Africa

The aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight to Doro Airfield, South Sudan, carrying four crew members and a load consisting of food. After landing, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, struck a drainage ditch and came to rest against an earth mound. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

The aircraft was planned to fly from Lanseria airport (FALA) in Republic of South Africa to Bamako airport (GABS) in Mali with a stopover in Ondangwa airport (FYOA) in Namibia, São Tomé International airport (FPST) in São Tomé and Príncipe and Accra airport (DGAA) in Ghana, with a rough estimating time of approximately 15hrs flying, not including the ground time at airports of stopover. The aircraft had been in Lanseria airport (FALA) in Republic of South Africa (RSA) for maintenance check (including but not limited to engine work and interior refurbishing). Prior to the planned flight, the aircraft underwent flight check for 45 minutes after completed planned maintenance on Saturday, April 6th, flown by the Captain and another SAS company pilot. The aircraft departed FALA to FYOA for its first stop over whose flight time was 03:35h. The planned departure from FYOA was delayed due to trouble in starting the right engine. The aircraft took off at 1021hrs contrary to planned 0830hrs. For the second leg of the flight, the aircraft departed FYOA to FPST with filed flight plan of 05 hours and 20 minutes (flight time) having FYOA as alternate. Leaving the Namibian airspace the pilot only contacted Luanda ATC and São Tomé Tower as destination, and at no time did he contact Brazzaville or Libreville for any further clearance within Brazzaville FIR: It is important to emphasize that on that day, the west coast of Africa in the vicinity of Gulf of Guinea had widespread moderate to severe thunderstorm activity with lighting and heavy rain. When initiating descent to São Tomé from FL 200 to 4000 feet as instructed by São Tomé ATC, the pilot was advised that weather was gradually deteriorating at airport vicinity. At 1610hrs the pilot had last transmission with Control Tower informing them about his position which was 9 nm inbound to São Tomé VOR at 4000 feet and also informed the ATC that he was encountering heavy rain. Having lost contact with aircraft at 1613hrs, the São Tomé ATC tried several times to contact the airplane by VHF118.9, 127.5, 121.5 and HF 8903 without success. Facing this situation the ATC sent messages to FIRs of Brazzaville and Accra and Libreville Control as well, some airlines flying within São Tomean an adjacent airspace were contacted for any information but all responses were negative. A Search and Rescue operation started on 7 April 2013 the same day the accident occurred and was conducted on the sea and on the island; no trace of aircraft or its debris, pilot or any cargo were found. The search was terminated on 20 April at 1730hrs.

Last March 12, the aircraft sustained damages upon landing at Djolu Airport. Repairs were carried on and the aircraft was ready for its back trip to Kinshasa on March 22, carrying three crew members, two pilots and one mechanic. After the brakes were released, while accelerating on a dirt runway, the aircraft veered off runway, contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. All three crew members evacuated the burned wreckage and only the mechanic was injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kananga to Goma with an intermediate stop in Lodja, carrying four passengers, 6 crew members and a load of various goods. On final approach to Goma Airport Runway 36, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On final, the aircraft contacted the roof of a house and crashed in the garden of a residential area, coming to rest upside down. Three passengers were seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed.

The crew was performing a humanitarian flight on behalf of the United Nations Organisation (UNO). Upon landing at Wau Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on runway for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both pilots evacuated safely and the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

The aircraft was carrying a delegation of Senior Officials of the Guinea Air Force to Monrovia. On final approach to Roberts Airport, the aircraft descended too low, impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Charlesville, some 4 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed, among them General Souleymane Kéléfa Diallo, Chief of Staff of the Guinea Army Forces. The delegation was on its way to Monrovia to take part to the celebration of the Liberia Army forces anniversary.

Following an uneventful flight from Casablanca-Mohamed V Airport, the crew started the approach to Tunis-Carthage International Airport Runway 19 and encountered marginal weather conditions. After touchdown, the aircraft rolled for a distance of 1,600 metres then deviated to the right. The aircraft veered off runway, rolled in a grassy area for 114 metres when the nose gear impacted the concrete perpendicularly runway 11/29. On impact, the nose gear was torn off and the aircraft rolled for another 130 metres before coming to rest. All 83 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, strong crosswinds and heavy rain falls passed over the airport.

The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a local paratroopers/skydiving mission at Bloemspruit AFB that shares a runway with Bloemfontein-Bram Fischer International Airport. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard on its nose, veered off runway and came to rest with its left wing on the ground. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft departed Waterkloof AFB south of Pretoria around 0745LT on a flight to Mthatha. While cruising between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. in IMC conditions, the aircraft Giant's Castle in the Drakensberg Mountain Range and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found a day later and all 11 occupants were killed. The minimum safe altitude for the area was 13,800 feet.
Crew:
Major K. Misrole
Captain Z.M. Smith
Sergeant B.K. Baloyi
Sergeant E. Boes
Sergeant J.M. Mamabolo
Corporal L. Mofokeng
Passengers:
Sergeant L. Sobantu
Corporal N.W. Khomo
Corporal A. Matlaila
Corporal M.J. Mthomben
Lance-corporal N.K. Aphane.

The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, carrying one passenger, a crew of six and a load consisting of automobiles and various goods. On final approach to runway 05L in poor weather conditions, the crew descended too low on the glide when the aircraft impacted houses and tree tops and eventually crashed in the district of La Poudrière, about 900 metres short of runway. All 7 occupants were killed as well as 25 people on the ground. Fourteen other people were injured. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity, rain falls and limited visibility. MAK stated in February 2013 that they received the FDR from the Congolese authorities but the recorders show mechanical damages as a result of the impact forces.