Maekel

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sana'a - Asmara

MSN:

21845

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

132

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Sana'a, the three engine aircraft landed on runway 25 at Asmara-Johannes IV Airport. After touchdown on a wet runway surface, the crew started the braking procedure and the thrust reverser systems were activated. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 25 is 3 km long), the aircraft overran and collided with a concrete block, causing the left main gear to be torn off. All 140 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, wind was from 200 at 6 knots and the runway surface was wet due to recent rain falls. The exact touchdown point could not be determined and all braking systems were available and properly used after landing. The aircraft collided with a concrete block located beside a runway light just past the runway end.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-78 in Asmara: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1998 at 0415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-78

Operator:

Registration:

UR-UCI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Burgas - Asmara

MSN:

0834 14444

YOM:

1978

Flight number:

UKS701

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Burgas, the crew started a night approach to Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport. The visibility was relatively limited due to local patches of fog on approach. On final, at an altitude of 2,405 metres, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 4,3 km short of runway 25. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 72 metres below the summit. Remains still present at N15.304268 E38.959811 by December 2012.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- The crew decided to perform a visual approach to runway 25 while an instrument approach to runway 07 was the normal procedure,
- Limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions,
- ATC cleared the crew for an approach to runway 25 which was non-compliant according to published procedures,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- The total weight of the aircraft at takeoff from Burgas Airport was at least 37 tons above MTOW and the crew was probably not aware of this situation.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Asmara: 54 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1987 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Asmara - Addis Ababa

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport, while climbing, an engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and initiated a circuit to return when the aircraft lost height and crashed in a huge explosion. All 54 occupants.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Asmara

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

ET-AAZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

45533/1006

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

31473

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Asmara Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest. All occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear during takeoff roll for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Asmara

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1970 at 1210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

ET-AAY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Addis Ababa - Asmara

MSN:

45524/994

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

19646

Circumstances:

After landing at Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew failed to use the thrust reverser systems after touchdown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Devon in Asmara

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1962 at 0520 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

WB532

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

04267

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Asmara Airport, the left engine lost power. The pilot raised the undercarriage and attempted an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft crash landed in a field located 10 km south of Asmara Airport and came to rest. All six occupants were uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Asmara

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

N1241N

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

22474

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew raised the landing gear when the right engine suffered a loss of power. The captain decided to return to Asmara for a safe landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed into a ditch near the airport. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft leased by the USAF was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on the right engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Asmara: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-107281

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.95 Flamingo

MSN:

26968

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off in unknown circumstances. At least one crew member was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.95 Flamingo in Asmara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AFYE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site: