Country
Angola
code

Huíla

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C-1 in Lubango: 16 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 2001 at 0823 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 1900C
Operator:
Registration:
S9-CAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Luanda – Lubango
MSN:
UC-142
YOM:
1991
Location:
Lubango
Huíla
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While descending to Lubango Airport following an uneventful flight from Luanda, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and low ceiling. In such conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 16 km northwest of runway 10 threshold. One passenger survived while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A possible loss of control after the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation while descending in IMC conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Techamutete: 29 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1988 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
T-237
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luanda - Techamutete
MSN:
77 04
YOM:
1979
Location:
Techamutete
Huíla
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
On final approach to Techamutete Airport, the aircraft was shot down by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile and crashed in a huge explosion few hundred meters short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 29 occupants were killed, among them Brigadier General Francisco Cruz Bourzac, deputy minister for Armament in the Cuban Government.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by Cuban soldiers based near the Techamutete Airport who thought this was an enemy airplane.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2M2 in Lubango: 130 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1983 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TBN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lubango - Luanda
MSN:
22775
YOM:
1982
Location:
Lubango
Huíla
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
123
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
130
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lubango Airport, while in initial climb at an altitude of 200 feet, the aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile. The aircraft turned to the left then lost height and crashed in a huge explosion about 800 meters past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of the 130 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Matala: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1980 at 1532 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
D2-TYC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Jamba - Lubango
MSN:
9 72 17 53
YOM:
1977
Location:
Matala
Huíla
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
17 minutes after its takeoff from Jamba Airport, while in cruising altitude, the three engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a Zambian Shenyang J-6 fighter plane. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Matala. All 29 occupants were killed. Angolan authorities confirmed the aircraft was shot down by mistake.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Zambian Shenyang J-6 fighter plane.

Crash of a Cessna 402A near Sa da Bandeira

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Sociedad Angolana de Taxis Aéreos
Registration:
CR-LKC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
402A-0087
YOM:
1969
Location:
Lubango
Huíla
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot encountered unknown technical problems and decided to perform an emergency landing about 40 km from Sa da Bandeira (now Lubango). The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was slightly injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO on Mt El Rucio: 36 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1956 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Aerolineas del Pacifico - ARPA
Registration:
HK-385
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Buenaventura – Cali
MSN:
1971
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mt El Rucio
Huíla
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Buenaventura at 1630LT on a return flight to el Guavito aerodrome, Cali. Expected time of arrival at Cali was 1700 hours. On board the aircraft were the pilot, a steward (who held no licence to act as such), a flight engineer (who on this occasion was acting as copilot), and 33 passengers. When 1700 hours passed with no sign of the aircraft's arriving at Cali, a search was initiated. The wreckage was located the same evening on the side of El Rucio mountain. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 36 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The most probable cause of the accident was a flight on instruments at an excessively low altitude for the route. A lack of discipline on the part of the pilot was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:
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