Crash of a Learjet 36A in Zarzaitine

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1995 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-VFS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Geneva – Zarzaitine – Accra – Zarzaitine – Geneva – London – Geneva
MSN:
36-042
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Geneva-Cointrin on an ambulance flight to Accra with an intermediate stop in Zarzaitine, carrying two doctors and two pilots. The goal of the mission was to repatriate a patient to London via Geneva after a crew change. While descending to runway 05 at Zarzaitine-In Amenas Airport by night, the crew was informed by ATC that runway 23 was in service. The crew followed a circuit and started the descent to runway 23. On final approach in low visibility (dark night), the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the top of a sand dune. The undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft crash landed 3 km short of runway, bursting into flames. Both doctors escaped uninjured, the female copilot was slightly injured and the captain was seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain during a visual approach completed in limited visibility due to the dark night.

Crash of a BAc 111-515FB in Tamanrasset: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1994 at 0807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5N-IMO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tunis - Tamanrasset - Lagos
MSN:
229
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Tunis to Lagos with an intermediate stop in Tamanrasset, carrying members of the Nigerian football team Iwanwanyu returning to Lagos after a matched played in Tunis for the Africa Cup. On approach to Tamanrasset-Aguenar Airport in the early morning, the crew encountered poor visibility due to haze. As he was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. Following a holding pattern, the crew abandoned two other approaches and after 83 minutes, he eventually attempted a fourth landing when, on short final, the aircraft collided with approach lights then a pylon and a truck before coming to rest by the runway. Two passengers and three crew members were killed while 34 other occupants were injured, some seriously.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M in In Guezzam

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VRM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tamanrasset – In Guezzam
MSN:
10496
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
22482
Aircraft flight cycles:
15371
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard at In Guezzam Airport. Upon touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Tamanrasset: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N707CE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lyon – Algiers – Tamanrasset – Niamey – Port Harcourt – Libreville – Luanda
MSN:
LJ-314
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Lyon on a flight to Luanda, Angola, with intermediate stops in Algiers, Tamanrasset, Niamey, Port Harcourt and Libreville, carrying five passengers and one pilot. On final approach to Tamanrasset Airport by night, the aircraft stalled and crashed 4,300 meters short of runway 21. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot was on duty since 14 hours without any rest time. He obtained his licence on this aircraft the day prior to the accident and completed a test flight in Brussels before returning to Lyon to start the flight to Angola. Due to lack of experience and intense fatigue, the pilot failed to realize his approach speed was too low, causing the aircraft to stall at a too low altitude to expect recovery.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382G-51C Hercules in Tamanrasset

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VHK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Algiers - Tamanrasset
MSN:
4883
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine aircraft landed hard, went out of control and came to rest. All four crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Nord 262A-44 in Béchar: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1979 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VSU
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Adrar - Béchar
MSN:
19
YOM:
1966
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
On approach to Béchar Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a desert area located about 15 km from the runway threshold. 14 passengers were killed while nine other occupants, among them all three crew members, were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Poor approach planning,
- The crew failed to comply with published procedures,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Crew fatigue,
- A possible malfunction of the captain altimeter.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Tamanrasset

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1978 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N189UM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oran - Tamanrasset
MSN:
6262
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
43910
Circumstances:
Landed hard at Tamanrasset-Aguenar Airport and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Hard landing for unknown reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 70 Queen Air in Lakhdaria: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VSD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
LB-9
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Lakhdaria, about 45 km southeast of Algiers. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed. The airplane was completing a special flight for the National Oil Company Sonatrach.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Tamanrasset

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
HB-FEM
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
674
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
300
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III in Algiers

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VAI
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
28
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Algiers-Dar El Beïda Airport for undetermined reasons. There were no casualties.