Crash of a Canadair RegionalJet CRJ-100ER in Kigali: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 2009 at 1315 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-JLD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kigali - Entebbe
MSN:
7197
YOM:
1997
Flight number:
WB205
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11478
Captain / Total hours on type:
1110.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1558
Copilot / Total hours on type:
533
Aircraft flight hours:
17140
Aircraft flight cycles:
17025
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, when the Copilot pulled back the thrust levers of both engines to the desired positions, the thrust lever on left engine could not move and the engine remained in full power. The Pilot in Command (PIC) then informed Air Traffic Controller (ATC) that the aircraft had a technical problem and requested to return to the airport. The crew managed to land safely with the Copilot and accompanying company maintenance engineer struggling to control the left engine which was on high power setting and the PIC controlling the aircraft using only the right hand engine. The aircraft taxied to parking bay number 4 with the left engine still in full power. The captain applied the parking brake and the aircraft stopped for a while and before putting on the chocks, the aircraft started moving forward at a high speed through the jet blast fence and crashed into Control Tower building. A passenger was killed, six people were injured, three seriously.
Probable cause:
The flight crew’s failure to identify corrective action and their lack of knowledge of applicable airplane and engine systems in response to a jammed thrust lever, which resulted in the number 1 engine operating at high power and the airplane configured in an unsafe condition that led to the need to apply heavy braking during landing. Also causal was the flightcrew failure to recognize the safety hazard that existed from overheated brakes and the potential consequence on the braking action needed to park the airplane. Contributing factors included the possible failure by maintenance crew to correctly stow the upper core cowl support strut after maintenance, Flight crew’s failure to follow standard operating procedures, the company’s failure to be availed to manufacturer safety literature on the subject, and the susceptibility of the cowl core support shaft to interfere with the throttle control mechanism when the core strut is not in its stowed position.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Kigali

Date & Time: Jun 1, 2004 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9XR-SN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Beni – Goma
MSN:
21 05
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Beni to Goma with 8 Congolese passengers and 4 Russians crew members on board. After takeoff from Beni, the captain reported technical problem with the left main gear but continued towards Goma. While descending to Goma Airport, he decided to divert to Kigali International Airport to make an emergency landing because of the gear problems. Upon landing, the aircraft bounced then veered off runway and came to rest. All 12 occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 in Pepa: 24 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TL-ACM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pepa - Kigali
MSN:
9340706
YOM:
1959
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Pepa Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds that struck both engines. The aircraft lost height and crashed past the runway end, bursting into flames. All 24 occupants were killed, among them several officers from the Rwanda Army, one major, two captains, two lieutenants and some soldiers who were returning to Kigali after taking part to a presidential ceremony.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following a bird strike.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12A near Lubutu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TL-ACJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goma - Kigali
MSN:
1 34 01 07
YOM:
1961
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Goma on a cargo flight to Kigali, carrying three crew members. En route, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and elected to divert to Kisangani Airport. LAter, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Lubutu. The wreckage was found on 1st of August 1999. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. For unknown reasons, the aircraft was not following the route from Goma to Kigali and crashed about 300 km northwest of Goma while Kigali is about 100 km southeast of Goma.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Lokichoggio

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4K-66759
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lokichogio – Kigali
MSN:
2107
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Both engines suffered a loss of power and the aircraft lost height and crash landed. It went out of control, overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by fire. At the time of the accident, wind was gusting up to 14 knots and several birds were sighted in the vicinity of the airport.
Probable cause:
Bird strike after takeoff.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 50 in Kigali: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1994 at 2028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9XR-NN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dar es Salaam - Kigali - Bujumbura
MSN:
006
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Kigali after an official flight from Dar es Salaam, carrying members of Rwanda and Burundi government, among them both Presidents, who took part to a congress in Tanzania and ratified the Arusha Agreements. On short final to Kigali-Grégoire Kayibanda Airport runway 28, at a height of about 100 metres, the aircraft was struck by a SAM16 surface-to-air missile and crashed in the garden of the Presidency Residence, about 500 metres from the Kanombe Camp. The wreckage was found 1,850 metres short of runway 28. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jacky Héraud, pilot,
Jean-Pierre Minaberry, copilot,
Jean-Michel Perrine, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Juvénal Habyarimana, President of the Republic of Rwanda,
General Déogratias Nsabimana, Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Armed Forces,
Major Thaddée Bagaragaza, orderly officer for President Habyarimana,
Colonel Elie Sagatwa, personnel secretary of President Habyarimana,
Ambassador Juvénal Renzaho, political affairs counselor to the presidency,
Dr Emmanuel Akingeneye, personnel doctor or President Habyarimana,
Cyprien Ntaryamira, President of the Republic of Burundi,
Bernard Ciza, Minister of Communication olf Burundi,
Cyriaque Simbizi, Minister of Planning of Burundi.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a SAM16 surface-to-air missile.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Kigali

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9XR-GV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
751
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed near Kigali Airport after being shot down. Occupant's fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Canadair CL-44D4-6 in Nairobi

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-BCWJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mombasa - Kigali
MSN:
28
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mombasa-Moi Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the right main gear that would not lock up. The captain decided to divert to Nairobi to complete an emergency landing. Upon touchdown at Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest. All four crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was carrying 17 tons of cement from Mombasa to Kigali.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas in Djibouti City

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9XR-KH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Djibouti City - Kigali
MSN:
94
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from Djibouti City Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured. They were completing a cargo flight on behalf of Wolfair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled just after rotation following an engine failure.