Africa | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll at Asmara Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest. All occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear during takeoff roll for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Lagos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

5N-AKQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

31-7612051

YOM:

1976

Location:

Lagos-Murtala Muhammed

Lagos

Country:

Nigeria

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Lagos-Murtala Muhammed Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF on Mt Kenya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-7

Operator:

Emirates Air Transport

Registration:

TZ-ARC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sharjah - Djibouti City - Nairobi

MSN:

45467/970

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to 15,000 feet in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Kenya, about 135 km northeast of Nairobi-Wilson Airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated a premature descent.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Mwanza

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Geosurvey International

Registration:

5Y-ATM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

402B-0445

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Mwanza. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-3 Islander in Grand Anse

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Air Mahé

Registration:

VQ-SAC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

287

YOM:

1971

Location:

Grand Anse (Praslin Island)

All Seychelles

Country:

Seychelles

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Grand Anse Airport, while in initial climb, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. All occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines after takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Nigeria: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Somergul

Registration:

CS-AHP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Jos - Port Harcourt

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Jos to Port Harcourt. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154A near Malabo: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1976 at 0748 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-154

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-85102

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Luanda – Malabo – N’Djamena – Tripoli – Moscow

MSN:

75A102

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

SU418

Location:

Malabo

Bioko Norte Province (Malabo)

Country:

Equatorial Guinea

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2119

Aircraft flight cycles:

1069

Circumstances:

While flying at an altitude of 4,200 metres from Luanda to Malabo, the crew received the last weather briefing for Malabo Airport and was cleared to descent for a landing on runway 05. ATC requested the crew to report once runway 05 in sight and the crew gave his ETA four minutes later at 0752LT. While approaching at an altitude of 750 metres and at a speed of 490 km/h, the airplane struck the south slope of Mt San Carlos located 48 km southwest of Malabo Airport. The wreckage was sighted by the pilot of the personal helicopter of the Equatorial Guinea President five days later, on June 6. SAR teams were dispatched and arrived on scene on June 18 only. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 45 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. ATC assistance was considered as good, all necessary information were transmitted to the crew and ATC was not the cause of the accident. The assumption that the aircraft radar was not operating at the time of the accident was not ruled out. Possible erroneous calculation on part of the crew may cause the aircraft to descent prematurely and to fly on the wrong path to runway 05. In consequence, the accident may be the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Ground explosion of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Massawa

Date & Time: May 31, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

ET-ADC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

14717/26162

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

32682

Circumstances:

After landing at Massawa Airport, the airplane was vacating the runway when it rolled on a landmine and exploded. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Exploded after rolling on a landmine.

Crash of a Piaggio P.166A Albatross off Dassen Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1976 at 1439 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piaggio P.166 Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

894

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Ysterplaat - Ysterplaat

MSN:

456

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Ysterplaat AFB with a crew of two on a maritime patrol flight. At 1435LT, the crew informed ground that all was ok on board. Four minutes later, he sent a mayday message and reported "we are 40 miles from" before all contacts were lost. SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found.
Crew:
Maj R. C. Carter,
Cpt G. M. Rossouw.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.