Western | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine airplane departed Port Gentil, Gabon, on a charter flight to the Ivory Coast, carrying three passengers and a pilot. En route, it crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located west of Takoradi, near the border between Ghana and Ivory Coast. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DL in Takoradi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

9G-AAF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Accra - Takoradi

MSN:

9407

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Takoradi Airport, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed few km short of runway threshold. A passenger was killed while few other passengers were wounded, some of them seriously.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the engine failure remain unclear but the assumption that it was caused by a fuel exhaustion or by a contaminated fuel was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota IV in Takoradi

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN496

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16271/33019

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Takoradi was completed in low visibility due to poor weather conditions. On final, the aircraft hit a hut with its undercarriage and few seconds later, on touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft slid on its belly for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Too low approach.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO off Half Assini

Date & Time: May 27, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-47374

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

7316

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 2,5 km off Half Assini. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Takoradi

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38581

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4530

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing near Takoradi. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no fatalities.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI in Takoradi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1943 at 0418 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

FK578

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Takoradi - Takoradi

MSN:

414-7054

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Takoradi Airport at 0418LT on a convoy escort mission. Almost immediately after takeoff, it impacted the ground 365 metres past the runway end and crashed, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald Charles Payne, pilot,
Sgt William James Thomas Watson, navigator,
Sgt David Taylor Adams, wireless operator,
Sgt Frank Edward Guy, air gunner.

Probable cause:

During a dark takeoff, the pilot failed to maintain a safe rate of climb after becoming airborne and flew into rising ground approximately 400 yards south of the runway. The Station Commander stated that the failure to maintain a safe rate of climb was probably due to pilot lag in changing over from visual to instruments when airborne.