Crash of a Cessna 402C on Rubondo Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1988 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-GTS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rubondo Island – Kigoma – Arusha
MSN:
402C-0268
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2800
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating a charter flight from Rubondo to Arusha via Kigoma. It was carrying a party of four passengers who had previously travelled to the Island for photography expedition. 5H-GTS left Arush at 0400 hours for Rubondo with the pilot as the sole occupant. The flight to Mwanza was uneventful and the aircraft landed at Mwanza at 0530 hours. At Mwanza, the aircraft was refulled to full tanks giving an endurance of 5 1/2 hours. His flight plan filed with the tower, indicated that he intended to fly three sectors: Mwanza-Rubondo (25 minutes), Rubondo-Kigoma (1 hour 15 minutes) and Kigoma-Arusha (2 hours and 15 minutes). The aircraft left Mwanza at 0657 hours and landed at Rubondo about 25 minutes later. Four passengers joined the flight to Arusha and takeoff was initiated from runway 06 at about 0915 hours. One observer who was at the airstrip said that the aircraft was seen to rise momentarily and then came down hitting trees as it did so. A change of engine sound was heard followed by a loud bang. There was a huge ball of fire in the forest ahead and a few explosions were heard. On eye witness said that the fire was so intense that no rescue efforts were possible. The fire was localised around the area of the accident. The aircraft was completely destroyed and all the five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the failure of the aircraft to accelerate shortly after lift off. The aircraft may have been rotated in a partially stalled condition when it came at the end of the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Germiston: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1988 at 1728 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-LGP
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phalaborwa – Johannesburg
MSN:
110-402
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
MN206
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
On approach to Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, the twin engine aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion, broke in two and crashed in a industrial area located in Germiston, about 13 km southwest from the airport. The cockpit was found about 250 meters from the main wreckage and all 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an in-flight explosion caused by the detonation of a bomb. A mineworker encountering marital and financial problems boarded the plane at Phalaborwa Airport with a bomb consisting of nitroglycerin and ammonium nitrate. He recently contracted an important life insurance.

Crash of a Boeing 707-349C in Luanda

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TOI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18975
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck a radio antenna located on the top of a building. Hydraulic and control lines were damaged by the collision. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was unable to be stopped within the available distance due to hydraulic problems sustained after the collision with the radio antenna on approach. Poor planned approach on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below the glide.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40K in Luanda

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TYD
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9 72 18 53
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the three engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no casualties and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Robe

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1987
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15287/26732
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Robe Airport, while climbing, the left engine lost power (down to 1,500 rpm) and the crew encountered severe vibrations. The captain decided to return to land to runway 15 but as he realized he could not make it, he attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft completed a belly landing in an open field located 2 km north of the airport. All seven occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan in the Gishwati Forest: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1987 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-EJS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Goma - Nairobi
MSN:
404-0232
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Goma Airport on a charter flight to Nairobi, carrying 12 US tourists and two pilots returning from a safari photo trip. While flying over the Gishwati Forest, the aircraft stuck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. All 14 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in Chad

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
TT-PAC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3159
YOM:
1958
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing on an airport somewhere in Chad. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Ulongwé: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1987 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7Q-YMB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Blantyre - Lilongwe
MSN:
1971
YOM:
1980
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Blantyre to Lilongwe, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Out of control, it crashed in Ulongwé, killing all 10 occupants.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft was mistakenly shot down while flying over an area of heavy fightings.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Bugelenga

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1987 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5H-TZZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6200
Circumstances:
En route, one of the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing in a pasture. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Mali

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TZ-ADN
Flight Type:
MSN:
2161
YOM:
1985
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Mali while completing a special flight on behalf of the Service de la Protection des Végétaux au Mali. Occupant's fate unknown. The accident occurred somewhere in October 1987, exact date unknown.