Geneva – Dakar – Niamey – Khartoum – Mecca
Flight / Schedule
Geneva – Dakar – Niamey – Khartoum – Mecca
Aircraft
Douglas DC-4Registration
HB-ILA
MSN
43072
Year of Manufacture
1946
Operator
Balair - SwitzerlandDate
May 15, 1960 at 10:57 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Tora Tonga South Darfur (<U+062C><U+0646><U+0648><U+0628> <U+062F><U+0627><U+0631><U+0641><U+0648><U+0631>)
Region
Africa • Sudan
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On May 15, 1960 at 10:57 PM, Geneva – Dakar – Niamey – Khartoum – Mecca experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-4, operated by Balair - Switzerland, with the event recorded near Tora Tonga South Darfur (<U+062C><U+0646><U+0648><U+0628> <U+062F><U+0627><U+0631><U+0641><U+0648><U+0631>).
The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight 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: 10, crew fatalities: 10, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was completing a positioning flight from Geneva to Mecca with intermediate stop at Dakar, Niamey and Khartoum, carrying a crew of ten and two Swiss journalists. While overflying Sudan by night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Djebel Marra. The wreckage was located few hours later. The airplane was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration HB-ILA, MSN 43072, year of manufacture 1946.
Fatalities
Total
12
Crew
10
Passengers
2
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft was completing a positioning flight from Geneva to Mecca with intermediate stop at Dakar, Niamey and Khartoum, carrying a crew of ten and two Swiss journalists. While overflying Sudan by night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Djebel Marra. The wreckage was located few hours later. The airplane was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
10
Passengers On Board
2
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 12
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Geneva – Dakar – Niamey – Khartoum – Mecca
Operator
Balair - SwitzerlandFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Africa • Sudan
Aircraft Details
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