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Crash of an Ilyushin II-76 in Gao: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 2023 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TZ-98T
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10234 11378
YOM:
1992
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After touchdown on runway 06L at Gao Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and eventually crashed in a ravine located about 500 meters past the runway end, bursting into flames. There were some casualties as well as few people were rescued. The exact number of victims is unclear. It is believed that the airplane was given to the Malian Air Force by the Wagner Group about a week prior to the accident. Some members of the Wagner Group were on board according to the Malian Authorities. For unknow reasons, the airplane landed too far down the runway, most probably well past the mid runway, reducing the landing distance available. In such conditions, the crew was unable to stop the airplane in due time. It is believed that at least two crew members were killed in the crash.
Video of the accident on the following link:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7112754644249927682/

Crash of an Antonov AN-74TK-100 in Gao

Date & Time: Aug 3, 2020 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-74044
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bamako - Gao
MSN:
470 97 936
YOM:
1994
Flight number:
UNO052P
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
13299
Captain / Total hours on type:
2246.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3051
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1580
Aircraft flight hours:
13302
Aircraft flight cycles:
6496
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing flight UNO-052P from Bamako to Gao on behalf of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). En route, the crew encountered technical problems with the electrical system when the right generator failed. The crew attempted to start the APU several times but without success when the left generator also failed. The undercarriage were lowered manually and the landing was completed on a wet runway in rainy conditions. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure but was unable to deploy the thrust reversers. At a speed of 140-160 km/h, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a waterlogged land. All 11 occupants were rescued, among them six were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-07-01 LodeStar in Gao: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1952 at 0307 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ARTE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Abidjan – Bobo Dioulasso – Bamako – Gao – Tamanrasset – El Golea – Algiers – Nice
MSN:
2005
YOM:
1940
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Abidjan on its return flight to Nice with a night stop scheduled at Tamanrasset. However, the flight was behind schedule and in view of the fact that Tamanrasset was not provided with night markings, the pilot decided to spend the night at Gao and leave the following morning at about 0900LT. He mentioned also that he was tired. Later that evening word was received from the company which caused the pilot to change his plans and decide to leave at 0300LT. On arrival at the meteorological office for preparation of the pre-flight plan, the pilot, during a conversation with the air traffic controller, complained that he was very tired and mentioned that the Gao-Nice flight would have to be made with only short stops on the way and that he had to fly in an aircraft not equipped with an automatic pilot and in which he was also required to perform the duties of navigator. He seemed to dread the take-off at night very much and went so far as to ask the controller to prohibit him from taking off. The controller could not comply with such a request, as the flight planned was normal from the regulation point of view. The aircraft took off from Gao at night at 0307LT with eighteen passengers and three crew. The take-off was normal and the aircraft rose to an altitude of about 10 meters. The navigation lights were then seen to fade gradually and to disappear in a depression beyond the runway, and shortly afterwards, flashes from a fire were seen and the alarm given. The aircraft collided with the ground after take-off completely destroying the aircraft. The wreckage was found about two km east of the airfield. Fourteen passengers and three crew were killed and four passengers injured.
Probable cause:
The probable cause was an untimely contact with the ground after a take-off at night without any visible references beyond the runway lights. The contact was due to an unsuspected loss of altitude. The reasons for this poor altitude control are not well-known; they may be attributed to the pilot's state of fatigue or to an occurrence, perhaps of minor significance in the cockpit which distracted the pilot's attention.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-455 in Gao: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1951 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brussels – Gao – Léopoldville
MSN:
6327
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 25, while climbing to a height of 10 meters, the airplane turn sharply to the left and climbed to a height of 30 meters when it turn again to the left. It then lost altitude and hit the ground with its left wing tip, crashing into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine failed shortly after rotation due to hydraulic failure. Meanwhile, hydraulic fluid spurted on the cockpit windshield, temporarily reducing the visibility of the pilots who lost control of the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Laghouat: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1949
Registration:
F-BEFK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Algiers – Gao
MSN:
19471
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route to Gao, an engine failed, forcing the captain to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Laghouat and was written off. A crew member was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Aguelhok: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ARRF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dakar – Gao – Algiers
MSN:
1506
YOM:
1939
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While performing a cargo flight from Dakar to Algiers via Gao, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a desert area following an engine failure. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Marc Cariou, pilot,
Léopold Gimié, radio navigator,
Joseph Lefèvre, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Caudron C.282/8 Phalène in Parakou

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AMVD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Algiers – Colomb-Béchar – Bidon V – Gao – Cotonou
MSN:
6889.60
YOM:
1934
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a mail flight from Algiers to Cotonou with intermediate stops in Colomb-Béchar, Bidon 5 and Gao. On the last leg from Gao to Cotonou, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a sandstorm. In low visibility, he reduced his altitude when the aircraft impacted the ground and crashed. While both occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.

Crash of an Avro 616 Avian IVM in the Tanezrouft Desert: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-ABLK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Reggane – Gao
MSN:
523
YOM:
1931
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed London on a solo flight to South Africa with several en route stops. In the evening, he departed Reggane on a leg to Gao, Mali. About an hour into the flight, while cruising at night, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed some 275 km south of Reggane, in the Tanezrouft Desert. As the airplane failed to arrive in Gao, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the airplane nor the pilot was found. On February 10, 1962, a French military patrol found the wreckage that and the dead body of the pilot that was mummified. In 1975, the wreckage was transferred to the Queensland Museum in Brisbane. It was later determined that the pilot survived the accident but died 8 days later of hunger and thirst.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Farman F.190 near Bidon 5

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJDD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Reggane - Gao
MSN:
7133
YOM:
1929
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Reggane, Algeria, to Gao, Mali, with a targui interpret and one pilot (Pierre Obrecht) on board. Few minutes after the stopover in Bidon 5, the pilot encountered control problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed some 8 km south of Bidon 5 and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants were rescued three days later, on December 31.
Probable cause:
According to company officials, the aileron control cables, expanded by heat during the stopover in Bidon 5, came out of the pulleys and were blocked afterwards. In such circumstances, the control of the aircraft was impossible.

Crash of a Farman F.192 near El Quit

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1930 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-AJJB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Antananarivo – Elisabethville – Luluabourg – Brazzaville – Bangui – Fort Archambault – Kano – Niamey – Gao – Algiers – Paris
MSN:
7159
YOM:
1929
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to France after completing the first flight from France to Madagascar and the Reunion Island in December 1929. The aircraft departed Gao at 1015LT bound for the north. It overflew Tabankort then the crew planned to make a fuel stop at El Quit where a quantity of 220 liters of fuel was hidden in the sand. Some 30 km before the destination, the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when, on touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and ripped the fuselage on the left side, shearing off the left wing as well. All three crew were unhurt but the aircraft was abandoned on site. All three occupants were rescued and evacuated six days later, on 28APR1930, by members of the Compagnie Générale Transafricaine, and arrived in France on 05MAY1930. The airplane was eventually recovered 80 years later and repatriated to Paris where it was repaired and displayed at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Paris-Le Bourget Airport.
Crew:
Marcel Goulette, pilot,
René Marchesseau, pilot,
Jean-Michel Bourgeois, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.