazzaville - Douala
MSN:
134 03
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Brazzaville on a delivery flight to Douala. While cruising by night over Gabon, the crew informed ATC about technical problems, declared an emergency and elected to divert to the nearest airport which was Ndjolé. This airfield was not equipped with any runway or approach lights nor any navigation aids. The crew completed several circuits over the city then people parked their cars along the airstrip so the crew was able to land. After four unsuccessful attempts, the crew tried to land but the aircraft flew over the runway without landing, passed over the Ogooué River and eventually crashed in a wooded and swampy area. The crew of two helicopters from the Gabonese Air Force found the wreckage the following day. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. Until few days prior to the accident, the aircraft was operated by Pont Aviation which bankrupted, so it was transferred to another operator in Cameroon.
Probable cause:
It is believe that the crew was forced to make an emergency landing following a general failure of the navigation instruments in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Ust-Kuyga

Date & Time: Dec 27, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-26053
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yakutsk - Ust-Kuyga
MSN:
109 09
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
17609
Aircraft flight cycles:
9649
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Yakutsk, the crew started the approach to Ust-Kuyga on a polar night with an OAT of -51° C. On final approach, at a distance of 1,150 metres from the runway threshold, the aircraft deviated to the right by 150 metres. The captain was instructed by ATC to initiate a go-around but he decided to continue the approach. Unstable, the aircraft's speed dropped to 210 km/h and on the last segment, it lost height, causing the right main gear to struck the runway surface. On impact, the right main gear was torn off, followed shortly later by the nose gear. Out of control, the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew,
- The aircraft was unstable on approach,
- The approach' speed of 210 km/h was insufficient (20 km/h below the prescribed speed),
- On the last segment, the aircraft rolled to the right following improper actions from the crew,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around and ignored ATC instructions,
- The configuration adopted by the crew resulted in the aircraft making a deliberate descent to the right of the approach pattern.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Antalya

Date & Time: Nov 9, 2002 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-26012
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Asmara – Port Sudan – Hurghada – Antalya
MSN:
100 07
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
TMN9012
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Asmara to Antalya with intermediate stops in Port Sudan and Hurghada, carrying helicopter crews back in Russia. On approach to Antalya by night, the crew was informed about the poor weather conditions at destination with thunderstorm activity, visibility limited to two km, wind from 220 gusting at 35 knots. ATC advised the crew to maintain heading and to initiate a go-around in case they would not establish a visual contact with the runway. On short final, the left engine struck a 10 metres high electric pole. The aircraft lost height and crashed on a road located 1,325 metres short of runway and 550 metres to the left of its extended centerline. All 27 occupants were rescued, among them eight were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The crew mistook the road lights for the airport lights and descended to low,
- The crew continued the approach after passing the MDA,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- Limited visibility due to poor weather conditions,
- Some ATC instructions lead to confusion,
- Informations related to weather condition were inaccurate.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CMC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Tshikapa
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Kinshasa-N'DJili Airport, the captain realized he could not make it so he decided to reject takeoff. While initiating an emergency braking procedure, the nose gear collapsed, followed shortly later by both main landing gears. The aircraft slid on its belly and came to rest on the runway. All 21 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW.