London – Rome – Tripoli – Kano – Lagos
Flight / Schedule
London – Rome – Tripoli – Kano – Lagos
Aircraft
Canadair C-4 North StarRegistration
G-ALHL
MSN
158
Year of Manufacture
1949
Date
September 22, 1955 at 11:00 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Tripoli Tripoli (<U+0637><U+0631><U+0627><U+0628><U+0644><U+0633>)
Region
Africa • Libya
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On September 22, 1955 at 11:00 PM, London – Rome – Tripoli – Kano – Lagos experienced a crash involving Canadair C-4 North Star, operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC, with the event recorded near Tripoli Tripoli (<U+0637><U+0631><U+0627><U+0628><U+0644><U+0633>).
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
47 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 32 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 31.9%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 40, passenger fatalities: 13, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Tripoli Airport by night and poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. Three times, the captain decided to abandon the approach procedure for a go around maneuver. During a fourth attempt, he descended below the glide when the aircraft hit trees and crashed 1,200 yards short of runway 11. Two crew members and 13 passengers were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. All other occupants were injured.
Aircraft reference details include registration G-ALHL, MSN 158, year of manufacture 1949.
Fatalities
Total
15
Crew
2
Passengers
13
Other
0
Crash Summary
On approach to Tripoli Airport by night and poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. Three times, the captain decided to abandon the approach procedure for a go around maneuver. During a fourth attempt, he descended below the glide when the aircraft hit trees and crashed 1,200 yards short of runway 11. Two crew members and 13 passengers were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. All other occupants were injured.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
40
Estimated Survivors
32
Fatality Rate
31.9%
Known people on board: 47
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
London – Rome – Tripoli – Kano – Lagos
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Libya
Aircraft Details
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