Region
Africa

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Defender in Botswana: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
OA-2
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
783
YOM:
1978
Location:
Botswana
All Botswana
Country:
Botswana
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed UK on a delivery flight to Botswana. While flying over the northeast part of the country, the twin engine airplane was shot down by the crew of an Alouette III helicopter from the Rhodesian Army and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Alouette III helicopter from the Rhodesian Army.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Gaborone: 78 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1974 at 0235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
A2-ZER
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gaborone - Lilongwe
MSN:
27242
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gaborone-Seretse Khama
South-East District
Country:
Botswana
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
80
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
78
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the crew encountered problems with all four engines that lost power and backfired. Unable to gain sufficient height, the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames 3,600 meters past the runway end, two minutes after liftoff. A crew member and five passengers were rescued while 78 other occupants were killed. Most of the passengers were employees of South African Mining Company returning home.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all four engines lost power during initial climb due to fuel contamination. Investigations revealed that the aircraft was refueled with Avgas but confusion by ground personnel at Gaborone Airport caused Jet A1 to be transferred in an Avgas fuel tank. This caused the aircraft to be fueled with Avgas contaminated with 25-30% of Jet A1.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander near Xakanaxa

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
A2-ZEV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
99
YOM:
1969
Location:
Xakanaka
North-West District
Country:
Botswana
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered technical problems and made an emergency landing in an uninhabited area located 128 km north of Maun, about 40 km north of Xakanaxa. All nine occupants were rescued while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
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