Dakar | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Ten minutes after takeoff from Casablanca-Cazes Airport, while climbing by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed 7 km from the airport. Seven passengers were rescued while 22 others occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian in Dakar

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Avro 691 Lancastrian

Operator:

Registration:

I-AHBX

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Dakar – Algiers – Rome

MSN:

1292

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After touchdown, the four engine aircraft christened 'Maestrale' went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 13 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Dakar: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

ML851

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Dakar-Yoff Airport, the seaplane registered ML851 (7.F-1) went out of control and crashed into the sea off the suburb of Les Almadies. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York in Dakar: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHEZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Dakar – Natal – Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

1303

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Dakar-Yoff Airport, the captain decided to go around due to low visibility causes by poor weather conditions. A second and a third attempt to land were aborted few minutes later. During the fourth attempt, while short of fuel, the aircraft landed hard and the undercarriage were sheared off. The aircraft slid on its belly for several yards and came to rest, broken in two. Six passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Regarding the flight plan, there was too great errors in the ETA and the endurance was inexact. Lack of decision on the part of the pilot who, after his second attempt to land, and in view of his insufficient petrol reserve, should have carried out the diversionary plan.
The lighting of the runways was inadequate: there were no approach lights and there are no wireless facilities for landing in bad visibility at Dakar-Yoff Airport.
Contributory Causes:
Difficulties in exchange of radio telephony communications between the control tower and the aircraft,
Insufficient knowledge of the English language by the controllers in the tower, according to the Americans and British,
As regards to the crew, there certainly appears to have been a slight nervousness during the attempts to land,
The danger to passengers in the case of cabin fuselage below the wing in the event of a forced landing elsewhere than on a runway,
Lack of knowledge of the alternate airfield of Thies by BSAA crews. Thies was given on the old general aeronautical maps but at the time of the accident, no schedule for this aerodrome has yet been published by the Aeronautical Information Section. This schedule was available following the publication of the final investigation report.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth near Dakar

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1945

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

44-90485

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after take off from Dakar-Yoff Airport, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed some 10 miles northeast of the airport and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, 2nd Lt Frank L. Loftus, was injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Dakar

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15177

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

19643

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Dakar

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15089

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

19555

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a Vickers 458 Wellington XI in Gorée: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 458 Wellington XI

Operator:

Registration:

MP691

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dakar - Dakar

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances on Gorée Island, off Dakar. Two crew members were killed and five others were injured.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.342 in Ahmer El Aïn: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1942 at 0955 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dewoitine D.342

Operator:

Registration:

F-ARIZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Paris – Marseille – Algiers – Dakar

MSN:

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The three engine airplane was performing a special flight from Paris to Dakar with intermediate stops in Marseille and Algiers, carrying Air France personnel and family members (children and spouses) who were transferred to a new base in Dakar. Few minutes after takeoff from Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport, while flying in good weather conditions bound for Dakar, the airplane apparently suffered an explosion. Instantly, the left wing and the left engine fell away. Out of control, the airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed in hilly terrain near Ahmer El Aïn, west of Blida, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally wrecked and all 25 occupants were killed. Among the passengers were the wife and the son of the French General Jean Barreau, Chief of Staff of the French troops based in the French West Africa.
Crew:
Gaston Chenu, pilot,
Fernand Renier, flight engineer,
Albert Jellade, radio navigator,
Robert Haeflinger, barman.
Passengers:
Robert Arnoult, pilot,
Pierre Casanova, pilot,
André Beaufils, flight engineer,
Mrs Bompard,
Mrs Cavalera & son,
Mrs Gaudin,
Mrs Ballard,
Mrs Gaston and daughter,
Mrs Serignac and son,
Mrs Pau and son,
Mrs Serfati,
Mr. Cremaille,
Mrs Barreau and son,
Mr. Fessy,
Mr. Haffen,
Mr. Georges.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the accident was caused by the explosion of a bomb was not ruled out. It is possible that an explosive device was placed by the engine spindle, causing the failure of the engine and the wing spar as well. At the time of the accident, the French General Charles Noguès was supposed to take this airplane to Dakar but during the stopover in Algiers, he changed his itinerary and embarked on the Martin 167 of the French General Bergeret bound for Casablanca. His personal stuff were still in the Dewoitine at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Short S.30 Empire Flying Boat off Dakar: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Short S.30 Empire Flying Boat

Operator:

Registration:

G-AFCZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lagos – Bathurst – Lisbon – Poole

MSN:

S.885

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane was en route from Lagos to Poole with intermediate stops in Bathurst and Lisbon. About 90 minutes after its departure from Bathurst, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean off the Senegalese coast. The crew was unable to send any distress call. Few days after the accident, some debris and six dead bodies were found on the Senegalese coast and it is believed that the airplane apparently crashed some 50 km south of Dakar. All 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the airplane suffered an explosion in midair, maybe following a sudden and uncontained failure on the fuel supply system.

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