Country
code

Tripoli (طرابلس)

Crash of an Airbus A330-202 in Tripoli: 103 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 2010 at 0601 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-ONG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Johannesburg - Tripoli - London
MSN:
1024
YOM:
2009
Flight number:
AAW771
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
93
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
103
Captain / Total flying hours:
17016
Captain / Total hours on type:
516.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4216
Copilot / Total hours on type:
516
Aircraft flight hours:
2175
Aircraft flight cycles:
572
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a schedule flight from O. R. Tambo International Airport - Johannesburg (South Africa) to London, with an intermediate stop at Tripoli international Airport, Libya. The Aircraft took off on May 11th 2010 at 19:25 UTC as flight number 8U771/AAW771. There were three cockpit crew, eight cabin crew, and 93 passengers on board, with fifty thousand kg of fuel during takeoff role and the Aircraft mass was 187,501 kg. During final approach towards runway 09 at Tripoli international Airport, the crew announced go-around and initiated the miss approach procedure with the knowledge and confirmation of Tripoli tower. During the missed approach phase, the Aircraft responded to the crew’s inputs, velocity and altitude increased above the MDA, then the aircraft descended dramatically until collided with the ground about 1,200 meters from the threshold of the runway 09 and 150 meters to the right of its centerline, impact and post impact fire caused complete destruction to the Aircraft. A boy aged 8 was injured while 103 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A final approach carried out in common managed guidance mode should have relieved the crew of their tasks. The limited coordination and cooperation between the two crew members, especially the change into vertical selected guidance mode by the PF, probably led to a lack of a common action plan. The lack of feedback from the 28 April 2010 flight, flown by the same crew on the same aircraft, did not allow them to anticipate the potential risks associated with managing non-precision approaches. The pilots’ performance was likely impaired because of fatigue, but the extent of their impairment and the degree to which it contributed to the performance deficiencies that occurred during the flight cannot be conclusively determined. During the go-around, the crew was surprised not to acquire visual references. On one hand the crew feared exceeding the aircraft’s speed limits in relation to its configuration, and on the other hand they were feeling the effects of somatogravic illusion due to the aircraft acceleration. This probably explains the aircraft handling inputs, mainly nose-down inputs, applied during the go-around. These inputs were not consistent with what is expected in this flight phase. The degraded CRM did not make it possible for either crew member to identify and recover from the situation before the collision with the ground, even when the TAWS warnings were activated close to the ground.
Based on elements from the investigation, the accident resulted from:
- The lack of common action plan during the approach and a final approach continued below the MDA, without ground visual reference acquired.
- The inappropriate application of flight control inputs during a go- around and on the activation of TAWS warnings,
- The lack of monitoring and controlling of the flight path.
These events can be explained by the following factors:
- Limited CRM on approach that degraded during the missed approach. This degradation was probably amplified by numerous radio-communications during the final approach and the crew’s state of fatigue,
- Aircraft control inputs typical in the occurrence of somatogravic perceptual illusions,
- Inappropriate systematic analysis of flight data and feedback mechanism within the AFRIQIYAH Airways.
- Non adherence to the company operation manual, SOP and standard terminology.
In addition, the investigation committee found the following as contributing factors to the accident:
- Weather available to the crew did not reflect the actual weather situation in the final approach segment at Tripoli International Airport.
- In adequacy of training received by the crew.
- Occupancy of tower frequency by both air and ground movements control.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Tripoli

Date & Time: Oct 31, 2007
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-DOZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
125 04
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area near Atoqah. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed in the accident.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tripoli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1994
Registration:
5A-DJK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tripoli - Tripoli
MSN:
775
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Tripoli Airport when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near the airfield. The copilot was seriously injured while the captain/instructor was killed.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2L5 in Tripoli: 157 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1992 at 0807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-DIA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Benghazi - Tripoli
MSN:
21050
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
LN1103
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
147
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
157
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Benghazi, the crew was cleared to start the descent to Tripoli Airport. Due to military traffic, the crew was instructed to hold over the Papa Echo beacon located 4,1 DME from runway 27 threshold. At an altitude of 3,000 feet, the Boeing 727 collided with a Libyan Air Force MiG-23 that just took off from Tripoli Airport. The fighter struck the tail of the Boeing that entered a dive and crashed 9 km from the airport after the tail separated. All 157 occupants were killed while both pilots on board the fighter ejected safely.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-351C in Tripoli

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5A-DJT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tripoli - Benghazi
MSN:
18888
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
189
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Tripoli Airport, after a course of about 700 metres, the aircraft veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, all undercarriage and all four engines were torn off. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres and came to rest, broken in three and bursting into flames. All 199 occupants were evacuated, among them 10 were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30 in Tripoli: 81 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1989 at 0725 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HL7328
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Seoul - Bangkok - Jeddah - Tripoli
MSN:
47887
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
KE803
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
18
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
181
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
111
Aircraft flight hours:
49025
Aircraft flight cycles:
11440
Circumstances:
The approach to Tripoli Intl Airport was completed in below weather minima as the visibility was varying between 100 and 800 feet and the ILS on runway 27 was unserviceable. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the roof of a house, stalled and crashed in a residential area located 2,4 km short of runway. Three crew members and 72 passengers were killed as well as six people on the ground. 124 people in the aircraft were injured as well as few dozen on the ground.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the descent below the glide until the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of visibility due to foggy conditions,
- Below minima weather conditions,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around while he did not establish a visual contact with the runway,
- The ILS system for runway 27 was unserviceable,
- The crew failed to follow the approach procedures,
- The crew ignored ATC warnings,
- The approach speed was excessive and the flaps were not deployed in the correct angle,
- The crew of a Russian aircraft diverted to Malta an hour before the accident due to unsafe landing conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329-25 JetStar II off Tripoli: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5A-DAR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mitiga - Algiers
MSN:
5221
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight from Mitiga to Algiers. After takeoff from Mitiga Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 7,000 feet, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and the contact with ATC was interrupted. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after eight days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed that the aircraft crashed in the Mediterranean Sea and lost without trace.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 4C in Tripoli: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1971 at 0325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ALC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Algiers - Tripoli - Cairo
MSN:
6439
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
MS844
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Aircraft flight hours:
25592
Circumstances:
Flight MS844 was a scheduled international flight from Algiers to Cairo with an intermediate stop at Tripoli. Departure on the outbound flight Cairo - Tripoli - Algiers had been delayed 29 hours due to adverse weather conditions along the route. At Algiers, following testing of the systems, the fire warning light of Zone I in n° 3 engine stayed "ON". Local personnel, who were not familiar with Comet aircraft, attempted to rectify the discrepancy and this caused a further delay of nearly 2 1/2 hours. The light eventually extinguished and the pilot-in-command, who had been considering cancellation of the flight and returning to Cairo without passengers, then decided to proceed with the service. There was no evidence that the crew had asked for, or received, a weather forecast before departing Algiers for Tripoli; however, it is possible that a verbal forecast was obtained. The QNH at Algiers was 1011 mb. As the aircraft entered the Tripoli Control Area, the crew was provided with a weather report which included a horizontal visibility of 1000 meters due to sand haze. This was below the minimum authorized by the airline; however, the vertical visibility was unlimited. The pilot-in-command checked Benina weather and then decided to attempt a landing at Tripoli wfth Malta as the alternative: he stated that he had 3 hours 50 minutes endurance. Both Tripoli Control and Tripoli Tower gave him a QNH of 1008 mb, additionally Tripoli Control gave an opinion that visibility was better than 1 000 m, and Tripoli Tower gave an opinion that he could see "3 kilometres". The airport's VOR was not available as it required calibration; the only ground aid available was the ADF facility. Coming from Algiers, the approach over the beacon located 0.6 NM north of Runway 18, the runway in use, involved joining the holding pattern in the opposite direction to the circuit so that a tear drop turn was necessary to re-approach the beacon on the outbound leg on an ADF procedure turn. Shortly after passing the beacon for the first time, the pilot-in-command reported at 3 000 ft. The last message received was when the aircraft was passing the beacon outbound for an ADF approach procedure turn. The altitude was not stated subsequent to entering the holding pattern.The flight path to Runway 18 crossed an expanse of sand dunes 160 ft AMSL rising steeply to 425 ft AMSL and then falling te the runway threshold elevation of 240 ft. The aircraft struck sand dunes at an elevation of 395 ft approximately 7 km before the threshold of the runway. The accident occurred at 01.25 hours GMT. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the decision of the pilot-in-command to land while the prevailing visibility was below the Airline's minimum for that airport at night, and for undetermined reasons, the aircraft was lower than the altitude it ought to have been for an ADF approach to the runway in use. The weather was a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A in Tripoli: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1970 at 0512 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OK-NDD
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prague - Tripoli
MSN:
9 66 018 03
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 18, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and poor visibility due to fog. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain decided to make a go-around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land on runway 18 was also abandoned for the same reason. In such conditions, the crew decided to change the circuit and initiated an approach from the south to runway 36. At a speed of 350 km/h, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames about 5,5 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach at an insufficient altitude in reduced visibility.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Idris

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGNS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1220
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident at Idris Airport prior to takeoff. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.