Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD in Khartoum: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 2008 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-WTB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khartoum – Juba
MSN:
10034 99994
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
BBE700
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
15634
Captain / Total hours on type:
4794.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was cleared for takeoff and began its departure roll with flaps retracted, according to flight data recorder. The aircraft rotated at 280 kph (151 knots) and became airborne at 288 kph (155 knots) at an angle of attack of about 8-9 degrees. Tyre marks on the runway showed, that the aircraft had gone past the end of the runway, the main tyres had impacted runway end lights and the tyre tracks continued past the paved surface of the stopway. Climbing through 15 feet the pilot flying commanded the gear up and increased the pitch angle, the angle of attack increased to more than 10 degrees while the gear doors opened for gear retraction increasing the drag of the aircraft, which began to slow, the speed reduced to 305 kph (164 knots), stall speed for the takeoff weight, and the left wing began to stall, the angle of attack increased to 17 degrees, the aircraft at a height of 5-7 meters/15-23 feet. The pilot flying tried to counteract the roll to the left by fully applying left aileron which also deployed the right wing spoilers, right rudder input was provided. The pilot flying instructed the flight engineer to NOT retract flaps indicative neither pilot was aware the flaps were up. Following that instruction the flight engineer selected the flaps down, the aircraft speed was 300 kph (162 knots) and the aircraft in an unrecoverable stall with no height left. The left hand wing struck a high voltage mast about 1200 meters past the runway end at a height of 5.4 meters (18 feet) shearing off the left wing tip, contacted the flag post at the entrance of the Green Square, the left wing contacted the stem of a tree at a height of about 40 cm (1.3 feet) separating the ailerons and causing fuel spilling from the left wing, the aircraft broke through the eastern brick wall of Green Square, collided with two more electric poles causing engine #4 to separate 1504 meters from the end of the runway and impacted ground at 30 degrees nose down, 30 degrees left bank. Debris was distributed over a length of more than 500 meters, the aircraft burst into flames. All 4 crew perished in the crash, 4 people on the ground received serious, 3 more received minor injuries.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- From the CVR recording it appeared that no checklist had been used during all phases from engine start up, taxiing and take off,
- Ababeel company does not keep any records or files regarding the crew flying experience. They joined the company about four months before the accident,
- Engine n°1 showed only 96.2% N1 and thus delivered less thrust than the other three engines,
- Engine n°4 showed a 30° higher EGT than the other engines indicating that the engine was not in a satisfactory condition requiring the temperature limiter to be switched off to enable the engine to deliver the thrust needed,
- According to the FCOM the aircraft would need 2,850 meters takeoff distance at 188 tons takeoff weight with flaps at 30° and slats at 14°. As the crew did not use the checklists, either they were used to extend the flaps and slats after the aircraft gained certain speed and their attention was being drawn by monitoring the engine which the navigator asked about or another serious defect or they forgot to extend the flaps due to fatigue caused by alcohol consumption by the flight engineer and short periods of rest for the first officer. The clean aircraft lift off after rolling for a distance of 2,380 meters for take off which was a very short distance for such weight and temperature of 27°. Retracting of landing gear immediately within lift-off increased drag before the aircraft gained positive lift,
- the aircraft never climbed above 7 meters (23 feet) above ground,
- the aircraft had an automatic configuration warning which would activate at 70 +/- 15 kph, if the flaps were not extended. This system however could be switched off, or might have been malfunctioning, it did not activate during the takeoff run.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BK near Malakal: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 2008 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-ARN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum – Juba
MSN:
8 3 460 10
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
13300
Captain / Total hours on type:
5000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
11535
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3300
Aircraft flight hours:
14597
Aircraft flight cycles:
6924
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Khartoum at 0555LT on a cargo flight to Juba with 8 crew members on board. While cruising at FL170 in bad weather conditions, the engines n° 1 failed. One minute later, the engine n°3 failed as well, followed 40 seconds later by the failure of the engine n°4. The aircraft initiated a descent with a rate of 3,450 feet per minute and reach the altitude of 800 feet three minutes and 40 seconds after the failure of the engine n°1. At an altitude of 600 feet, the crew stabilized the aircraft and elected to restart the three engines but without success. Too low, the aircraft struck trees, lost its left stabilizer and crashed in a prairie 264 metres past the initial impact, bursting into flames. A crew member was rescued while 7 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control and subsequent ground impact following the failure of engine n°1, 3 and 4.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew entered an area of thunderstorm activity with turbulences and icing conditions,
- Unserviceability or sudden failure of the weather radar,
- Accumulation of ice caused the blockage of the engines air intake assembly,
- Following impact with trees, the aircraft lost parts and the running engine n°2 caused the fire.

Crash of an Airbus A310-324 in Khartoum: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 2008 at 2026 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-ATN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amman – Damascus – Khartoum
MSN:
548
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
SD109
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
203
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Captain / Total flying hours:
14180
Captain / Total hours on type:
3088.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9879
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3347
Aircraft flight hours:
53233
Aircraft flight cycles:
21524
Circumstances:
The Airbus 310 serial number 548 owned by Sudan Airways Was entered in Sudan Civil Register on 15/09/2007 , designated registration marks ST-ATN in accordance to registration certificate No. 0493 dated 15/09/2007 and issued with Certificate of airworthiness No AWP/COA/0203/2007 dated 19/09/2007. On the morning of 10th June at 8:30 hrs (local time 05:30 UTC) after arriving from Cairo with a deactivated no 1 engine reverse as being a carry forward defect and being labeled according to MEL, the captain accepted the aircraft to carry out its scheduled flight to Amman via Damascus. The trip en-route to Amman was uneventful. Same day in the afternoon, the Airbus A310, ST-ATN, was en-route flying from Damascus (Syria) to Khartoum (Sudan) with 203 passengers and 11 crew members on board. The Airbus approached Khartoum in the afternoon and due to bad weather conditions, the captain decided to divert to Port Sudan. The aircraft landed Port Sudan Airport normally and was refuelled with 20 tons of Jet A1. As mentioned by the Captain that he was in contact with Khartoum enquiring about the weather. After staying on ground at Port Sudan for about 1:15 hour, and being informed that the weather was getting better, the Captain decided to return back to Khartoum. A310, ST-ATN, took off to Khartoum where the captain initiated a night approach for the runway 36 as pilot flying. He got the clearance to land after the controller provided him with wind information (320° / 7 Kt) and runway condition (wet). The left engine thrust reverser was unserviceable and inhibited as per Minimum Equipment List (MEL) procedures. The aircraft landed smoothly about 17:26 UTC. R/W 36 landing and within 900 meters range from the threshold of R/W 36 as stated by the flying pilot. The captain reported that he experienced some difficulties in maintaining the aircraft on the centre line just after setting both thrust levers in the reverse position. Then he did not succeed in slowing down the aircraft nor could stop it before the end of the runway. The aircraft longitudinally overran the runway and came to a stop 215 meters after the runway end. Then it caught fire on its right side. The right hand slides could not be deployed, the crew and the passengers evacuated the aircraft from the left front slide, twenty nine passengers and one cabin crew were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to a long flaring distance (900 meters from R/W threshold) on a wet slippery runway without selecting Auto brake and with one deactivated engine reverse in such rainy conditions. The remaining available landing distance turned out to be too short to allow the captain to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway.
Contributing factors:
The wind information was not appropriate as it was tailwind at time of landing. The crew was not aware about the aircraft ground speed and the tailwind.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB in Khartoum: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 2007 at 0807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-JUA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum - Juba
MSN:
3 3 411 10
YOM:
1963
Flight number:
JUC700
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
11787
Aircraft flight cycles:
7220
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Khartoum-Haj Yusuf Airport at 0759LT on a cargo flight to Juba, carrying four crew members and a load of 11 tons of various goods. After takeoff, while climbing, the crew reported the failure of the engine n°3 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in the military area of the airport, bursting into flames. All four crew members were injured while two people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°3 during initial climb following a bird strike.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Geneina

Date & Time: Feb 24, 2007 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ST-AQE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum - Geneina
MSN:
1 4 001 06
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Owned by United Arabian Airlines, the four engine aircraft departed Khartoum on a cargo flight to Geneina on behalf of AZZA Air Transport. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a sandy area. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair after the undercarriage were torn off and the left wing tip was sheared off. Witnesses interviewed by the Panel stated that the majority of the passengers were military personnel. In addition to the passengers there were two D-22 type 122 mm artillery howitzers and 40 to 50 wooden boxes painted olive drab, suspected to contain arms and ammunition. The cargo was offloaded during the days following the crash under the supervision of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) who continued to guard the aircraft throughout the following week. In an official report published at the end of April 2007, UNO criticized the Sudanese authorities for not respecting the various points of resolution 1591 which stipulates that Sudan is not authorized to deliver military equipment to the Darfur region.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Khartoum: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 2005 at 1128 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-WAL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum - Al Fashir
MSN:
6 99 010 04
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
MSL430
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Khartoum-Haj Yusuf Airport, the left engine caught fire and exploded. The captain rejected takeoff and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest few dozen metres past the runway end, bursting into flames. Three passengers were killed while all other occupants were rescued. The following day, four survivors including a stewardess, died from their injuries.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD off Mwanza: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 2005 at 2305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-IBR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mwanza – Khartoum – Benghazi – Osijek
MSN:
0043 4546 23
YOM:
1984
Flight number:
RIN982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
11609
Captain / Total hours on type:
8939.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4769
Aircraft flight hours:
2615
Aircraft flight cycles:
1548
Circumstances:
On 23 March 2005 at 0533 hours an Ilyushin IL-76 cargo jet with the Republic of Moldova registration letters ER-IBR landed at Mwanza on a flight from Benghazi, Libya. It was carrying a crew of 8 including 2 ground engineers. All the 8 crew members were later involved in the accident. While at Mwanza, some 50,000 kg of fish was uplifted. At 1930 hours the commander filed a flight plan for Khartoum. The endurance was 0450 hours. The cargo manifest showed that ER-IBR was operating Air Trans Inc. Flight RIN 982 from Mwanza to Osijek, Croatia, with refueling stops at Khartoum and Benghazi. At 2000 hours the aircraft was given information relevant for take off as well as the departure clearance. ER-IBR subsequently advised that he was starting the take-off roll. This was the last communication received from the aircraft. The aircraft was observed to execute a normal take-off roll from runway 30. This runway ends 120m short of Lake Victoria. After observing that the aircraft was airborne, the controller who was handling the flight reported that he turned to complete the flight progress strip. Having done so, he lost visual contact with the aircraft that was supposed to be in a climb profile over the lake. Efforts to raise the aircraft on the radio failed. In about two minutes from the time that the aircraft was airborne, he saw a fire tender speeding along runway 30. It was then that he realized that the flight may have crashed. The Mwanza Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services were not equipped for operations in the lake. They were therefore unable to reach the aircraft, which was more than 1 km away from the shore. It was the fishermen at the lake shore near Mwanza airport who saw the aircraft going down in the lake. They proceeded to the crash site in fishing boats and brought back some documents (flight manuals and wiring diagrams) which they found floating near the wreckage.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by aircraft colliding with the water surface shortly after take off. While the aircraft had gathered sufficient energy to sustain climb, the crew failed to monitor altitude and react correctly in the short time that the aircraft was airborne. This resulted in the aircraft going into descent till it reached an altitude where recovery was not possible. The possibility of crew fatigue as a contributory factor in this accident cannot be ruled out.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD in Khartoum: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 2005 at 0807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-EWB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sharjah – Khartoum – Nyala
MSN:
00234 38122
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Sharjah Airport on a cargo flight to Nyala with an intermediate stop in Khartoum, carrying 46 tons of humanitarian aid for refugees in Darfur. On board were sisx Russian crew members and one Sudanese translator. While approaching Khartoum-Haj Yusuf Airport, the crew reported fuel issues and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a desert area located 800 metres from the Ad Babkr District, about 15 km East of Khartoum. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Wau

Date & Time: Jun 26, 2004 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-SAT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wau – Khartoum
MSN:
5 3 435 02
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Engines n°3 & 4 failed and the crew elected to make an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest, bursting into flames. All five occupants were injured along with a young boy in the nearby field.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb following a bird strike.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Wau: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 2003 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ST-SAA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khartoum – Wau
MSN:
5 3 429 05
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
SRW044
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Khartoum to Wau, carrying seven passengers, six crew members and a load consisting of foods and bank notes. On final approach to Wau Airport, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 6 km short of runway, bursting into flames. All 13 occupants were killed, among them soldiers and members of the National Bank of Sudan.