Angola | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Dundo Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions. At an altitude of 2,650 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 50 km from the airport and disintegrated upon impact. All seven occupants were killed. For unknown reasons, the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to continue the approach below MDA.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Bibala: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

D2-TAB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

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Following an uneventful flight at FL140, the crew initiated the descent to Lubango Airport in poor visibility due to heavy rain falls. At an altitude of 7,400 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Bibala. The wreckage was found about 22 km northwest of Lubango Airport, some 20 meters below the summit. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the crew started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum safe altitude. Poor visibility due to heavy rain falls was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Angola

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

I-301

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

898

YOM:

1981

Location:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Angola during the year 1981. Exact date unknown. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382E-44C Hercules in Menongue: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

D2-EAS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Luanda - Menongue

MSN:

4830

YOM:

1979

Location:

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On final approach to Menongue, the four engine airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Angola: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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Shot down by enemy fire and crashed in flames somewhere in South Angola, near the Namibian border. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a surface to air missile.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Menongue

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Flight Phase:

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En route, the airplane was hit by a surface-to-air SAM-7 missile fired by UNITA rebels. The crew was able to make an emergency landing in a field. Four crew members were rescued while two others were taken prisoners and later released as part of a prisoner exchange program.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 missile.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2M2C in Benguela

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

D2-TAA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Luanda - Benguela

MSN:

21172

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

DT444

Location:

Benguela

Country:

Angola

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

128

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Benguela Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. On short final, the airplane struck the ground 4 meters short of runway threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off. The airplane slid for about 900 meters then turn slightly to the right, lost its left engine and right wing before coming to rest in flames. All 134 occupants were evacuated, among them 34 were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Lack of VASIs and threshold markings caused the pilot's inability to follow the correct approach slope.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Matala: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1980 at 1532 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

D2-TYC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Jamba - Lubango

MSN:

9 72 17 53

YOM:

1977

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17 minutes after its takeoff from Jamba Airport, while in cruising altitude, the three engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Zambian Shenyang J-6 fighter plane. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Matala. All 29 occupants were killed. Angolan authorities confirmed the aircraft was shot down by mistake.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the pilot of a Zambian Shenyang J-6 fighter plane.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D in Luanda: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

DM-STL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Luanda - Lusaka

MSN:

186 0094 02

YOM:

1966

Location:

Luanda-4 de Fevereiro

Luanda

Country:

Angola

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was dispatched from Berlin to Luanda to transfer a load of weapons and ammunitions to the ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) militants based in Lusaka, Rhodesia. The cargo arrived from East Germany by boat and was transferred to the airplane. During the takeoff roll on runway 23, at a speed of 268 km/h, the engine n°2 failed. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with the localizer antenna and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Dieter Hartmann, pilot,
Jochen Wilsdorf, pilot,
Horst Umlauft, navigator,
Frank-Rolf John, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine n°2 failed 56 seconds after the crew started the takeoff procedure, at a speed of 268 km/h, well above the V1 speed fixed at 222 km/h. Investigations reported that the captain first decided to continue the takeoff procedure but eventually decided to abandon and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. The distance available was insufficient.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Cuangar: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1977 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

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Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed in flames. All 30 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by UNITA rebels.