Region

Crash of a Casa CN235-220 in Monrovia: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 2013 at 0710 LT
Registration:
3X-GGG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Conakry - Monrovia
MSN:
N014
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying a delegation of Senior Officials of the Guinea Air Force to Monrovia. On final approach to Roberts Airport, the aircraft descended too low, impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Charlesville, some 4 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed, among them General Souleymane Kéléfa Diallo, Chief of Staff of the Guinea Army Forces. The delegation was on its way to Monrovia to take part to the celebration of the Liberia Army forces anniversary.
Probable cause:
In July 2013, the investigation board confirmed that the accident resulted of multiple errors committed by the pilots who did not carry sufficient attention to the flight and the approach procedure. Investigators also concluded that the flight crew was tired, which was considered as a contributing factor because their faculties and capacities were diminished.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Monrovia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 2002 at 0608 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ER-ADL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
N’Djamena – Monrovia
MSN:
4 3 426 10
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While descending to Monrovia-Roberts Airport, the crew informed ATC about technical problems. The captain realized he could not reach the airport and attempted an emergency landing in an open field located about 11 km from the airfield. On impact, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. A crew member was killed while nine other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Boeing 707-3B4C in Monrovia

Date & Time: Mar 23, 2001 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-BMV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jeddah – Monrovia
MSN:
20260
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
175
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
55500
Aircraft flight cycles:
27300
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Monrovia-Roberts Airport, at an altitude of about 600 feet, the crew encountered local patches of fog and visual contact with the runway was momentarily lost by the pilot-in-command. Nevertheless, he decided to continue the approach when the aircraft landed hard on runway 04. The aircraft bounced twice then lost its both right engines. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest about 200 metres further. All 182 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Monrovia: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1999 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N373BC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harper - Monrovia
MSN:
414-0411
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Harper on a charter flight to Monrovia, carrying five police officers and one pilot. On a night approach to Monrovia-Roberts Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances 4 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Monrovia

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1996 at 1037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-87573
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Freetown - Monrovia
MSN:
9 22 05 22
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Freetown, the three engine aircraft encountered windshear on final approach to Monrovia, lost height and struck the ground 5 metres before the runway threshold (0.8-1 meter below the runway elevation). The left main gear was torn off and the aircraft slid/rolled for about 300 metres before coming to rest. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on short final after the aircraft encountered windshear.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 in Monrovia

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-BBA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kano – Lagos – Accra – Monrovia
MSN:
47217
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
82
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Monrovia-James Spriggs Payne Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with a visibility limited due to heavy rain falls. On final, the aircraft struck the ground short of runway threshold, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The aircraft slid on its belly for about 500 metres before coming to rest on the runway. All 91 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
In poor weather conditions, the crew continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude until the aircraft impacted terrain short of runway threshold. The lack of visibility caused by the heavy rain falls remains a contributing factor, but the crew should have made the decision to initiate a go-around procedure since the landing was obviously missed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 in Monrovia

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1994 at 1058 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-BBE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Banjul – Freetown – Monrovia – Accra – Lagos
MSN:
45872
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
ADK018
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
74
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
62484
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Banjul, Gambia, on an international scheduled service to Lagos with intermediate stops in Freetown, Monrovia and Accra. The approach to Monrovia-James Spriggs Payne Airport runway 23 was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. On final, at a distance of 4 km from the runway threshold, the captain confirmed that visual contact with the runway was established and continued the approach. At an excessive speed, the airplane passed over the runway threshold at a height of 150 feet and landed too far down the runway, about 3,000 feet past its threshold. On a wet runway surface, despite full brakes and reverse thrusts were deployed, the aircraft could not be stopped within the remaining distance. It overran at a speed of 80 knots and came to rest 120 metres further, bursting into flames. All 85 occupants were rescued, among them few were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who completed the approach at an excessive speed and well above the glide, causing the aircraft to land too far down runway 23 which is 1,800 metres long. Poor braking action due to wet runway surface was considered as a contributing factor as well as the fact that the crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure as the landing maneuver was obviously missed.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 100 in Vahun

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LX-UGO
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1945
YOM:
1975
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vahun Airfield, at a height of 40 feet and at a speed of 77 knots, the twin engine aircraft adopted a high sink rate. The captain increased engine power when the aircraft rolled to the right, collided with trees and crashed few hundred metres short of runway. All 13 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Monrovia

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Conakry - Monrovia
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
65
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Monrovia-Roberts Airport for unknown reasons. All 72 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in Monrovia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9L-LAV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monrovia - Freetown
MSN:
767
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Monrovia-James Spriggs Payne Airport on a schedule flight to Freetown-Lungi Airport, carrying nine passengers and one pilot. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and elected to return for an emergency landing. When he realized he could not make it, he attempted to land in an open field. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and crashed. The pilot and one passenger were killed while eight other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.