Country
code

Amhara

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan near Kombolcha

Date & Time: Jul 27, 2021
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AMI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jigjiga - Dire Dawa
MSN:
208B-1260
YOM:
2007
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Jigjiga Airport on a humanitarian mission to Dire Dawa, carrying two pilots and two employees of the World Food Program. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. Upon landing, the aircraft came to rest on its nose in a near vertical position with its right wing partially torn off. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Gondar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1988 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AHI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gondar - Addis Ababa
MSN:
101
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Gondar Airport, while on a cargo flight to Addis Ababa, the hydraulic pressure failed. As the crew was unable to raise the landing gear, the captain decided to return for an emergency landing. With flaps down at 7°, the aircraft landed 400 meters past the runway threshold. Following a course of 900 meters, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Boeing 737-260 in Bahar Dar: 35 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1988 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AJA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Addis Ababa - Bahar Dar - Asmara
MSN:
23914
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
ET604
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
98
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Captain / Total flying hours:
19936
Captain / Total hours on type:
449.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9447
Aircraft flight hours:
1377
Aircraft flight cycles:
1870
Circumstances:
Ethiopian Airlines flight 604, a Boeing 737-200, was a scheduled service from Addis Ababa to Bahar Dar and Asmara. The first leg of the flight was uneventful. At 09:50, the engines were started normally and the airplane was taxied to its take-off position. The flight crew reported that In order to gain additional thrust they elected not to use engine bleed air during take-off. The airplane accelerated at a normal rate during the take-off roll and passed V1 (take-off-reject) speed. As the airplane passed V1 and very near VR (rotation speed) the flight crew saw a flock of pigeons lifting up from the left side. At this time the captain took over control from the copilot and pulled up. Almost immediately after rotation, the airplane struck the flock of pigeons at an airspeed of 146 knots and altitude of 5730 feet above mean sea level. Loud bangs were heard. The captain then called for gear up and the copilot complied. At approximately 100-200 ft. above the ground, both engines started backfiring. At this time, the flight crew reported that they experienced a considerable power loss and the airplane started mushing down at which time the captain "fire walled" the thrust levers. The engines reportedly responded and the airplane began to gain some altitude. The gain in attitude encouraged the captain to make a right turn away from Lake Tana and back to the take-off runway for landing. During the initial 32 seconds after the impact, the airplane had gained altitude from 5,730 feet to 6,020 feet and had accelerated from 146 knots to 154 knots. The crew report further indicated that both engines continued to surge and the exhaust gas temperature gauges (EGT) were reading at the top extreme and the engine pressure ratio (EPR) gauge readings were fluctuating at about 1.6. During this time the captain reported that the he reduced engine thrust to prolong the operational life of the engines. The frequency of the surges decreased with engines power reduction. The airplane entered an approximate 90 degree right turn. Altitude remained constant 6,020 feet while its airspeed increased from 154 knots to 162 knots. The airplane then began another right turn and entered the downwind leg of the return to runway 04. Altitude had increased to 6,410 feet and airspeed to 173 knots. On the downwind leg the aircraft further climbed to 7,100 feet. Then, within a timeframe of about five seconds, both engines lost power completely. The copilot pointed out a cleared area slightly ahead and to the right. The captain then turned towards the clearing and performed a gear-up landing. The aircraft broke up and a fire erupted. Out of the 104 occupants, 35 suffered fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred because the airplane could not be safely returned to the runway after the internal destruction and subsequent failure of both engines to operate arising from multiple bird ingestion by both engines during take-off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Kombolcha

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1981
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AHR
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13311
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
26381
Circumstances:
Upon landing, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Bahar Dar

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1981
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12981
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
43024
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. All four occupants (three crew members and one security officer) escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Mota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1975 at 1020 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bahar Dar - Debra Marcos
MSN:
4292
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
23921
Circumstances:
En route from Bahar Dar to Debra Marcos at an altitude of 11,500 feet, weather conditions worsened and the visibility decreased due to low clouds. While descending into clouds, the captain saw a mountain ahead and elected to gain height when the base of the tail struck trees. The airplane stalled and crashed onto Mt Choke. A passenger was killed while other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Lalibela: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABR
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4297
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
33626
Circumstances:
On approach to Lalibella Airport, the airplane was hit by ground fire, lost altitude and crashed short of runway. At least one occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Mota

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1974
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABE
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16098/32846
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
25067
Circumstances:
After landing at Mota Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Gondar: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1972 at 1020 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABQ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asmara – Axum – Gondar – Bahar Dar – Addis Ababa
MSN:
4325
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
28615
Circumstances:
On approach to Gondar Airport, the left wing detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed few km from the airfield. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the physical loss of the right wing was caused by the presence of fatigue cracks in the root.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Dessie: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
42-93804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Asmara – Addis Ababa
MSN:
13756
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area located about 40 km southwest of Dessie. All six occupants were killed.