Government | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine airplane, chartered by the Portuguese Government, was engaged in a special flight from Lisbon to Porto, carrying various members of the Portuguese Government. Shortly after takeoff from Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport, while climbing by night, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Camarate. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. There were no casualties on ground.
Occupants:
Mr. Francisco Sa Carneiro, Prime Minister,
Mrs. Francisco Sa Carneiro,
Mr. Amaro da Costa, Minister of Defence,
Mrs. Amaro da Costa,
One Chief of Cabinet and two pilots.

Probable cause:

The loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the crew,
- Inadvertent shutdown of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons,
- The left propeller was not feathered, causing high drag,
- The flaps were not deployed in the correct position for takeoff,
- The CofG was off limits,
- Negligences of those responsible for planning and safety in the air transport of important figures of State, in an aircraft of foreign registration whose maintenance status was not previously maintained rated,
- Crew fatigue,
- Crew psychic stress accumulation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL on Mt El Boquerón: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1980 at 1547 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Colombian Government

Registration:

HK-1221G

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Turbo – Medellín

MSN:

9703

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Turbo on a flight to Medellín, carrying employees of the Colombian Customs Services (Direccion General de Aduanas). While descending to the altitude of 9,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt El Boquerón located about 100 km northwest of Medellín Airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 20 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds.

Probable cause:

The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC when the airplane struck the mountain. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M off Forcados: 30 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

NAF904

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lagos - São Tomé

MSN:

10488

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2250

Aircraft flight cycles:

2040

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a special flight from Lagos to São Tomé, carrying a Nigerian delegation comprising Government officials, Army officers and journalists. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While cruising in thunderstorm activity, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed into the sea (Gulf of Guinea) few km off Forcados. None of the 30 occupants survived the crash.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II in Don Torcuato

Date & Time: May 4, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31 Cheyenne

Operator:

Junta Nacional de Carnes

Registration:

LV-MOC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

31T-7920031

YOM:

1979

Location:

Don Torcuato

Buenos Aires province

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Don Torcuato while completing a flight on behalf of the Argentinian National Office for Meat. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Monrovia

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Operator:

Liberian Government

Registration:

ARU-008

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

207-0229

YOM:

1973

Location:

Monrovia-Roberts

Margibi (Gibi & Marshall)

Country:

Liberia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances by the Farmington River near Monrovia-Roberts Airport. Crew fate unknown. The airplane was engaged in a special flight on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 in Arsenyev

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-8

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-27205

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

9340709

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taxiing at Arsenyev-Varfolomeyevka Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off taxiway and collided with trees. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to the failure of the brake systems.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII-TT in N'Gaoundéré: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Gulfstream GII

Operator:

Registration:

TR-KHB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

N’Djamena – N’Gaoundéré – Libreville

MSN:

127

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was en route from N’Djamena to Libreville with an intermediate stop in N’Gaoundéré, Cameroon, carrying three passengers and two pilots. On approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane crashed 10 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed, among them René Journiac, personal advisor for African affairs to the French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He was making a stop at N’Gaoundéré to meet Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of Cameroon.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II in Zárate: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31 Cheyenne

Operator:

Registration:

LV-MYY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

31T-7920085

YOM:

1979

Location:

Zárate

Buenos Aires province

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Zárate, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I near Machiques: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 500 Citation

Operator:

Registration:

YV-O-MAC-1

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Carlota - La Carlota

MSN:

500-0336

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed La Carlota-General Francisco de Miranda earlier in the day on an inspection flight on behalf of the Venezuelan Ministry of Agriculture and Farming. While flying along the Colombia - Venezuela border, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in a mountainous area near Machiques and came to rest in flames. All three passengers, among them Minister Luciano Valero, escaped uninjured while both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Kaduqli

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

National Agricultural Organisation

Registration:

ST-AHH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15880/32628

YOM:

1945

Location:

Kaduqli

South Kordofan (جنوب كردفان)

Country:

Sudan

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in flames and was destroyed by fire. There were no casualties.