Crash of a Cessna 401 in Dar es Salaam

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-AJP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
401-0103
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 B-35-DK in Mtwara

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1975 at 0922 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-AAF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam – Mtwara – Nachingmea
MSN:
16577/33325
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
EC087
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2884
Copilot / Total flying hours:
411
Aircraft flight hours:
37365
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Dar es Salaam with three crew and 16 passengers. Flight EC087 was scheduled to call at Lindi and Nachingwea with the service terminating at Nachingwea. Due to the non availability of fuel at Dar es Salaam, the aircraft made an unscheduled stop at Mtwara to refuel with sufficient fuel for the return service EC088 to Dar es Salaam. The weather at Mtwara was reported fine with the wind light and variable. At the time of the landing, the wind direction was given as 030 and 8 knots. The aircraft made the approach and landing using standard procedures and touched down at a point some 1,000 feet from the threshold of runway 19. After a ground roll of 150 feet, the aircraft commenced a swing to the left side of the runway, it then rolled another 350 feet and swung to the right continued on this course, leaving the runway and skidding for approximately 180 feet before it came to rest having turned 135° from the direction of the landing. Both landing gear assys collapsed due to excessive side loads applied to the structure, substantial damage was caused to the centre section structure and nacelles. The port propeller was damaged. The passengers and crew were able to evacuate the aircraft with the aid of tile ground rescue services. Two passengers were taken to hospital and treated for shock.
Probable cause:
The most probable cause of the accident was the failure of the pilot to initiate corrective action to prevent the aircraft from turning off the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B off Moroni: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-OCED
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam - Moroni
MSN:
14040
YOM:
1954
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
During the final approach to Moroni-Hahaya Airport following an uneventful flight from Dar es-Salaam, the crew failed to realize that his altitude was insufficient. On short final, the right wing struck approach lights. The captain increased engine power in an attempt to make a go-around when the airplane went to an excessive nose-up attitude, stalled and crashed into the sea near to the shore. None of the 16 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who let the airplane descending below the glide. While attempting to go-around, the flaps were fully extended.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK on Mt Kilimanjaro: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1955 at 1201 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VP-KKH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Durban – Dar es-Salaam – Nairobi
MSN:
16820/33568
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
EC104
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Captain / Total flying hours:
4539
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1695
Aircraft flight hours:
7199
Circumstances:
While cruising at the altitude of 10,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, enroute from Dar es-Salaam to Nairobi, the airplane struck the southeast slope of Mawenzi Peak (the second highest peak of Mt KIlimanjaro). The wreckage was reached by rescuers on May 22. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was poor.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to proceed on the direct track to Nairobi, and this consideration is not affected even if he intended to divert in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. The meteorological conditions were marginal and his first mistake occurred in not discussing the weather with the meteorological forecaster. Had he done so he might well have decided to proceed via Tanga, although in making this decision he might have been influenced by the fact that there were no specific instructions regarding an alternate route. It must be remembered, however, that he was fairly new in the Corporation and he might have thought it impolite to depart from normal practice.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 616 Viking 1B in Mkwaya: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YEY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Blantyre – Dar es Salaam
MSN:
168
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising, the twin engine aircraft encountered poor weather conditions with turbulences and strong winds, disintegrated in the air and crashed near Mkwaya, killing all 13 occupants.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the type of grease used when fitting press fit bolts to the booms had caused corrosion nodes, thus weakening the lower starboard boom at the outboard bolt hole. The gust of wind caused a fracture of this boom outboard of Station 141, followed by the complete disintegration of the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster near Bangui: 46 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1950 at 1937 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BELB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam
MSN:
3084
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
Four minutes after its takeoff from Bangui Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located about 16 km south of Bangui. Three crew members and seven passengers were seriously injured while 46 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to perform the takeoff procedure by night without knowing properly the departure procedures and the topography in the vicinity of the aerodrome. It was reported that the Chief of the Aerodrome informed the pilot prior to departure about the presence of hills in the surroundings. For unknown reason, the pilot continued the initial climb at an insufficient altitude and initiated the first turn prematurely, causing the aircraft to hit the ground. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- lack of familiarity on behalf of the flying crew,
- poor visibility caused by night,
- incomplete flight chart for the Bangui area.
Final Report:

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Mombasa

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VR-TAR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam – Mombasa
MSN:
5169
YOM:
1947
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Belly landed in Mombasa and slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Dar es-Salaam

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AIIC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam - Dar es-Salaam
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission in Dar es-Salaam Airport when he was forced to make an emergency landing for unknown reason. The twin engine aircraft crashed near the airport and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were slightly injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Dar es-Salaam

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1942
Registration:
K17
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2153
YOM:
1931
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair on landing mishap in Dar es-Salaam. Both occupants slightly injured.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Lumbo: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1939
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADVD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Cairo – Mombasa – Dar es-Salaam – Lumbo – Maputo – Johannesburg
MSN:
S.821
YOM:
1935
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to abandon a first landing attempt off Lumbo for unknown reason. During the second attempt, the seaplane named 'Challenger' impacted the water surface and came to rest off the Ilha de Mocambique Island. Two crew members, the radio officer Tom Webb and the flight clerc George Knight were killed while all four other occupants were injured. The cockpit separated from the fuselage upon impact.