Central African Republic

Site:

City

Schedule:

N'Djamena - Brazzaville

MSN:

19335

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed N'Djamena Airport on a cargo flight to Brazzaville, carrying 21 passengers, nine crew members and a load of onions and garlic. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew reported technical problems with the undercarriage and was cleared to divert to Bangui Airport. The crew completed a holding circuit over Bangui to consume fuel then later started the descent to the airport. On final approach to runway 35, all four engines stopped simultaneously due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a residential area located 4 km short of runway. A crew member and one passenger were injured while 28 other people were killed. There were no casualties on the ground.

Probable cause:

The crew reported that the undercarriage could not be raised. Loss of control on final approach after all four engines stopped due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Berberati

Date & Time: May 19, 1999

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

TL-ACO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bangui – Berberati

MSN:

9 51 16 39

YOM:

1975

Location:

Berberati

Mambéré-Kadéï

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Berberati Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest with both wings severely damaged. All 33 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Moroubas: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1996 at 1006 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Centravia

Registration:

TL-ASB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bangui - Koumbala

MSN:

31-7852054

YOM:

1978

Location:

Moroubas

Ouaka

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

En route from Bangui to Koumbala, province of Bamingui-Bangoran, while cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the pilot encountered technical problems with the right engine that was shut down and its propeller feathered. The pilot declared an emergency and elected to divert to Bambari Airport. Thirteen minutes later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an isolated area located about 60 km northwest of Bambari Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight for unknown reasons.

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:

Site:

Schedule:

Bouar – Libreville

MSN:

178

YOM:

1959

Location:

Bouar

Nana-Mambéré

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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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 Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Bangui

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Air Cameroon

Registration:

F-BESN

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

22377

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Bangui Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered and engine failure. The captain elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft belly landed in a prairie and came to rest. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was carrying a load of six tons of meat.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas near Boukpayanga: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Operator:

Registration:

F-BGZB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Berbérati – Bangui – Bambari

MSN:

YOM:

1952

Location:

Boukpayanga

Lobaye

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a special flight from Berberati to Bambari with an intermediate stop at Bangui, carrying a crew of three and Barthélemy Boganda, President of the Central African Republic and five members of his office. He was returning to the capital city after taking part to several discussions in Berberati. About 27 minutes after takeoff from Berberati Airport, while in cruising altitude, the right wing failed and detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in the savanna located near Boukpayanga. The airplane was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the right wing detached in flight due to a structural failure caused by severe vibrations due to additional engines that were installed on this special Noratlas model.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sandringham 6 off Bangui

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sandringham

Operator:

France Hydro

Registration:

LN-LAI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

S.1209

Location:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Ubangi River off Bangui.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster near Bangui: 46 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1950 at 1937 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

F-BELB

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam

MSN:

3084

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Four minutes after its takeoff from Bangui Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located about 16 km south of Bangui. Three crew members and seven passengers were seriously injured while 46 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew decided to perform the takeoff procedure by night without knowing properly the departure procedures and the topography in the vicinity of the aerodrome. It was reported that the Chief of the Aerodrome informed the pilot prior to departure about the presence of hills in the surroundings. For unknown reason, the pilot continued the initial climb at an insufficient altitude and initiated the first turn prematurely, causing the aircraft to hit the ground. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- lack of familiarity on behalf of the flying crew,
- poor visibility caused by night,
- incomplete flight chart for the Bangui area.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar near Bangui: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1945 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

F-BALV

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Paris – N’Djamena – Bangui – Antananarivo

MSN:

2380

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region: