Niger

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Niamey - Arlit

MSN:

BB-192

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Arlit Airport, the crew lost visual contact with the runway due to a sand storm. The aircraft was too low and hit the ground short of runway. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid over few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The crew continued the approach in a reduced visibility due to blowing sand and descended too low without visual contact with the ground.

Crash of a Boeing 707312B in Niamey

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2000 at 2050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Togolese Government

Registration:

5V-TAG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Niger Air Force - Forces aériennes nigériennes

Schedule:

Paris - Valencia - Niamey

MSN:

19739

YOM:

1968

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Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on a flight to Valencia, Spain, where members of the chorus of the University of Bénin-Togo were dropped off. At the end of the afternoon, the crew departed Valencia on the final leg of the day to Lomé, Togo. While in cruising altitude over the Niger territory, the crew informed ATC about smoke spreading in the cockpit and was cleared for an emergency descent and landing at Niamey-Diori Hamani Airport. On approach, due to the failure of the hydraulic systems, the crew was unable to lower the undercarriage so a belly landing was completed. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the in-flight smoke and fire was the consequence of an electrical short-circuit.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Niamey: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1997

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

5U-MBD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Lomé - Niamey

MSN:

4829

YOM:

1979

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Circumstances:

While approaching Niamey Airport, the aircraft went out of control and crashed near the village of Sorey, about 10 km southeast of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was reported that two engines were on fire when control was lost on approach.

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30 in Niger: 170 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1989 at 1359 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-10

Operator:

Registration:

N54629

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Brazzaville – N’Djamena – Paris

MSN:

46852

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

UT772

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Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

156

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

170

Captain / Total flying hours:

11039

Captain / Total hours on type:

2723.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8357

Copilot / Total hours on type:

754

Aircraft flight hours:

60267

Aircraft flight cycles:

14777

Circumstances:

The DC-10 departed N'Djamena Airport at 1313LT bound for Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Forty-six minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet over Niger, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens and the crew did not send any distress call. It was quickly understood that the aircraft exploded in mid-air and crashed somewhere in the desert. SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found a day later in the Ténéré Desert, about 650 km north of N'Djamena, northeast from the Termit Mountain Range. Debris scattered on 100 km2 and none of the 170 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the aircraft was destroyed by an explosion. The following findings were reported:
- The destruction was due to an explosive charge placed in a container located in position 13R in the forward cargo hold.
- The bomb was formed of pentrite, namely an explosive composed with a powerful and very sensitive crystalline nitric ester.
- The Investigation Commission assert that the most plausible hypothesis is that the explosive charge was inside baggage loaded at Brazzaville Airport.
- Observations made shortly after the accident on Brazzaville Airport made it clear that, at that time, the airport security measures in force were not in accordance with the ICAO standards and recommended practices (Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and Civil Aviation Security Manual (DOC 8973)).

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Founkoueye

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

5U-AAJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

4505

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

En route to Tahoua, the crew encountered problems with the left engine that oversped. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing in a prairie. The aircraft belly landed and slid for several meters before coming to rest. While all 21 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Technical problems with the left engine in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63CF in Niamey: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1977 at 0335 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

N8635

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site: