Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/45 in the Ngong Hills: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1998 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-OFC
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
206
YOM:
1998
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was returning to Nairobi with one pilot and eight passengers who were returning to the capital city following a three-day safari and cinema trip. While descending to Nairobi-Wilson Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to mist and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Ngong Hills, about 20 km southwest of Wilson Airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot descended below the minimum safe altitude in misty conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Nasir: 27 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1998 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7744
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum - Malakal - Nasir
MSN:
29 02
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
ZY001
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The approach was completed in low visibility due to poor weather conditions. The crew continued the approach and landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available. After touchdown, th aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overrun and crashed in the Sobat River. Three crew and 24 passengers were killed while 30 other occupants were injured. Flight ZY001 was performed from Khartoum to Nasir with an intermediate stop in Malakal on behalf of the Sudanese Government. Several officials were on board, among them the Vice President, General Al Zubair Mohammed Saleh who was killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed too far down the runway, reducing the landing distance available. Poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Cessna T207A Skywagon in Arusha: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1998 at 0725 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5H-PAT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Arusha - Zanzibar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1700
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Arusha Airport runway 09, while climbing, the pilot declared an emergency following an engine failure. While attempting to return, he lost control of the airplane that crashed 1,200 metres from the runway, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed, among them four Italian citizens.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. The aircraft was maintained according to published procedures. At the time of the accident, the engine had 1,245 flying hours and the next maintenance was scheduled within 155 flying hours.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Durba

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1998
Registration:
9Q-CZG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
916
YOM:
1996
Location:
Region:
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 an Antonov AN-26 in Gogrial

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7711
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
81 09 1979
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the aircraft was hit by ground fire. The crew attempted an emergency landing in Gogrial. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest some 200 metres further. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in 1997. The wreckage is still there at N08.542051 E28.09754 by July 2009.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing after being hit by ground fire.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Harare

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
801
Flight Type:
MSN:
293
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Harare Airport. Crew fate unknown. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in 1997.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 near Bani Walid

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-DBO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Siirt - Tripoli
MSN:
10513
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Siirt on a cloud-seeding flight to Tripoli. It is believed that the crew encountered technical problems enroute and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a sandy area located 15 km south of Bani Walid and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-72 off Angola: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-ACF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Abidjan - Rundu
MSN:
36572094888
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Abidjan on a cargo flight to Rundu, Namibia. While cruising along the Angolan coast, the crew contacted ATC when he was apparently forced to divert to Angola for control purposes. It is believed that the crew refused to divert to Angola and continued his route. Eventually, the decision to shut the aircraft down was taken by the Angolan Army. The aircraft crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Angolan coast, killing all 11 occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1997 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-75554
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Johannesburg - Bujumbura
MSN:
185 0084 04
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
RMY202
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
18766
Aircraft flight cycles:
7040
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll un runway 03L at Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, the pilot-in-command started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The captain decided to reject takeoff and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck a concrete block, rolled for 200 metres then lost its left main gear and engine n°1 before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was five tons above MTOW while the CofG was too far forward, out of the envelope. In such conditions, the aircraft was not properly configured and a takeoff was impossible.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-54F in Mwanza

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1997 at 2109 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
EL-WVD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Entebbe - Mwanza
MSN:
45885
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was f1ying from Entebbe (Uganda) to Mwanza (Tanzania) for the purpose of uplifting some cargo of fish fillet which was bound for Ostend, Belgium. It was carrying a crew of four including two pilot s and two engineers. The Commander said that the flight from Entebbe to Mwanza was normal except for the n°1 generator warning light which came on 10 minutes after takeoff from Entebbe. The relevant generator was subsequently switched off and the flight was continued. The aircraft flew IFR, cruising at FL250. Shortly before landing at Mwanza the commander obtained the weather information from the Mwanza Tower. The wind was calm. The controller who was handling the flight said that whilst approaching runway 12 of Mwanza airport the aircraft was swaying from side to side. When EL-WVD touched down on the runway a loud bang was heard and one engine was observed to separate and roll down the runway whilst it was on fire. Examination of the impact and tire marks showed that the right wing tip impacted the runway first followed by the n°4 engine. The right main landing gear subsequently contacted the grass surface off the left edge of the runway followed by the left main landing gear. The aircraft continued to roll in a direction almost parallel to the runway centreline for 250 metres before it crossed the runway at an angle. It was also evident from the tyre marks that as it reached the runway the aircraft made a 180° turn to point in the opposite direction whilst sliding sideways at an angle with the centreline under its own momentum. As it did so, the main landing gear collapsed and three wing pylons sheared causing the engines to separate. EL-WVD finally settled at the edge of the runway pointing 310° with the right wing projecting 2.5 metres inside the runway. There was fuel leakage but no fire. The four crew members disembarked with minor injuries.
Final Report: