Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Luanda

Date & Time: May 28, 1997
Operator:
Registration:
D2-ECL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda – Lucapa – Dundo – Lucapa – Luanda
MSN:
BB-44
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport, following an uneventful flight from Lucapa, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft lost speed then stalled and crashed 510 metres short of runway threshold. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. As no fuel was available at Lucapa and Dundo Airport, the crew prepared the tour with a fuel autonomy of six hours, which should be a minimum as the flight calculation for the all tour was five hours and 20 minutes. It was determined that in-flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to modify his route, increasing flight time and fuel consumption.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach caused by a fuel exhaustion.

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 a Douglas DC-6A in Luzamba

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CJR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
45373
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the four engine aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in the bush. There were no casualties.

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-32B in Luremo

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-48008
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
34 05
YOM:
1992
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Luremo, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest few dozen metres further. All five occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Jamba: 141 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CRR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jamba - Kinshasa
MSN:
1080
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
139
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
141
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jamba Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in a field located few km from the airfield. The copilot and two passengers survived while 141 other occupants were killed, among them 83 children. The aircraft was completing a charter/humanitarian flight to Kinshasa to repatriate Congolese refugees.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft that was certified to carry a maximum of 97 passengers.

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.