Crash of a Boeing 737-3Y0 in Libreville

Date & Time: Dec 19, 2003 at 1844 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LFZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Franceville – Libreville
MSN:
23750
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
GN471
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
125
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Libreville-Léon Mba Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Due to low visibility caused by heavy rain falls, a landing was not possible and the crew followed a holding pattern of about 30 minutes for weather improvement. After landing on runway 16 (3,000 metres long), the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran at a speed of 100 knots, collided with a fence and came to rest 100 metres further. All 131 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the left engine throttle lever was in a full forward position after touchdown while the right engine throttle lever was in the reverse position. The braking action was poor because the runway surface was poor and the crew did not initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Lokichoggio

Date & Time: Dec 7, 2003 at 1337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-NNN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi – Lokichogio
MSN:
11231
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
HSA812
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Lokichogio Airport, the crew started the braking procedure when the tyre n°1 on the nose gear burst. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, collided with a fence and came to rest in a ditch with its nose gear torn off. All 27 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Boende: 33 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2003 at 1516 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9T-TAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Boende – Kinshasa
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Boende to Kinshasa, carrying 18 passengers, six crew members and a load of 672 kilos of various goods. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abandon the procedure and returned to the parking. A second attempt to takeoff was initiated few minutes later. During the takeoff run, at high speed, a tyre burst. The captain rejected takeoff but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,400 metres long). It overran, struck a fence and eventually crashed in a local market. All six crew members and 14 passengers were killed as well as 13 people on the ground. Four passengers and six people on the ground suffered injuries of various degrees.

Crash of a Boeing 747-258C in Lagos

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2003 at 0235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-OOS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels – Lagos – Johannesburg
MSN:
21190
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
HYC501
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Brussels on a cargo flight to Johannesburg with an intermediate stop in Lagos. On approach by night, the crew was cleared to land on runway 19R that was closed to traffic due to resurfacing process. After touchdown, the aircraft collided with several equipments then veered off runway to the left and came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. ATC cleared the crew to land on runway 19R while the runway 19L was the one in service at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The AIPB reported that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority did not know of the closure of the runway, nor that it was aware of the NOTAM until the accident occurred. Runway 19R was not properly closed in accordance with standard practice, as the runway lights were all switched on indicating runway serviceability.

Crash of a BAe 125-403B in Luanda

Date & Time: Nov 21, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D2-EXR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda – Catumbela
MSN:
25215
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Lunda-4 de Fevereiro Airport, en route to Catumbela, the crew informed ATC about hydraulic problems and was cleared for an emergency return to Luanda. Due to the failure of the primary hydraulic system, the crew was unable to lower the landing gear and decided to complete a belly landing on the grassy area located between both runways 23 and 25. The aircraft slid on its belly for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Wau: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 2003 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-SAA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khartoum – Wau
MSN:
5 3 429 05
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
SRW044
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Khartoum to Wau, carrying seven passengers, six crew members and a load consisting of foods and bank notes. On final approach to Wau Airport, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 6 km short of runway, bursting into flames. All 13 occupants were killed, among them soldiers and members of the National Bank of Sudan.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Geneina

Date & Time: Nov 3, 2003 at 0735 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK-11997
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum – Geneina
MSN:
6 3 444 07
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Geneina Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the ground eight metres short of runway threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for about 800 metres before coming to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Kamina

Date & Time: Oct 30, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-AJG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kilembwe – Kamina
MSN:
1AJ004-09
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft struck the ground 800 metres short of runway. Congolese Army' Soldiers guarded the site, so no UNO observers could get in. Illegal cargo flight with arms and war material on board is suspected.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Wau

Date & Time: Sep 24, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-SAR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4 021 02
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Wau Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the left and came to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon touchdown for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Lankien

Date & Time: Sep 14, 2003
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9XR-AL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lankien – Lokichogio
MSN:
81 06 23
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lankien Airstrip, the crew saw a cow entering the active 19 runway. The captain abandoned the takeoff procedure and the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen metres further. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.