Zone
Tombouctou

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Tombouctou: 51 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
TZ-ACT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gao – Tombouctou – Mopti – Bamako
MSN:
87304104
YOM:
1978
Location:
Tombouctou
Tombouctou
Country:
Mali
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Tombouctou Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to return for an emergency landing and initiated a turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 3 km from the airport, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while 51 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Tombouctou

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Ray Geophysical
Registration:
N481F
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26461/15016
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tombouctou
Tombouctou
Country:
Mali
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A loss of engine power en route forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames north of Tombouctou. All six occupants escaped and only one passenger was slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Owned by Ray Geophysical, the airplane was engaged in a on-demand mission on behalf of Texaco. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in 1973.
Probable cause:
Engine power loss in flight.
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