Country
Crash of a Boeing 707-321C in N'Djamena
Date & Time:
Aug 17, 1995 at 2300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YR-ABN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – N’Djamena
MSN:
19379
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Paris, the crew completed the landing on runway 05 by night. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure and selected spoilers and reverse thrust. The aircraft started to veer to the left so the captain decided to reduce the use of the reverse thrust systems. On a wet runway surface, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran at a speed of 10 knots. The aircraft sank on soft ground and the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest about 50 metres past the runway end and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the reverse thrust system failed on engine n°4.
Crash of a Boeing 707-3F9C in Kiri Kasama: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 19, 1994 at 1906 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5N-ABK
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jeddah - Kano
MSN:
20669
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
WT9805
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
31477
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a cargo flight from Jeddah (JED) to Kano (KAN). The total cargo uplift was 35 tonnes packed in 13 pallets and some loose bundles of merchandise that were loaded in the lower cargo hold. The departure from Jeddah was delayed for thirteen hours because of problems starting the n°4 engine. The Boeing 707 departed at 13:48 UTC. As the aircraft approached N'Djamena at FL350, about 17:00 UTC, the flight engineer noted a strange smell in the cockpit. The ground engineer and the loadmaster who were sitting in the cargo compartment area of the aircraft confirmed that the smell had persisted for a while around them. It appeared that the area around pallet number 11 was misty. The pallet was sprayed with a fire extinguisher and the smoke evacuation procedure was carried out. This stopped the fumes temporarily. The aircraft was now halfway between N'Djamena and Kano with about 40 minutes flight time to go. At 18:00 the flight was cleared to descend. Then the Master Warning sounded, followed one minute later by a Fire Warning. Smoke entered the cabin. A descent was initiated with a descent rate close to 3,000 feet per minute. Later the pitch trims became ineffective before the aircraft crashed into marshland. Tire ground marks at the scene of the accident indicated that the aircraft must have descended very slowly into the elephant grass and may have somersaulted on contact with the water, then exploded and disintegrated along the wreckage trail. Both loadmasters were killed as well as one crew member. Both other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was a heat generating substance that was hidden in a cargo of fabrics inside pallet n°11 in the cargo compartment of the aircraft. The heat that emanated from the pallet resulted in smoke that caused a major distraction in the cockpit and later caused an explosion which seriously impaired the flight controls of the aircraft.
Crash of a Boeing 707-324C in São Paulo
Date & Time:
Oct 9, 1994 at 1742 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3355X
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Campinas - Santa Cruz
MSN:
18886
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Campinas-Viracopos Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to divert to São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport for an emergency landing. On final, both main landing gears were lowered but apparently not locked while the nose gear remained stuck in its main wheel. Upon touchdown on runway 09L, the aircraft sank on its belly and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the hydraulic pump n°2 on the engine n°3 failed after takeoff, causing an oil leak and a loss of hydraulic pressure. The undercarriage could be lowered but not locked down while the crew attempted to lower the nose gear manually but doing so, caused the locking pin to obstruct and damage the landing gear extension system. It was also reported that several seals located on hydraulic lines were broken and have not been replaced during the last C check.
Crash of a Boeing 707-327C in Amsterdam
Date & Time:
Jul 26, 1993
Operator:
Registration:
OD-AFY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam - Beirut
MSN:
19108
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
MV172
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, the crew heard a loud bang and returned to the apron. Investigations revealed major damages to the right main gear and wing structure after the trunnion support beam of the right main gear failed.
Probable cause:
The incident was the consequence of long term corrosion and metal fatigue cracks.
Crash of a Boeing 707-387B in Recife
Date & Time:
Jan 31, 1993
Operator:
Registration:
LV-ISA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Maceió – Fortaleza
MSN:
19238
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
156
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Maceió to Fortaleza, while in cruising altitude, the crew reported hydraulic problems and was cleared to divert to Recife-Guararapes Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, the crew was forced to lower the gear manually but it was not possible to establish if they were locked down or not. In accordance with ATC, the crew completed a low pass over the airport and ATC confirmed all three gear were down. A second approach was completed and the aircraft landed smoothly. Nevertheless, following a course of few dozen metres, the right main gear 'collapsed' and entered its wheel well. The aircraft rolled to the right, veered off runway then struck a concrete block, causing the nose gear to collapse. All 168 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Boeing 707-321C in Abidjan
Date & Time:
Jan 15, 1993 at 0217 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YR-ABM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dakar - Abidjan
MSN:
19272
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
RK153
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Abidjan-Félix Houphouët Boigny Airport was completed by night with a reduced visibility to 1,250 metres due to low isolated clouds. On short final, the aircraft struck the ground 30 metres short of runway 21 threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on its belly for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All six crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Boeing 707-365C in Manaus
Date & Time:
Nov 26, 1992 at 0226 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PT-TCP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manaus - Miami
MSN:
19416
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After liftoff from Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport runway 28, while in initial climb, the right main gear struck an element of the approach light system. An alarm sounded in the cockpit, informing the crew about landing gear problems. As the crew was unable to raise the landing gear, the captain informed ATC about the situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Upon touchdown on runway 28, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres then veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the crew adopted a wrong takeoff configuration and that the rate of climb and gradient were too low after takeoff (positive but insufficient vario), causing the aircraft to collide with an equipment of the approach light system.
Crash of a Boeing 707-321C in Kano
Date & Time:
Nov 25, 1992 at 0300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5X-DAR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London - Kano - Lagos
MSN:
18825
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The descent to Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport was completed by night and marginal weather conditions due to a sand storm. On short final, the aircraft was too low, struck the ground and crashed near military barracks located 3,2 km short of runway 06 threshold. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. At the time of the accident, the runway 06 ILS and DME systems were inoperative.
