Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in Songo

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
COMAG - Companhia Moçambicana de Aviação Geral
Registration:
C9-APQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fíngoè – Tete
MSN:
364
YOM:
1973
Location:
Songo
Tete
Country:
Mozambique
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Fíngoè to Tete, carrying four passengers and one pilot. While cruising at an altitude of 4,700 feet, the right engine caught fire after being hit by a surface-to-air missile. The pilot initiated a rapid descent and elected to divert to Songo Airport for an emergency landing when the right engine detached shortly later. Despite a critical situation, the pilot was able to land at Songo Airport and to stop the airplane on the runway. All five occupants escaped safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Source and photos:
http://voandoemmozambique.blogspot.com/2012/05/772-cte-joaquim-maria-craveiro.html
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile shot by Frelimo rebels. They mistakenly thought the aircraft was Rhodesian.

Crash of an Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette in Nkayi

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette
Operator:
Registration:
TN-ADB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22
YOM:
1975
Location:
Nkayi
Bouenze
Country:
Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Destroyed in a crash while attempting to land at Nkayi Airport. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D in Luanda: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
DM-STL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luanda - Lusaka
MSN:
186 0094 02
YOM:
1966
Location:
Luanda-4 de Fevereiro
Luanda
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane was dispatched from Berlin to Luanda to transfer a load of weapons and ammunitions to the ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) militants based in Lusaka, Rhodesia. The cargo arrived from East Germany by boat and was transferred to the airplane. During the takeoff roll on runway 23, at a speed of 268 km/h, the engine n°2 failed. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with the localizer antenna and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Dieter Hartmann, pilot,
Jochen Wilsdorf, pilot,
Horst Umlauft, navigator,
Frank-Rolf John, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine n°2 failed 56 seconds after the crew started the takeoff procedure, at a speed of 268 km/h, well above the V1 speed fixed at 222 km/h. Investigations reported that the captain first decided to continue the takeoff procedure but eventually decided to abandon and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. The distance available was insufficient.

Crash of a Fairchild F27A in Nouakchott

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
5T-CJY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
28
YOM:
1958
Location:
Nouakchott
Nouakchott City District
Country:
Mauritania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Moanda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LXN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Libreville - Moanda
MSN:
45108/770
YOM:
1957
Location:
Moanda
Haut-Ogooué (Franceville)
Country:
Gabon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Moanda Airport, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a small lake located 11 km short of runway. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK near Barentu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AFW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
16681/33429
YOM:
1945
Location:
Barentu
Gash-Barka
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
10566
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight, the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The wreckage was found in a desert area near Barentu and all five occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb exploded on board in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 748D Viscount in Kariba: 59 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1979 at 1705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YND
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kariba - Salisbury
MSN:
101
YOM:
19567
Flight number:
RH825
Location:
Kariba
Mashonaland West
Country:
Zimbabwe
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
54
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kariba Airport, while climbing, the airplane was struck by two SAM-7 missiles. Out of control, it plunged into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion few km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 59 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shut down by two SAM-7 missiles from the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) guerrilla.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Teseney: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
15030/26475
YOM:
1944
Location:
Teseney
Gash-Barka
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
18767
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Teseney, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Nord 262A-44 in Béchar: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1979 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Nord 262
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VSU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Adrar - Béchar
MSN:
19
YOM:
1966
Location:
Béchar
Béchar
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
On approach to Béchar Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a desert area located about 15 km from the runway threshold. 14 passengers were killed while nine other occupants, among them all three crew members, were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Poor approach planning,
- The crew failed to comply with published procedures,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Crew fatigue,
- A possible malfunction of the captain altimeter.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Takoradi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LTQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31-7405480
YOM:
1974
Location:
Takoradi
Western
Country:
Ghana
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Port Gentil, Gabon, on a charter flight to the Ivory Coast, carrying three passengers and a pilot. En route, it crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located west of Takoradi, near the border between Ghana and Ivory Coast. All four occupants were killed.
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