Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Lucapa: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-11531
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luanda – Lucapa
MSN:
6 34 45 06
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lucapa in heavy fog, the captain was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway and decided to make a go-around. A second approach was abandoned few minutes later. During a third attempt to land, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the four engine aircraft hit obstacles some 200 metres to the right of the runway, crashed and burst into flames. All 15 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 near Quibaxe: 37 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1997 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-400
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luanda - Cafunfo
MSN:
325
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, en route from Luanda to Cafunfo, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located near Quibaxe. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown. It was reported that the crew encountered technical problems prior to the loss of control and was unable to maintain the assigned altitude.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Lucapa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-11101
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Lucapa
MSN:
01 347 703
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Luanda to Lucapa on behalf of Hellier International Ltd, carrying 13 passengers, six crew members and a load of 12,6 tons of fish. After touchdown by night at Lucapa Airport, the crew started the braking procedure when the runway light system failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that overran and came to rest against a house located 60 metres further. Six passengers trapped in the cargo hold were killed as well as one people in the house.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the runway light system at Lucapa Airport was functioning intermittently. Also, the airport was closed to traffic at night.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Cafunfo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1996 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
UR-26197
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Cafunfo
MSN:
12609
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On approach to Cafunfo Airport, following an uneventful cargo flight from Luanda, the crew encountered bad weather conditions with thunderstorm. On short final, the pilot reported a minor technical problem with the left engine and initiated a go-around procedure. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while initiating a go-around procedure due to a stall consecutive to an insufficient speed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP near Lukapa: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1996 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-ACE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luanda - Lukapa
MSN:
40 28 12
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
On approach to Lukapa Airport by night, at an altitude of about 1,800 metres, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located 16 km from the airport. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the Angolan Government reported that the aircraft may have been shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by UNITA rebels.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB in Huambo

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-11008
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Huambo
MSN:
4 026 12
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight from Luanda to Huambo, carrying three passengers, six crew members and a load of 13,579 kilos of food on behalf of the United Nations Organization. While descending to Huambo-Albano Machado Airport, the crew completed a last turn to join the approach path when he realized that his altitude was insufficient. Instead of initiating a go-around manoeuvre, the pilot-in-command continued the descent but landed too far down the runway which is 2,660 metres long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest 260 metres further. All nine occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed too far down the runway and failed to initiate a go-around. It was reported that the undercarriage and flaps were deployed too late during the approach procedure. A lack of crew coordination and a poor planned approach and landing were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air near Menongue: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-MGR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luanda – Lanseria
MSN:
BB-19
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Luanda to Lanseria on behalf of the World Food Programme. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an isolated area located in the region of Menongue. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed. It was reported that weather was poor at the time of the accident with severe turbulences. The left aileron and a part of the left wing were never recovered and probably separated from the aircraft prior to the loss of control.

Crash of a Boeing 727-21F in Huambo

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TJB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Huambo
MSN:
19005
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Huambo-Albano Machado Airport, the crew was informed by ATC that works were in progress and the first 500 metres portion of the runway 01/19 was closed to traffic. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed too far down the runway (about half way down) and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 250 metres further. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed the aircraft too far down the runway, causing the landing distance available to be insufficient. As the landing was obviously missed, the crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure. Also, it was reported that the braking action was poor due to the presence of puddles and potholes in the runway surface.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Cafunfo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1995
Operator:
Registration:
D2-ECH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Cafunfo
MSN:
BB-345
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After landing at Cafunfo Airport and while taxiing to the ramp, the crew heard several explosions outside the airport as UNITA rebels were approaching the airstrip. In such conditions, the crew decided to return to Luanda and expedited a takeoff. After departure, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft was hit by a Stinger missile that struck the right engine. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed few km from the airport, bursting into flames. Two passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Stinger missile.

Crash of a Basler BT-67 in Lobito: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1994 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N96BF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lobito - Luanda
MSN:
13321
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a humanitarian flight from Lobito to Luanda on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross, carrying two pilots and a load of 4,6 tons of green beans. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of about 50 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed by the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but it is believed that the loss of control that occurred during initial climb was the consequence of an unexpected shift of the cargo.