Adamaoua | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The single engine aircraft departed Moundou (Chad) on a flight to Douala, Cameroon, carrying three passengers and two pilots on behalf of CotonTchad, the Chadian National Coton Company (Société Cotonnière du Tchad). En route, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to divert to N'Gaoundéré Airport. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a marshy field located near the airport. All five occupants were injured, both crew seriously. Few hours later, the captain died from his injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII-TT in N'Gaoundéré: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Gulfstream GII

Operator:

Registration:

TR-KHB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

N’Djamena – N’Gaoundéré – Libreville

MSN:

127

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was en route from N’Djamena to Libreville with an intermediate stop in N’Gaoundéré, Cameroon, carrying three passengers and two pilots. On approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane crashed 10 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed, among them René Journiac, personal advisor for African affairs to the French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He was making a stop at N’Gaoundéré to meet Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of Cameroon.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Somie

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1978

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

SP-WWT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1G177-09

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a crop spraying mission. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Latécoère 631 near Banyo: 16 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Latécoère 631

Operator:

France Hydro

Registration:

F-BDRE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lake Léré - Douala

MSN:

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2000

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Lake Léré to Douala, carrying eight passengers, a crew of eight and a load of cotton bales. While cruising in a tropical storm, the aircraft encountered thunderstorm activity and severe turbulences when a wing failed. Out of control, the airplane went into a dive and crashed 60 km north of Banyo. The airplane was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed. This was the last mission for this aircraft and its crew who must fly back to Biscarosse (France) to conduct tests and maintenance. This was also the last Latécoère 631 in service.

Probable cause:

Structural failure of a wing in flight caused by turbulences that exceeded its design.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator near N'Gaoundéré: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1952 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated LB-30 Liberator

Operator:

Société de Transports Aériens Alpes Provence - STAAP

Registration:

F-BEFX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

N'Gaoundéré - N'Gaoundéré

MSN:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6087

Captain / Total hours on type:

395.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2698

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

7465

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local test flight after the engine number four was changed. The airplane left N'Gaoundéré Airport at 1250LT. The captain made profit of this flight to improve the skills of the copilot who should be promoted as captain. While cruising in good weather conditions, the aircraft banked left, dove into the ground and crashed about 37 km southwest of N'Gaoundéré. As the airplane failed to come back to its base, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area a day later. All eight occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by a collision with trees and the airplane was banking substantially to the left. The cause of this could not be specified due to lack of evidence due to the destruction of the wreck. Certain facts for which a specific explanation could not be found were:
- Extension of the duration of the flight,
- Radio silence,
- Stopping of engine number four,
- Pitch of the propeller on engine three.
Above all these findings, it was established that the crew was flying at low height few minutes before the accident according to the testimony of farmer. The reason for this could not be determined with certainty.

Final Report: