Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 Islander in Medouneu

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LBJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Libreville - Medouneu
MSN:
2127
YOM:
1982
Location:
Medouneu
Woleu-Ntem (Oyem)
Country:
Gabon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Medouneu Airport, the twin engine aircraft became unstable and lost height. The left wing collided with trees then the aircraft lost height and crashed 50 metres further by a soccer field, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo off Libreville: 30 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1993 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
AF-319
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lusaka – Brazzaville – Libreville – Abidjan – Dakar
MSN:
69
YOM:
1976
Location:
Libreville
Estuaire (Libreville)
Country:
Gabon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Lusaka on a charter flight to Dakar with intermediate stops in Brazzaville, Libreville and Abidjan, carrying all staff of the National Zambian Football Team who was flying to Dakar to play against Senegal for the World Cup 1994 in USA. One minute after a night takeoff from Libreville-Léon Mba Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. In a certain confusion, the captain mistakenly shut down the right engine. The aircraft lost height and crashed in the sea about 500 metres offshore. The aircraft sank and all 30 occupants were killed. It was reported that the aircraft has not been operated between December 21, 1992 and April 21, 1993 and was eventually requisitioned by the Zambian Government to carry the National Football Team to Senegal. A maintenance control (check A & B) was conducted between April 22 and 26, the day prior to departure.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine failed due to excessive carbon deposit. Also, oil filters were clogged and electrical cables showed sign of overheating. The engine failed during initial climb due to inadequate maintenance. It was also reported that the captain was tired at the time of the accident due to intense schedule the preceding days following a tour in Mauritius with an insufficient rest time. Poor crew coordination, fatigue and lack of concentration were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 685 in the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 685
Operator:
Evan Boddy & Elliott Hutchinson
Registration:
ZS-JRF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Indiana - Recife - Libreville
MSN:
685-12062
YOM:
1974
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Indiana, Pennsylvania, on a flight to South Africa. A fuel stop was completed somewhere in Florida then the crew continued to Brazil. After takeoff from Recife-Guararapes Airport, en route to Libreville, Gabon, the crew informed ATC about his position some 150 km offshore and was cleared to climb to FL150 when radar contact was lost. SAR operations were initiated jointly between Brazilian and South African Authorities who dispatched a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Following three unsuccessful days of research until the Ascension Island, the crew returned to South Africa. No trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Moanda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LXN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Libreville - Moanda
MSN:
45108/770
YOM:
1957
Location:
Moanda
Haut-Ogooué (Franceville)
Country:
Gabon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Moanda Airport, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a small lake located 11 km short of runway. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A-3 in Libreville: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-134
Operator:
Registration:
YU-AJS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
48370
YOM:
1976
Location:
Libreville
Estuaire (Libreville)
Country:
Gabon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On approach to Libreville-Léon Mba Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Bouar: 18 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
178
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bouar – Libreville
MSN:
178
YOM:
1959
Location:
Bouar
Nana-Mambéré
Country:
Central African Republic
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bouar Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane lost height and crashed in flames. 18 occupants were killed while 19 others were rescued, some of them were seriously injured. The victims were respectively 10 French, six Central Africans and two Chadians.
Probable cause:
It is reported the loss of control was caused by a strong gust of wind.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Libreville

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1961
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Groupement Aéronautique et Automobile
Registration:
F-OBKH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6477
YOM:
1940
Location:
Libreville
Estuaire (Libreville)
Country:
Gabon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Libreville Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were injured.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Rio Benito

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
HB-UIL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lomé – Libreville
MSN:
727
YOM:
1944
Location:
Rio Benito
Centro Sur Province (Evinayong)
Country:
Equatorial Guinea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Lomé to Libreville, the engine failed. The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing and the airplane crash landed in Rio Benito. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was owned by the Swiss Urs Dätwyler.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine failure was caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38B in Calabar

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-38
Operator:
Compagnie des Chargeurs Réunis - CCR
Registration:
F-AOUC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dakar – Cotonou – Libreville – Port Gentil – Pointe Noire
MSN:
314-19
YOM:
1936
Location:
Calabar
Cross River
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while en route from Cotonou to Libreville. There were no casualties.
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