Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Lalibela: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4297
YOM:
1942
Location:
Lalibella
Amhara
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
33626
Circumstances:
On approach to Lalibella Airport, the airplane was hit by ground fire, lost altitude and crashed short of runway. At least one occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Rushinga

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
R3707
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16198/32946
YOM:
1945
Location:
Rushinga-Forward Airfield
Mashonaland Central
Country:
Zimbabwe
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
5818
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the airplane ground looped due to brake failure. Both propeller detached and the airplane came to rest with its left main gear partially torn off. Both pilots Ed Paintin and Frank Wingrove were uninjured while the flight engineer John Mitchell was slightly wounded. The aircraft was trucked to Salisbury for repair but was later considered as written off.
Probable cause:
Failure of the brake systems upon landing.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9 Islander in Agadez

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Transniger
Registration:
5U-AAN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
674
YOM:
1972
Location:
Agadez
Agadez
Country:
Niger
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 in Boende: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CLM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Boende
MSN:
10393
YOM:
1969
Location:
Boende
Tshuapa
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
9527
Aircraft flight cycles:
6807
Circumstances:
Following an apparent wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with an embankment located 100 meters past the runway end. All 38 occupants escaped injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A young boy was killed on the ground.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew failed to follow the approach checklist and published procedures,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Poor crew coordination.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Oloitokitok

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Safari Air Services
Registration:
5Y-ASH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-7405149
YOM:
1974
Location:
Oloitokitok
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on runway 31 at Oloitokitok Aerodrome, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest 30 yards further. A passenger was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII in Lomé: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Gulfstream GII
Operator:
Togolese Government
Registration:
5V-TAA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Niamey - Lomé
MSN:
149
YOM:
1974
Location:
Lomé
Maritime
Country:
Togo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
50
Aircraft flight cycles:
35
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to Lomé after the President of Niger Mr. Seyni Kountche was brought back in Niamey following an international conference in Lomé. On approach to Lomé Airport, the airplane crashed few km short of runway. The captain, the flight engineer and a passenger were killed while two other passengers and the copilot were injured. The aircraft, brand new, was destroyed. It completed its first flight last July 17 and accumulated 50 flight hours for 35 cycles only.

Crash of a Canadair CL-44D4-1 in Lusaka

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-44
Operator:
Tradewinds Airways
Registration:
G-AWSC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26
YOM:
1961
Location:
Lusaka
Lusaka City District
Country:
Zambia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Apparently following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed nosewheel first. Upon touchdown, the nosewheel was torn off and the airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to rest in flames. All five crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Wad Madani

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
HB-FDI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wad Madani - Wad Madani
MSN:
665
YOM:
1967
Location:
Wad Madani
Al Jazirah (ولاية الجزيرة)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
2134
Circumstances:
While flying at low height on a crop spraying flight, the single engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was injured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The accident occurred during the first sortie in the early morning, shortly after sunrise.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30DL in Soddo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1974 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AAR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Soddo - Beica
MSN:
9465
YOM:
1943
Location:
Soddo
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
27809
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Soddo Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed. 10 passengers were injured while 12 others were uninjured. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 747-130 in Nairobi: 59 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1974 at 0754 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 747-100
Operator:
Registration:
D-ABYB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Nairobi - Johannesburg
MSN:
19747/29
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
LH540
Location:
Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta (ex Embakasi)
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
140
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Captain / Total flying hours:
10464
Captain / Total hours on type:
1619.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3418
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2237
Aircraft flight hours:
16781
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane named 'Hessen' lifted off from runway 24 at a speed of 145 knots. During initial climb, at a height of 100 feet, the airplane stalled and struck the ground 1,120 meters past the runway end. It flew again for about 114 meters then struck an embankment and crashed in flames 340 meters further. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. 55 passengers and 4 crew members were killed while 98 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the flying crew. The accident was caused by the crew initiating a take-off with the leading edge flaps retracted because the pneumatic system which operates them had not been switched on. This resulted in the aircraft becoming airborne in a partially stalled condition which the pilots did not identify in the short time available to them for recovery. Major contributory factors were the lack of warning of a critical condition of leading edge flap position and the failure of the crew to complete satisfactorily their checklist items.
Final Report:
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