Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M near Goma: 37 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBH
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kindu - Goma
MSN:
10649
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
ZM140
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
En route to Goma, while cruising at FL190, the crew was cleared to descent successively to FL150, FL110 then FL085. Preparing for an approach to runway 36, the crew descended prematurely when, at an altitude of 8,800 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 40 km southwest of Goma. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew failed to follow the published approach procedures and initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to struck the ground. The minimum altitude of 8,500 feet could be reached only after the last turn completed between 19 and 25 km from the runway threshold.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321C in Kano

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1992 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-DAR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London - Kano - Lagos
MSN:
18825
YOM:
1964
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The descent to Kano-Mallam Aminu Kano Airport was completed by night and marginal weather conditions due to a sand storm. On short final, the aircraft was too low, struck the ground and crashed near military barracks located 3,2 km short of runway 06 threshold. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. At the time of the accident, the runway 06 ILS and DME systems were inoperative.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Lake Malawi

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C9-MJB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
402B-0553
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine failure, the aircraft crashed in the Lake Malawi. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Mogadishu

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5Y-DNT
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
TC-299
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on a poor condition runway, the aircraft deviated to the left then veered off runway. The aircraft lost its landing gear and came to rest few dozen metres further. All 10 occupants escaped injured and the aircraft was written off. The accident occurred at Mogadishu-South Airport sometimes called Mogadishu-West Airfield or KM50. Its narrow and limited runway is made up of chippings and pebbles and is not equipped with a lighting system or any drainage system and is very poorly maintained.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Mogadishu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-48088
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi - Mogadishu
MSN:
29 05
YOM:
1992
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nairobi on a cargo flight to Mogadishu, carrying seven passengers and six crew members. Due to unavailable information about the destination airport, the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and this was his first flight in the area. By night, the crew attempted to land at Mogadishu-North Airfield which was not equipped with any lighting system, so the crew completed the approach with the aircraft's approach lights only. A poor approach configuration caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway which is 1,500 metres long, about 1,000 metres past the runway threshold. The aircraft rolled for about 500 metres, overran at a speed of 280 km/h and came to rest 250 metres further in a ravine, broken in two. Twelve occupants were injured, among them six seriously, and the navigator was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Poor flight planning,
- Despite a lack of suitable information and data about the destination airport, the crew decided to initiate the flight,
- Poor approach planning,
- The crew was not familiar with the area,
- The captain decided to land on an unsuitable terrain and failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- Poor crew interactions on final approach as the copilot and the navigator failed to assist the captain in the approach and landing procedures,
- The crew failed to respond to the captain's instruction to deploy the flaps to an angle of 25° on approach, which contributed to a too long landing,
- Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in Nairobi

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1992
Registration:
5Y-TNT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
T-211
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres, overran, collided with a fence and came to rest in a ditch, bursting into flames. Both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear during takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Lagos: 159 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1992 at 1735 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NAF911
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lagos - Kaduna - Jos
MSN:
4624
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
151
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
159
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, two engines lost power simultaneously then failed. The crew elected to find a suitable area for an emergency landing when a third engine failed. The aircraft stalled, entered a nose down attitude and crashed in a swampy area near the airport. All 159 occupants were killed, among them military personnels from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Civilians were also among the passengers.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the engine failed because the fuel was contaminated with water and bacteria.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-65TP in Jamba: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1992 at 2232 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZS-DHX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jamba - Pretoria
MSN:
15908/32656
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Jamba Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft rolled to the right, causing the right wing to struck trees. The airplane lost height and crashed near the runway end. All 14 passengers were injured and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The copilot was the PIC at the time of the accident. It was reported that engine power was reduced shortly after liftoff and the copilot asked the captain to raise the flaps and to switch off the approach light just after rotation. The assumption that the PIC suffered a spatial disorientation at liftoff was not ruled out.

Crash of a BAc 111-208AL in Kaduna

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-HTA
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
051
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
66
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Kaduna Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On short final, the aircraft entered a rain squall and the pilots momentarily lost visual contact with the runway lights. The aircraft descended until it struck the runway surface and bounced. Out of control, it veered off runway to the right and came to rest. All 73 occupants were rescued (among them 13 were injured) while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the approach after he lost visual contact with the runway lights, and failed to initiate a go-around procedure. The lack of visibility due to heavy rain falls was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a BAc 111-204AF in Sokoto

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-KBA
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
179
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
53
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a poor flight and approach planning, the crew landed at the old Sokoto Airport. After touchdown, the pilots realized their mistake and attempted to take off but eventually decided to initiate an emergency braking procedure due to the presence of high tension cables at the end of the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 57 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight and landing planning on part of the crew who completed the landing on the wrong airport. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Erroneous actions on part of the crew,
- Poor crew decisions,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Absence of crew cross checks,
- Lack of ATC assistance.