Enugu – Calabar

While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded and uninhabited area located about 84 km northwest of Calabar. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Enugu – Calabar

Registration

VR-NAD

MSN

12779

Year of Manufacture

1946

Date

February 5, 1955 at 10:04 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Calabar Cross River

Region

Africa • Nigeria

Coordinates

4.9965°, 8.3335°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On February 5, 1955 at 10:04 AM, Enugu – Calabar experienced a crash involving Bristol 170 Freighter, operated by West African Airways Corporation, with the event recorded near Calabar Cross River.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

13 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 10, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded and uninhabited area located about 84 km northwest of Calabar. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VR-NAD, MSN 12779, year of manufacture 1946.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 4.9965°, 8.3335°.

Fatalities

Total

13

Crew

3

Passengers

10

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded and uninhabited area located about 84 km northwest of Calabar. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

10

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 13

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Enugu – Calabar

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Africa • Nigeria

Aircraft Details

Registration

VR-NAD

MSN

12779

Year of Manufacture

1946

Similar Plane Crashes

May 22, 1937 at 12:00 AM

Rhodesian %26 Nyasaland Airways

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

On final approach to Port Harcourt, the single engine stalled and crashed short of runway. All five occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

August 12, 1939 at 12:00 AM

Aéromaritime

Sikorsky S-38

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well.

April 14, 1941 at 12:00 AM

Royal Air Force - RAF

Bristol 130 Bombay

While taking off from Lagos, a tyre burst. An undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft veered off runway before coming to rest in flames. No casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire. Crew from the 216th Squadron.

May 6, 1941 at 12:00 PM

Royal Air Force - RAF

Bristol 130 Bombay

Upon landing in Kano, the aircraft was caught by strong winds. It veered off runway, hit a ditch and lost an undercarriage before coming to rest. No casualties. Crew from the 216th Squadron.

June 14, 1941 at 12:00 AM

South African Air Force

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with storm activity. When some instruments became out of service, the captain attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a marshy field located near the Dodo River, in the region of Brass. There was no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

June 17, 1941 at 12:00 PM

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

De Havilland DH.86 Express

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for undermined reason. There was no injuries but the aircraft christened 'Delia' was written off.