Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton MR.3 near Agounit

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1994 at 0135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1716
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
1526
YOM:
1957
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was en route from South Africa to England via Abidjan to take part to an airshow. While cruising over the desert by night, both right engines n°3 and 4 failed. Ten minutes later, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a desert area located some 50 km north of Agwenit, Occidental Sahara. All 19 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Awsard: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1993
Operator:
Registration:
HB-FKS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Awsard - Agwanit
MSN:
875
YOM:
1991
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Aircraft was performing a routine administrative flight from Awsard to Agwanit with one UN Field Service generator technician, one Australian Signals Contingent doctor, one Swiss Medical Unit nurse and a Swiss Medical Unit pilot, all serving as members of MINURSO, the Mission of the UN in Western Sahara. On takeoff, pilot encountered an unspecified problem which caused the aircraft to roll to starboard and crash near the runway, the verges of which were heavily sown with landmines. Two of the four occupants were killed on impact and one died of injuries soon after. The Swiss nurse survived with critical injuries and was medevac first to Gran Canaria, then to Switzerland.
Probable cause:
The actual cause of the crash could not be determined but was blamed on an error by the dead pilot. Suspicion remained that the starboard wing had been struck by one of the violent downdrafts for which Awsard airfield was well known.