Country
Ivory Coast
Operator Image

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Fort-Archambault

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
TT-DAA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3096
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sarh
Moyen-Chari
Country:
Chad
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Fort-Archambault Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. The captain failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed 4 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the radio altimeter was inoperative. It is believed the accident was the consequence of a possible faulty altimeter reading, a wrong altimeter setting or a technical issue with the altimeter. Crew fatigue may have been a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Cameroon: 55 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1963 at 1427 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
F-BIAO
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Douala – Lagos
MSN:
45479
YOM:
1958
Location:
Mt Cameroun
Southwest
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
55
Captain / Total hours on type:
6561.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4811
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3435
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Douala Airport at 1416LT bound for Lagos. While climbing to an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Cameroon located 63 km northwest of Douala Airport. The wreckage was located few hours later 800 meters below the summit. Two passengers were seriously injured while 53 other occupants were killed. Three days after the crash, on May 6, one of the survivor died from his injuries and on May 9, the second survivor died as well.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a lack of caution on the part of the pilot-in-command who deliberately selected a route which led the aircraft into a dangerous and even prohibited sector at too low an altitude. Also, he neglected his navigation and transferred to instrument flight when approaching the mountain range.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Air Afrique (1961)