Yaoundé – Douala

On April 18, 1955 at 12:00 AM, Yaoundé – Douala experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.114 Heron, operated by Union Aéromaritime de Transport - UAT, with the event recorded near Mt Koupé Southwest.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

12 people were known to be on board, 12 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: 9, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The four engine aircraft left Yaoundé at 1658LT four a short flight to Douala, ETA 1730LT. While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Koupé (2,064 meters high) located about 80 km north of Douala. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 12 occupants was found. On 19 February 1956, walkers found the wreckage in a dense wooded area on Mt Koupé.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-BGOI, MSN 14010, year of manufacture 1953.