Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Bafoussam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1981
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
TJ-CBC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bafoussam – Douala
MSN:
416
YOM:
1974
Location:
Bafoussam-Bamougoum
West
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bafoussam-Bamougoum Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled and crash landed, overran and came to rest 43 meters past the runway end. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident. It was also reported that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to procedures and failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-2 Trislander III in Foya Kamala

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Trislander
Operator:
Registration:
EL-AIC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1014
YOM:
1975
Location:
Foya Kamala
Lofa
Country:
Liberia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Gueltat Zemmour: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
CNA-OH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
4717
YOM:
1977
Location:
Gueltat Zemmour
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a reconnaissance mission and taking part to the Battle of Gueltat Zemmour (13 to 29 October 1981), carrying five crew members. En route, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near Gueltat Zemmour, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by soldiers from the Front Polisario.

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

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AHR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13311
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kombolcha-Dessie
Amhara
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
26381
Circumstances:
Upon landing, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840 in Parys: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840
Operator:
Ramaniko Trust
Registration:
ZS-KRS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
690-11644
YOM:
1980
Location:
Parys
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Parys Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few hundred meters short of runway, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Dire Dawa

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
RRC Air Service
Registration:
ET-AGX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14644/26089
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dire Dawa-Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma
Dire Dawa City District
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Dire Dawa-Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma Airport, a tyre burst. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway and lost an undercarriage before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was operated on behalf of the UN's Ethiopian Relief & Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).
Probable cause:
Loss of control on landing after a tyre burst.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Sekakes

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
7P-LAE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sekakes - Maseru
MSN:
556
YOM:
1977
Location:
Sekakes
Mohale's Hoek
Country:
Lesotho
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknow reasons while taking off from an 'airsptrip' in Sekakes, Lesotho. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK near Beira: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Hemet Exploration
Registration:
F-BJHC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14311/25756
YOM:
1944
Location:
Beira
Sofala
Country:
Mozambique
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying three operators and three crew members on a local aerial photography mission on behalf of the Shell Oil Group. For such mission, the aircraft was equipped with a 30 meters long cable fixed to the tail and supporting a sensor system where various measurement equipment were fixed. En route, the crew was contacted by ATC to change heading when the airplane was hit by two surface-to-air SAM-7 missiles. One missile struck the tail and the second struck the left engine that exploded. Out of control, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed, killing all six occupants.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by the Mozambican Army who thought the aircraft was a military airplane towing an unidentified equipment.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Maroantsetra: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1981
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
5R-MGB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mandritsara – Maroantsetra – Antalaha – Andapa – Doany – Sambava
MSN:
327
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
MD112
Location:
Maroantsetra
Toamasina Province
Country:
Madagascar
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
On the leg from Maroantsetra to Andalaha, while in cruising altitude in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located northeast of Maroantsetra. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600RF in Balad: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
6O-SAY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mogadishu - Hargeisa
MSN:
10557
YOM:
1977
Location:
Balad
Shabeellaha Dhexe (شبيلي الوسطى‎)
Country:
Somalia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Aircraft flight hours:
6087
Aircraft flight cycles:
2777
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mogadishu Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered a thunderstorm area with heavy rain falls and severe turbulences. The airplane went out of control and entered a dive. Due to excessive g loads, the right wing detached then the airplane crashed in a field located near Balad, about 38 km northeast of Mogadishu Airport, eight minutes after takeoff. All 50 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that aircraft had entered a spiral dive after encountering strong vertical gusts. Loads during the dive increased to approximately 5.76 g, exceeding the design stress limits of the aircraft and causing its right wing to separate. The flight crew were believed to have erred in taking off during known thunderstorm conditions.
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