Country
Canada

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo in Nairobi: 52 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1992
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
KAF214
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Nairobi - Nanyuki
MSN:
123
YOM:
1986
Location:
Nairobi-Eastleigh (Moi Air Base)
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Nairobi-Eastleigh Airport (Moi Air Base), while in initial climb, the left engine failed and its propeller autofeathered. The captain contacted ATC, declared an emergency and was cleared to turn left. Following a left hand circuit, the crew again turned to the left and prepared to land on runway 06 when the aircraft entered an area of low clouds. The crew momentarily lost visual contact with the runway when the aircraft stalled and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Kaloleni, less than 2 km short of runway 06 threshold. The aircraft and few houses were destroyed. All 46 occupants as well as 6 people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the left engine failure could not be determined.

Crash of a De Havilland CC-115 Buffalo in Rio de Janeiro: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1990 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
2350
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Campo de Marte – Anápolis – Brasília
MSN:
15
YOM:
1968
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right and crashed about 300 meters from the apron, bursting into flames. A crew member was injured while nine other occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Calgary

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1990 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
FAE064
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Quito – Billings – Calgary
MSN:
64
YOM:
1976
Location:
Calgary
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered an incident in Ecuador few days prior to this accident and damages were reported to the undercarriage. A ferry flight to Calgary was arranged so the aircraft could be repaired by technicians by De Havilland Canada. The flight from Quito to Calgary was completed with the undercarriage down. Upon touchdown on runway 28 at Calgary Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose and came rest, bursting into flames. In a hurry, both pilots escaped the cabin and did not stop both engines. Hydraulic fluids ignited and the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire. Both pilots were uninjured. Dual registration FAE064 and HC-BFH.
Probable cause:
It was concluded that the self-centering mechanism could be forced off centre because of a system malfunction caused by the previous accident or by intentional nosewheel steering input, which would cause enough pressure to shear the pins. The internal damage to the controlcam mechanism allowed the wheels to be off centre at touchdown. Marks on the adjacent sides of the pulleys showed that the cable had been lodged in the space between the two pulleys. Although the extent of this damage was limited, it was representative of damage caused by the previous jungle accident and would have caused the sluggish response to nosewheel commands experienced earlier by the crew. When the weight of the aircraft settled on the misaligned nosewheel, the temporary ferry repairs failed in overload and the nosewheel collapsed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Lusaka: 29 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1990 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
AF-316
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
M’Bala – Lusaka
MSN:
66
YOM:
1976
Location:
Lusaka
Lusaka City District
Country:
Zambia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
While approaching Lusaka, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located 10 km from the airport. All 29 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo near Tarma: 62 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1989 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
FAP329
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pucallpa – San Ramón – Lima
MSN:
52
YOM:
1972
Location:
Tarma
Junín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
62
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed San Ramón-Capitan Alvarino Airport at 1730LT on the second leg of the trip to Lima. On board were 57 passengers, a crew of five and a load of various goods including wood and animals. While climbing, the captain informed ATC about engine problems and that he was unable to maintain the assigned altitude. Ten minutes after takeoff, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located about 30 km northwest of Tarma and disintegrated on impact. All 62 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that there were 57 passengers on board while the aircraft was certified for 44 passengers max. It was also determined that the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient altitude because it was overloaded and the crew could not obtain full engine power as they were submitted to strong contribution.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Doctor Arroyo

Date & Time: May 18, 1989 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
TP-200
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Doctor Arroyo – Francisco Sarabia
MSN:
98
YOM:
1980
Location:
Doctor Arroyo
Nuevo León
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 20 meters, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All 30 occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It had the dual registration TP-200 and XC-UTO.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Gondar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1988 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AHI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gondar - Addis Ababa
MSN:
101
YOM:
1981
Location:
Gondar
Amhara
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Gondar Airport, while on a cargo flight to Addis Ababa, the hydraulic pressure failed. As the crew was unable to raise the landing gear, the captain decided to return for an emergency landing. With flaps down at 7°, the aircraft landed 400 meters past the runway threshold. Following a course of 900 meters, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Bor: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1986
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
800
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
83
YOM:
1978
Location:
Bor
Jonglei (جونقلي)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Bor. Seven occupants were killed and seven others were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo in Akobo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1985
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
833
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Akobo - Khartoum
MSN:
87
YOM:
1978
Location:
Akobo
Jonglei (جونقلي)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed after takeoff from Akbo Airport for unknown reasons. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Farnborough

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1984 at 1618 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
Operator:
Registration:
C-GCTC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Farnborough - Farnborough
MSN:
103
YOM:
1980
Location:
Farnborough
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
30
Aircraft flight hours:
902
Circumstances:
During the 1984 Farnborough International Air Display de Havilland Canada was to fly a display using DHC-5D C-GCTC, DHC-6 Twin Otter C-GFJQ, and both Dash 7 and Dash 8 prototypes C-GNBX and C-GDNK. Brakes were released at 16:16 and the Buffalo commenced its takeoff run as the third aircraft in the DHC combine behind the Dash 7 and Dash 8. Immediately after takeoff the Buffalo carried out a steep climb to a height of 1000 feet agl. Following a descending turn to the right, the airplane carried out a low level flypast along the display line at height of 250 feet agl and an airspeed of 215 kts. The Buffalo then entered a climbing turn to the left through about 270 degrees, before reversing bank in order to position for a right hand final approach for a STOL landing back onto runway 25. During this manoeuvre the landing gear was selected down and the copilot lowered the ramp and opened the rear cargo door. At a height of 450 feet agl the nose dropped significantly and the rate of descent increased. The DHC-5 continued in a steep side-slipping and descending turn to the right. Shortly before touchdown the rate of descent reduced slightly. The aircraft then landed very hard. The nose gear collapsed, both wings failed and the propellers disintegrated after contacting the runway. Debris caused some damage to vehicles and three aircraft in the static display area.
Probable cause:
An error of judgement by the aircraft commander. Unfavourable weather conditions, a transitory handling problem whilst flying outside the tested flight regime and the pressure on the commander to complete his flying sequence, where probably contributing factors.
Final Report:
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