Africa

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Both engines suffered a loss of power and the aircraft lost height and crash landed. It went out of control, overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by fire. At the time of the accident, wind was gusting up to 14 knots and several birds were sighted in the vicinity of the airport.

Crashed in the Angolan province of Malanje about 30 minutes after takeoff from Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport, probably after being shot down by UNITA rebels. The pilot reported an engine fire and that he was going to attempt an emergency landing at Malanje. About 3 minutes later, the pilot reported that they were going to attempt an immediate landing straight ahead. This was the last contact with the crew. It was reported that at impact the right propeller was feathered, the landing gear was up and flaps were deployed at 25°. All four crew members and 20 passengers were killed. The wreckage was found in an isolated area in 2003 only.

About forty minutes into the flight, the crew reported technical problems to ATC after both engines n°1 and 3 failed. The crew was cleared to return to Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport. About three minutes later, while descending to an altitude of 800 metres, at a speed of 350 km/h, the aircraft adopted a rate of descent of 3 metres per second and crashed about 80 km north of Luanda. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 13 occupants were killed.

Final power assurance checks were carried out on the aircraft’s engines on the morning of the accident. The AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) trimmed the elevator-trim tab to the Full Nose UP position in order to reduce the stick forces required to hold the tail down during the engine power checks, but he did not set the elevator trim back to the neutral position on completion of the checks. The AME was requested by the pilot(s) to remove the aileron and elevator external gust locks and the landing gear down lock pins. He left the rudder lock in place, which was later removed by one of the pilots. The pilot(s) did not carry out a pre-flight inspection. At approximately 1646 on 24 August 1998 the DC3TP, registration number ZS-NKK, crashed during take-off from runway 11 at Wonderboom Airport. The PIC (Pilot-in-Command), who did not wear a shoulder harness, sustained fatal injuries and the co-pilot, who did wear a shoulder harness, serious injures. The accident occurred on the first flight after the aircraft had undergone a maintenance inspection, which included power assurance checks of the engines. The co-pilot sat in the left-hand seat and while he started the engines, the PIC attended to the cockpit checklist.

The four engine aircraft was completing a charter flight from Luanda to Saurimo, carrying a team of journalists who were supposed to visit a local diamonds mine. After touchdown, some tire burst. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. Twelve occupants were injured, some seriously, and the captain, an Ukrainian citizen, was killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Khartoum-Haj Yussuf Airport, while climbing, the captain reported hydraulic problems and was cleared by ATC for an immediate return. After touchdown, several tires burst and the crew thought it was an engine malfunction so he deactivated the thrust reverser systems. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and collided with construction machines before coming to rest near a telecommunication relay. All 100 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Burgas, the crew started a night approach to Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport. The visibility was relatively limited due to local patches of fog on approach. On final, at an altitude of 2,405 metres, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 4,3 km short of runway 25. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 72 metres below the summit. Remains still present at N15.304268 E38.959811 by December 2012.

The twin engine aircraft was completing a special flight from Luanda to Abidjan with an intermediate stop in Lomé, carrying seven UNO emissaries and one pilot. While descending to Abidjan-Félix Houphouët-Boigny Airport, the pilot encountered very low visibility due to foggy conditions. On approach, the aircraft entered a left turn then an uncontrolled descent and crashed about 30 km from the airport. All eight occupants were killed, among them Alioune Blondin Béye, Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, aged 59.

En route from Greece to Gaborone, Botswana, the pilot encountered technical problems when the right engine failed. He completed a belly landing in an open field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft was returning to Nouakchott with 35 passengers and seven crew members who accompanied the President of the Republic of Mauritania on an official visit of the Hodh Ech Chargui Region. All passengers were members of the Mauritanian Army fanfare. Shortly after a night takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion near the runway end. Three passengers were seriously injured while 39 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.