Country
code

Littoral

Crash of a Boeing 737-8AL near Douala: 114 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2007 at 0008 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-KYA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Abidjan – Douala – Nairobi
MSN:
35069/2079
YOM:
2006
Flight number:
KQ507
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
108
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
114
Captain / Total flying hours:
8682
Copilot / Total flying hours:
831
Aircraft flight hours:
2100
Aircraft flight cycles:
734
Circumstances:
During the night of 4th May 2007, the B737-800, registration 5Y-KYA, operating as flight KQ507 from Abidjan international Airport, Ivory Coast, to the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi (Kenya), made a scheduled stop-over at the Douala international Airport. The weather was stormy. The aircraft took off and climbed into the dark night. There were no external visual references, yet no instrument scanning was done by the crew. At 1000 feet climbing, the pilot flying released the flight controls for 55 seconds without having engaged the autopilot. The bank angle of the airplane increased continuously by itself very slowly up to 34° right and the captain appeared unaware of the airplane’s changing attitude. Just before the "Bank Angle" warning sounds, the captain grabbed the controls, appeared confused about the attitude of the airplane, and made corrections in an erratic manner increasing the bank angle to 50° right. At about 50° bank angle, the autopilot was engaged and the inclination tended to stabilize; then movements of the flight controls by the pilot resumed and the bank angle increased towards 70° right. A prolonged right rudder input brought the bank angle to beyond 90°. The aircraft descended in a spiral dive until it crashed at approximately 0008LT (May 5) in a mangrove swamp located 5,5 km southeast of Douala Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 114 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The airplane crashed after loss of control by the crew as a result of spatial disorientation (non recognized or subtle type transitioning to recognized spatial disorientation), after a long slow roll, during which no instrument scanning was done, and in the absence of external visual references in a dark night. Inadequate operational control, lack of crew coordination, coupled with the non-adherence to procedures of flight monitoring, confusion in the utilization of the AP, have also contributed to cause this situation.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante in Douala

Date & Time: Oct 1, 2004
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-OWO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Douala - Yaoundé
MSN:
110-311
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the left engine failed. Control was lost and the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 737-242C in Douala

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1997 at 1748 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TU-TAV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Douala – Bangui – N’Djamena
MSN:
19848
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
RK816
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
106
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 23 at Douala Airport, at a speed of 110 knots, the crew noted a loud bang and decided to abort. The crew initiated an emergency braking procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and both engines before coming to rest 130 metres further, bursting into flames. All 114 occupants were evacuated, among them 20 were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Rejected takeoff after a tyre burst on the left main gear.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2K9 in Douala: 71 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1995 at 2244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TJ-CBE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cotonou – Douala
MSN:
23386
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
UY3701
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
71
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
71
Captain / Total flying hours:
7990
Captain / Total hours on type:
5923.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5850
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4317
Aircraft flight hours:
18746
Aircraft flight cycles:
23233
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Douala Airport, at a distance of 3,5 NM, the crew was cleared to land on runway 30. At this time, the aircraft initiated a slight climb and about 15 seconds later, the copilot informed ATC about technical problems. Three seconds later, the aircraft rolled to the left, struck trees and crashed in a mangrove located about 1,700 metres south of runway 30, bursting into flames. Three passengers and two crew members (the copilot and a stewardess) were seriously injured while 71 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of control of the aircraft during an attempted go-around made during the touchdown maneuver on landing, with degraded performance.
The following factors contributed to the accident:
- The detachment by structural fatigue of a blade from the first stage of the compressor on engine n°1 which led to a loss of power, and
- A destabilization of the trajectory during landing and the late or slow execution of the go-around procedure in an unidentified single-engine configuration which resulted in an irreversible loss of speed.
Final Report:

Ground explosion of a Boeing 737-2H7C in Douala: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TJ-CBD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Douala – Yaoundé – Garoua
MSN:
21295
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
UY786
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
109
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Douala Airport, an explosion occurred on the left hand side. The crew stopped the aircraft on the taxiway and started an emergency evacuation. 94 occupants were wounded while 20 others were uninjured. Unfortunately, two passengers died by asphyxia.
Probable cause:
It was reported by the Cameroon Authorities that a bomb placed in the left main wheel well exploded during taxi, causing a rupture of the main left fuel tank. A fire erupted, partially destroying the aircraft. It appears that the bomb was placed by members of the 'Liberation Front of Cameroon'.

Crash of a Dornier DO.128-6MPA Turbo Skyservant in Douala

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
TJX-BO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6002
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Douala: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1980
Registration:
TJ-AFO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Douala - Yaoundé
MSN:
31-7752109
YOM:
1977
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After liftoff, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed by the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of an engine failure just after rotation.

Crash of a Boeing 707-329C in Douala

Date & Time: May 11, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
OO-SJH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Douala
MSN:
18890/416
YOM:
1965
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Paris-Orly Airport, the crew started the descent to Douala Airport in marginal weather conditions. On short final, the airplane encountered low level windshear. Control was lost and the aircraft banked left, causing the left wing to struck the runway surface. Upon impact, the left main gear was torn off as well as both engines n°1 and 2. The aircraft veered off runway to the left, made a 270° turn then came to rest. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the left wing being partially torn off.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on short final due to windshear.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation near Douala: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGNC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4512
YOM:
1953
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was cleared to start an ILS semi-direct approach to Douala Airport when contact was lost. The wreckage was found three days later in a prairie located 80 km northeast of Douala. The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four crew members who were completing a cargo flight.