Dakar-Yoff | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off from Dakar-Yoff Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All 12 occupants were killed, among them Ahmed Ould Bousseif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The pilot was captain N'Diaye N'Diak, Chief of the Atar Airbase.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A in Dakar

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1953 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.106 Comet

Operator:

Registration:

F-BGSC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Paris – Marseille – Dakar – Abidjan

MSN:

6019

YOM:

1953

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Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight and approach, the pilot-in-command landed properly and started the braking procedure when one of the main landing gear struck a hole in the runway surface. The gear's leg broke off and the airplane came on its belly, slid for dozen yards and overran before coming to rest about 40 meters past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. Brand new, it was delivered few weeks ago.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapsed while contacting a hole in the runway surface.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-20-VE Flying Fortress off Boffa

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-5770

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

West Palm Beach - Belém - Natal - Dakar

MSN:

6066

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Morrison AFB, West Palm Beach, on a flight to Dakar with intermediate stops in Belém and Natal. While approaching Guinea on the leg from Natal to Dakar, the engine n°3 lost oil and its propeller could not be feathered. Because of the drag caused by a windmilling propeller, the fuel consumption was higher than expected and the airplane ran out of fuel. The airplane was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean some 40 km west of Boffa. All crew members were rescued and the airplane sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Oil leak on the engine n°3 and its windmilling propeller that could not be feathered caused an excessive fuel consumption, thus the airplane ran out of fuel.