Zone

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in N'Gaoundéré: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 2013 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TT-BAU
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moundou - Douala
MSN:
208-0045
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Moundou (Chad) on a flight to Douala, Cameroon, carrying three passengers and two pilots on behalf of CotonTchad, the Chadian National Coton Company (Société Cotonnière du Tchad). En route, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to divert to N'Gaoundéré Airport. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a marshy field located near the airport. All five occupants were injured, both crew seriously. Few hours later, the captain died from his injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine trouble for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Gulfstream GII-TT in N'Gaoundéré: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TR-KHB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
N’Djamena – N’Gaoundéré – Libreville
MSN:
127
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was en route from N’Djamena to Libreville with an intermediate stop in N’Gaoundéré, Cameroon, carrying three passengers and two pilots. On approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane crashed 10 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed, among them René Journiac, personal advisor for African affairs to the French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He was making a stop at N’Gaoundéré to meet Ahmadou Ahidjo, President of Cameroon.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator near N'Gaoundéré: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1952 at 1430 LT
Registration:
F-BEFX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
N'Gaoundéré - N'Gaoundéré
MSN:
12
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
6087
Captain / Total hours on type:
395.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2698
Copilot / Total hours on type:
33
Aircraft flight hours:
7465
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight after the engine number four was changed. The airplane left N'Gaoundéré Airport at 1250LT. The captain made profit of this flight to improve the skills of the copilot who should be promoted as captain. While cruising in good weather conditions, the aircraft banked left, dove into the ground and crashed about 37 km southwest of N'Gaoundéré. As the airplane failed to come back to its base, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area a day later. All eight occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a collision with trees and the airplane was banking substantially to the left. The cause of this could not be specified due to lack of evidence due to the destruction of the wreck. Certain facts for which a specific explanation could not be found were:
- Extension of the duration of the flight,
- Radio silence,
- Stopping of engine number four,
- Pitch of the propeller on engine three.
Above all these findings, it was established that the crew was flying at low height few minutes before the accident according to the testimony of farmer. The reason for this could not be determined with certainty.
Final Report: