Lockheed L-188 Electra

On final approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and descending at an insufficient speed when it collided with power cables, stalled and crashed in an open field. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on its belly and eventually came to rest on the runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While in climb at 18,000 feet the crew heard and explosion and lost n°3 and 4 engines. They visually noted that the propellers and portions of the gearboxes were also missing. They then shut down no 2 engine due to erratic indications. They declared an emergency and landed. The gear boxes and propellers were not recovered from the caribbean sea.

While approaching Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the south slope of Cerro de Hula (1,600 meters high) located 14 km from runway 01 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

After landing at Trelew-Almirante Zar Airport runway 06, the aircraft collided with a truck that was parked at the side of the runway. The left main gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. All 23 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After takeoff from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport, while climbing, the left main gear warning light remained on. The captain decided to divert to Taura AFB for an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed and slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All 99 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The engine n°2 was inoperative due to technical problems and the crew decided to takeoff on a positioning flight to Quito with only three engines. Shortly after takeoff from Lago Agrio Airport, while in initial climb, the engine n°1 caught fire and exploded. The crew lost control of the aircraft that banked left and crashed, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed.

Few minutes after takeoff from Kasongo-Lunda, en route to Kinshasa, the crew encountered engine problems. He completed an emergency landing in the bush about 80 km north of Kasongo-Lunda. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. Two passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.

On approach to Padang-Tabing Airport, both wheels on the right main gear detached and fell on a watch manufacture located in the approach path. The captain decided to divert to Medan-Polonia Airport more suitable for an emergency landing. Following a normal approach, the four engine aircraft belly landed and slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All 45 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

During gear retraction after takeoff, the right main gear became jammed in a partially retracted position and the respective in-transit gear light would not extinguish. Attempts to recycle the gear were unsuccessful. The flight crew diverted to Atlanta, GA; then decided to land at Dobbins AFB, where there was a long, wide runway that could be foamed. Foam was applied to approximately 300 feet of runway 29. The aircraft was landed with the nose and left main gear extended and the right main gear partially retracted. Subsequently, the aircraft veered to the right and stopped with the nose gear approximately 70 feet off the runway. Fire erupted in the area of the right main gear; however, the fire was quickly extinguished by fire dept personnel. An investigation revealed the clearance between the main landing gear door hook, pn 803845-1, and the strut roller was excessive. The reason for the improper clearance was not determined. Lockheed service bulletin 88/sb-558 warned that excessive clearance combined with a drop in hydraulic pressure, gust or maneuver could result in the gear jamming. All three crew members were uninjured.