Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400 near Kufra

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-DBE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
10275
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
20196
Aircraft flight cycles:
13716
Circumstances:
While descending to Kufra, both engines failed. The crew completed an emergency belly landing in a sandy area located 56 km from Kufra. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the aircraft ran out of fuel.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Gueltat Zemmour: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CNA-OH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
4717
YOM:
1977
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a reconnaissance mission and taking part to the Battle of Gueltat Zemmour (13 to 29 October 1981), carrying five crew members. En route, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near Gueltat Zemmour, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by soldiers from the Front Polisario.

Crash of a Canadair CL-600-1A11 Challenger 600 in California City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1980 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GCGR-X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Mojave - Mojave
MSN:
1001
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7782
Captain / Total hours on type:
468.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Mojave-Kern County Airport in the morning on a series of tests on this new Bombardier prototype. While in cruising altitude, the crew initiated an unscheduled stall when the airplane reached an angle of attack of 34°. Control was lost and the airplane entered a dive. All three crew members bailed out and the airplane crashed in a desert area. Two crew members were injured while the third occupant was killed as his parachute failed to open.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground following an emergency descent due to technical problems with instruments/equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flight and navigation instruments: angle of attack indicator,
- Binding,
- Hydraulic system: seals, deteriorated,
- Unknown failure in emergency chute jettison system.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-340C near At Ta'if: 156 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1979 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AWZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kano - Jeddah - Karachi
MSN:
20275/844
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
PK740
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
145
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
156
Aircraft flight hours:
30710
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a schedule service from Kano to Karachi with an intermediate stop at Jeddah, carrying 145 passengers and a crew of 11. It departed Jeddah-King Abdulaziz Airport at 0129LT and continued to climb by night and good weather conditions. While cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet, the captain informed ATC about an in-flight fire and was cleared to descent to 30,000 feet then 4,000 feet at his discretion. Seventeen minutes later, the situation on board became very critical with heavy smoke spreading in the cabin and the crew declared an emergency. While attempting an emergency landing in a desert area, the airplane struck the ground and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found about 48 km north of At Ta'if, in a rocky area. None of the 156 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
An in-flight fire in the cabin area which, through its intensity and rapid extension, resulted in panic among the passengers and smoke in the cockpit, eventually incapacitating the flight crew. The cause of the cabin fire was not determined. It was considered that the origin of the cabin fire could have been a leaking gasoline or kerosene stove, carried aboard by Haj pilgrim passengers. Pressure differential could have caused a poorly sealed gasket to leak fuel. A second possibility is an electrical fire, but the rapid extension of the fire was considered difficult to explain because of the electrical circuit protection devices of the Boeing 707. Sabotage was considered as another possibility, but no evidence of use of an incendiary device was found.

Crash of a Learjet 35 in Egypt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N711AF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Athens - Jeddah
MSN:
35-029
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Athens to Jeddah on a delivery flight, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area in Egypt. SAR operations were quickly initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found. On 6 March 1987, the wreckage was found about 100 km south of Katab.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar near Casa Grande: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1979 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1040E
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chandler - Chandler
MSN:
11270
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Chandler-Stellar Airpark on a local flight. En route, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground after pilot attempted an emergency landing due to engine problems. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Engine structure: master and connecting rods,
- Engine structure: piston, piston rings,
- Material failure,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Complete failure of one engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-88 Queen Air near Seminole

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1979 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N707ED
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
El Paso – Lubbock
MSN:
LP-16
YOM:
1966
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20175
Captain / Total hours on type:
620.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a single engine positioning flight from El Paso to Lubbock. En route, the remaining engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a desert area located in the region of Seminole. Both occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
In-flight engine malfunction and subsequent wheels-up landing caused by a cylinder assembly failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Fire in engine,
- Fire warning system: powerplant,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Single engine ferry flight to repair the other engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK near Barentu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1979
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AFW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
16681/33429
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
10566
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight, the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The wreckage was found in a desert area near Barentu and all five occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb exploded on board in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Teseney: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1979
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
15030/26475
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
18767
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Teseney, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Sevaruyo

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1979
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1127
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a positioning flight, the pilot reported engine fire to ATC and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in a desert area located near Sevaruyo. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot was slightly injured.