Tunis-Carthage

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)

Schedule:

Casablanca - Tunis

MSN:

119

YOM:

1990

Flight number:

TU712

Location:

Tunis-Carthage

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Casablanca-Mohamed V Airport, the crew started the approach to Tunis-Carthage International Airport Runway 19 and encountered marginal weather conditions. After touchdown, the aircraft rolled for a distance of 1,600 metres then deviated to the right. The aircraft veered off runway, rolled in a grassy area for 114 metres when the nose gear impacted the concrete perpendicularly runway 11/29. On impact, the nose gear was torn off and the aircraft rolled for another 130 metres before coming to rest. All 83 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, strong crosswinds and heavy rain falls passed over the airport.

Crash of a Boeing 737-566 in Tunis: 14 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 2002 at 1518 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-500

Operator:

Registration:

SU-GBI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)

Schedule:

Cairo - Tunis

MSN:

25307

YOM:

1991

Flight number:

MS843

Location:

Tunis-Carthage

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Continental Cargo Airlines

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4509

Captain / Total hours on type:

1549.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

880

Copilot / Total hours on type:

639

Aircraft flight hours:

26082

Aircraft flight cycles:

15686

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Cairo-Intl Airport at 1140LT on a regular schedule flight to Tunis-Carthage Airport with 56 passengers and six crew members on board. It entered the Tunis FIR at 1450LT, under control of the Tunis Regional CCR. After being transferred to the approach control at 1500LT, the crew was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to runway 11. On approach at 3,000 feet, the crew was informed he was number one for landing. The crew informed ATC that he departed 3,000 feet for 2,100 feet at 12 NM and wa later cleared to land. Wind was from 130 at 30 knots. At 1516LT, on final, the crew was transferred from the approach control to the tower and received a second clearance to land. In limited visibility, the aircraft struck a fence located on the top of a mountain and crashed in hilly terrain 6,6 km from the runway 11 threshold. Three crew members and 11 passengers were killed while 48 other people were injured. On board were 33 Egyptians including the six crew members, 16 Tunisians, three Algerians, three Jordans, two Chinese, two British, one Libyan, one Saudi and one Palestinian.

Probable cause:

The accident was due to the crew's failure to perform and control the final approach. This was materialized by the failure to respect the approach fix associated with the decision to start the final approach prematurely.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The poor weather conditions that prevailed at the time of the accident, particularly the limited visibility,
- The shortcomings noted in the training of both pilots, particularly those relating to conventional VOR/DME approaches,
- The relative weakness of the flight experience of both crew members on the type of aircraft operated.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP near Rocca di Mezzo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 2002 at 1339 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Svedijos Prekes

Registration:

LY-AVD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Budapest - Tunis

MSN:

1G137-53

YOM:

1972

Flight number:

SJK2801

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Budapest-Ferihegy Airport at 0829LT on a VFR flight to Tunis. According to the flight plan the aircraft would fly over Split, Pescara, crossing the Apennines towards Ostia and then onwards to Tunis. Weather conditions over the central part of Italy were poor with a cold front associated with thunderstorm activity, low clouds and icing conditions. After passing over the Adriatic sea, the aircraft overflew Pescara at 1320LT where the pilot informed ATC that the aircraft was inbound Aneda (a reporting point 19 NM East of Monte Rotondo) at a cruising altitude of 5.500 feet. While in vicinity of Pescara, ATC requested and obtained confirmation from the crew that he was able to continue under VFR mode. Shortly later, at a speed of 115 knots, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Rotondo (1.880 metres high) located near Rocca di Mezzo. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Analysis of available evidence make it reasonable to classify the event investigated as an unintentional terrain impact, Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). At accident time, because of the reduced visibility, incompatible with VFR flying, the crew could not evaluate correctly the orography of the area along there route. It has to be noted that it was not possible to ascertain if adequate maps were available to the crew showing the exact position of ground relief and obstacles. It was not possible to determine if the pilots had flown across the same area in the past. Given the meteorological conditions over the area, the crew did not conform to the Visual Flying Rules that mandated for a track change to maintain the required flight parameters (visibility/clearance from obstacles) and/or a diversion to a suitable alternate airport (as international rules mandate).
Contributing factors:
Analysis of available evidence suggests that the following may be considered as contributory factors to the accident. The prevailing meteorological conditions existing on March 9, 2002 over the flight path of LY-AVD across the central part of Italy did not allow for the flight to be continued under VFR. The Antonov AN-2 was not fit for flying in low visibility (IMC) and was not equipped for flying in icing conditions. The pilot of the LY-AVD did not hold the required English language radio-telephony (RT) qualification to operate outside the country of licensing. The pilot of the LY-AVD did not hold an IFR qualification (for flying in IMC).

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-62F in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1999 at 1146 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

9G-REM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Schedule:

Ostend - Tunis - Kinshasa

MSN:

45910

YOM:

1967

Location:

Kinshasa-N'Djili

Kinshasa City Province

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on an ILS approach to runway 24 at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. While in a circuit in the vicinity of the airport, the pilot informed ATC he would complete the second approach visually and made a short pattern because of low fuel reserve. On approach with a 6 knots tailwind, the aircraft was unstable and not properly aligned when it landed hard on the left of the centerline. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few hundred metres further, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were rescued, among them one was slightly injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Thessaloniki: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1995 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

TZ-347

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kiev - Tunis - Bamako

MSN:

3303

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was ferried from Kiev to Bamako with an intermediate stop in Tunis following a complete revision at the Antonov factory in Kiev. En route from Kiev to Tunis, while flying over the north part of Greece, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to divert to Thessaloniki-Makedonia Airport. As a radar (instrument) approach was not possible, the crew attempted to land under VFR mode in IMC conditions. On final, in limited visibility due to rain falls and fog, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 4 km short of runway. All six crew members were killed. It is possible that the crew encountered technical problems with fuel.

Crash of a BAc 111-515FB in Tamanrasset: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1994 at 0807 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAc 111

Operator:

Oriental Airlines

Registration:

5N-IMO

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tunis - Tamanrasset - Lagos

MSN:

229

YOM:

1970

Location:

Tamanrasset

Country:

Algeria

Region:

Majin al Ma`qarah (Al Sarah)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Tunis to Lagos with an intermediate stop in Tamanrasset, carrying members of the Nigerian football team Iwanwanyu returning to Lagos after a matched played in Tunis for the Africa Cup. On approach to Tamanrasset-Aguenar Airport in the early morning, the crew encountered poor visibility due to haze. As he was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. Following a holding pattern, the crew abandoned two other approaches and after 83 minutes, he eventually attempted a fourth landing when, on short final, the aircraft collided with approach lights then a pylon and a truck before coming to rest by the runway. Two passengers and three crew members were killed while 34 other occupants were injured, some seriously.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV near Al Sarah: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

J5-GBE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Khartoum - Tunis

MSN:

7 73 108 10

YOM:

1977

Location:

Nalut (نالوت)

Country:

Libya

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a special flight from Khartoum to Tunis, carrying 10 passengers, among them Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. En route, weather conditions worsened and the crew lost his orientation while flying in a sandstorm. Due to fuel shortage, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a desert area located 100 km southeast of Al Sarah (Majin al Ma`sarah). Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and both engines before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 10 passengers were rescued while all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2H3 in Tunis

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

TS-JHV

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)

MSN:

21319/1269

YOM:

1977

Location:

Tunis-Carthage

Country:

Tunisia

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While parked at Tunis-Carthage Airport for maintenance, the aircraft was under control of engineers/mechanics. When the engines were started for an engine run-up and power increased to 80%, the aircraft ran over its blocks and collided with an hangar. There were no injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the maintenance crew forgot to set the parking brakes prior to run the engines.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Ebersberg

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Registration:

D-IEFA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors: