Cairo - Khartoum - Addis Ababa
Flight / Schedule
Cairo - Khartoum - Addis Ababa
Aircraft
De Havilland DH.106 CometRegistration
SU-ANI
MSN
6475
Year of Manufacture
1964
Operator
United Arab AirlinesDate
January 14, 1970 at 04:18 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Addis Ababa-Bole Addis Ababa City District
Region
Africa • Ethiopia
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On January 14, 1970 at 04:18 AM, Cairo - Khartoum - Addis Ababa experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.106 Comet, operated by United Arab Airlines, with the event recorded near Addis Ababa-Bole Addis Ababa City District.
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.
14 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 14 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to Addis Ababa-Haile Selassie I Airport was completed by night and marginal weather conditions. On final, at an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot-in-command made a visual contact with runway 32 but the aircraft was 250 feet to the right of the extended centerline. The captain decided to make a turn to the left when the aircraft banked left, lost height and struck the ground. Out of control, it crashed by the runway and came to rest. All 14 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Aircraft reference details include registration SU-ANI, MSN 6475, year of manufacture 1964.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The approach to Addis Ababa-Haile Selassie I Airport was completed by night and marginal weather conditions. On final, at an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot-in-command made a visual contact with runway 32 but the aircraft was 250 feet to the right of the extended centerline. The captain decided to make a turn to the left when the aircraft banked left, lost height and struck the ground. Out of control, it crashed by the runway and came to rest. All 14 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
9
Passengers On Board
5
Estimated Survivors
14
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 14
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Cairo - Khartoum - Addis Ababa
Operator
United Arab AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Ethiopia
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Ethiopian Government
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Shortly after takeoff from Akaki, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. The crew was performing a flight within Ethiopia on behalf of the Ethiopian Red Cross. Both occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC
De Havilland DH.95 Flamingo
Crashed on take off from Addis Ababa-Lideta Airport. Occupant fate unknown.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area located about 40 km southwest of Dessie. All six occupants were killed.
Ethiopian Airlines
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
After landing, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining runway, overran and hit some rocks. While there were no casualties, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the aircraft landed too far down the runway.
British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger service from London to Johannesburg. The flight from London Airport to Rome was without incident. During the take-off from Rome on the second stage, the aircraft's normal speed failed to build up and after becoming airborne for a few seconds, the Captain's immediate reaction was that there was a lack of engine thrust. He throttled back the engines at the same time as the aircraft came to rest near the airport boundary, and the aircraft sustained considerable damage and two passengers were slightly injured. For take-off the aircraft was taxied to Runway 16 and lined up on the centre line; all pre-take-off checks were made and the elevator, aileron and rudder trim were set at the neutral position. The Captain's estimation of runway visibility was 5 miles but with no horizon. The flaps were lowered to 15" and the windscreen wipers were both operating. The engines were opened up to full power and the isolation switches were set to "Isolate'. The RPM were checked at 10 250 on all engines; fuel flows, engine temperatures and pressures were reported to be correct. The brakes were released and the aircraft made a normal acceleration. At an IAS of 75-80 knots, the nose wheel was lifted from the runway and a slight tendency to swing to starboard was corrected. At an IAS of 112 knots, the Captain lifted the aircraft from the ground by a positive backward movement of the control column and when he considered that the aircraft had reached a safe height he called for "undercarriage up". At about the same instant the port wing dropped rather violently and the aircraft swung to port; the controls gave normal response and lateral level was regained. At this point the Captain realized that the aircraft's speed was not building up, although he made no reference to the ASI. A pronounced buffeting was felt which he associated with the onset of a stall and in spite of two corrective movements of the control column the buffeting continued. Before the First Officer had time to select undercarriage up, the aircraft came down on its main landing wheels and bounced. It was now plainly evident to the Captain that the aircraft's speed was not increasing and he was convinced that there was a considerable loss of engine thrust. He was also aware that the aircraft was rapidly approaching the end of the runway and a decision to abandon the take-off was made. The undercarriage struck a mound of earth as he was closing the throttles and the aircraft slid for some 270 yards over rough ground. The main undercarriages were wrenched off and considerable damage resulted; a large spillage of fuel occurred but fire did not break out. One passenger suffered slight shock and another sustained a cut finger.
Canadian Pacific Airlines - CP Air
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
The crew (five flying crew and six De Havilland engineers) were conducting a demo flight from London to Sydney to show this new jetliner to potential clients in Southeast Asia and Oceania. While taking off from runway 25 (2,500 meters long) at Mauripur Airbase, the airplane failed to get airborne, overran, hit several obstacles, went through a perimeter fence and eventually crashed in flames in a small river. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed.
