Geneva – Zarzaitine – Accra – Zarzaitine – Geneva – London – Geneva

On September 26, 1995 at 11:00 PM, Geneva – Zarzaitine – Accra – Zarzaitine – Geneva – London – Geneva experienced a crash involving Learjet 36, operated by Executive Jet Aviation - Switzerland, with the event recorded near Zarzaitine-In Amenas Illizi.

The flight was categorized as ambulance and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Geneva-Cointrin on an ambulance flight to Accra with an intermediate stop in Zarzaitine, carrying two doctors and two pilots. The goal of the mission was to repatriate a patient to London via Geneva after a crew change. While descending to runway 05 at Zarzaitine-In Amenas Airport by night, the crew was informed by ATC that runway 23 was in service. The crew followed a circuit and started the descent to runway 23. On final approach in low visibility (dark night), the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the top of a sand dune. The undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft crash landed 3 km short of runway, bursting into flames. Both doctors escaped uninjured, the female copilot was slightly injured and the captain was seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration HB-VFS, MSN 36-042, year of manufacture 1978.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 28.0554°, 9.6440°.