Region

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Yamoussoukro: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
TU-TKS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
340A-0776
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Yamoussoukro Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. All four occupants were killed, among them two people of the Toyota Rallye Team.

Crash of a Boeing 707-379C in Abidjan: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1987 at 0145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VJK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Abidjan - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
19822
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
RG797
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
About 20 minutes after takeoff from Abidjan-Port-Bouet Airport, while cruising over the Atlantic Ocean, the fire alarm on engine n°1 sounded. As the fuel temperature was abnormally high, it was decided to shut down the engine. The captain declared an emergency and was cleared to return. On approach, he was cleared to land on runway 03 but preferred to land on runway 21 that was equipped with an ILS system. After completing a back circuit by night but in relative good visibility, the airplane passed over the Abidjan VOR then the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn when the stall warning sounded. While completing a left turn in a flaps and landing gear up configuration, the airplane banked left, stalled and crashed in the forest of Akakro located about 10 km northeast of Abidjan Airport, near the city of Bingerville. A passenger was seriously injured while 50 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the fire alarm on engine n°1 also sounded during the first leg from Rio to Abidjan. A check was conducted by Air Afrique technicians who confirmed this was a false alarm. During the last turn completed by a moonless night and without any visual contacts with the ground, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane after suffering a spatial disorientation.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 60 in Tabou

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TU-TIF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tabou - Abidjan
MSN:
10573
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7399
Aircraft flight cycles:
9442
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Tabou Airport, one of the nose gear tyre burst. The crew decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. All 29 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Takeoff was rejected following a tyre failure.

Crash of a MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet off Abidjan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5N-AMF
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lagos - Abidjan
MSN:
1028
YOM:
1967
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing an executive flight from Lagos to Abidjan. While completing a last turn to the right to join the glide for runway 03, the airplane lost height then crashed into the sea, about 500 meters offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. No flight plan was filed and it was reported that the aircraft did not have all required certificates while flying for the first time since its delivery two years ago.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in Ivory Coast

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TU-TFW
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
196
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident somewhere in Ivory Coast. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF in Abidjan

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1970 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VR-BCT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Abidjan – Dakar – Agadir – Basel – Liverpool
MSN:
44875/668
YOM:
1956
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a ferry flight from Kinshasa to Liverpool with several intermediate stops in Abidjan, Dakar, Agadir and Basel. The purpose of the flight was for maintenance as the n°4 engine was inoperative. En route, while cruising on the three remaining engines, the crew informed ATC that the engine n°3 caught fire. While descending to an altitude of 6,000 feet, the engine n°3 exploded and detached. The crew continued the approach but was unable to lower the undercarriage. A belly landing was completed at Abidjan Airport and the airplane slid on several dozen meters before coming to rest. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fire and explosion on engine n°3 which detached in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK off Sassandra: 21 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1945 at 0920 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-76406
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Accra - Monrovia
MSN:
15990/32738
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Accra to Monrovia with members of the USAF female corps on board, on behalf of the Air Transport Command. While flying along the shore, the crew sent a brief mayday message when the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed nose down by 45° angle. All 21 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Alfred R. Ellis,
F/O Robert E. Mulhern ,
Cpl George A. Shiffman.