Bioko Norte Province (Malabo) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Malabo: 60 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 2005 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

3C-VQR

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Malabo – Bata

MSN:

7 99 011 04

YOM:

1967

Location:

Bioko Norte Province (Malabo)

Country:

Equatorial Guinea

Region:

Crew on board:

6

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

54

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

60

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Malabo Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height. It continued in a flat attitude until it impacted a hillside located about 19 km east of the airport, near Baney. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 60 occupants were killed, among them several students flying to the continent for holidays.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the manifest showed a total of 35 passengers instead of 54. The aircraft, bought by Aerolineas de Guinea Ecuatorial in February 2002, was supposed to have its 1,000-hours maintenance check around January 2004, but due to financial problems, the company was unable to comply. The aircraft was sold to Equatair without the appropriate maintenance program completed in due time.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154A near Malabo: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1976 at 0748 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-85102

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Luanda – Malabo – N’Djamena – Tripoli – Moscow

MSN:

75A102

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

SU418

Location:

Bioko Norte Province (Malabo)

Country:

Equatorial Guinea

Region:

Crew on board:

10

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

35

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

45

Aircraft flight hours:

2119

Aircraft flight cycles:

1069

Circumstances:

While flying at an altitude of 4,200 metres from Luanda to Malabo, the crew received the last weather briefing for Malabo Airport and was cleared to descent for a landing on runway 05. ATC requested the crew to report once runway 05 in sight and the crew gave his ETA four minutes later at 0752LT. While approaching at an altitude of 750 metres and at a speed of 490 km/h, the airplane struck the south slope of Mt San Carlos located 48 km southwest of Malabo Airport. The wreckage was sighted by the pilot of the personal helicopter of the Equatorial Guinea President five days later, on June 6. SAR teams were dispatched and arrived on scene on June 18 only. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 45 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. ATC assistance was considered as good, all necessary information were transmitted to the crew and ATC was not the cause of the accident. The assumption that the aircraft radar was not operating at the time of the accident was not ruled out. Possible erroneous calculation on part of the crew may cause the aircraft to descent prematurely and to fly on the wrong path to runway 05. In consequence, the accident may be the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

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