Gaborone - Gaborone

In the early morning, an Air Botswana captain boarded a parked ATR42 and took off without permission. While circling over the Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the pilot contacted ATC and wanted to talk to several people, among them the company's President who was not available at this time. Negotiation started between the pilot and local authorities but after two hours, he decided to crash the aircraft on the apron where two others ATR42 of the same operator were parked. The aircraft crashed at a speed of 200 knots and exploded on impact. The pilot was killed and all three aircraft were destroyed. The two other ATR42 were registered A2-ABC and A2-AJD. There were no casualties on the ground as the airport was evacuated.

Flight / Schedule

Gaborone - Gaborone

Aircraft

ATR42-300

Registration

A2-ABB

MSN

101

Year of Manufacture

1988

Operator

Air Botswana

Date

October 11, 1999 at 07:43 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Illegal (smuggling)

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Gaborone-Seretse Khama South-East District

Region

Africa • Botswana

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On October 11, 1999 at 07:43 AM, Gaborone - Gaborone experienced a crash involving ATR42-300, operated by Air Botswana, with the event recorded near Gaborone-Seretse Khama South-East District.

The flight was categorized as illegal (smuggling) and the reported phase was flight at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. In the early morning, an Air Botswana captain boarded a parked ATR42 and took off without permission. While circling over the Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the pilot contacted ATC and wanted to talk to several people, among them the company's President who was not available at this time. Negotiation started between the pilot and local authorities but after two hours, he decided to crash the aircraft on the apron where two others ATR42 of the same operator were parked. The aircraft crashed at a speed of 200 knots and exploded on impact. The pilot was killed and all three aircraft were destroyed. The two other ATR42 were registered A2-ABC and A2-AJD. There were no casualties on the ground as the airport was evacuated.

Aircraft reference details include registration A2-ABB, MSN 101, year of manufacture 1988.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

1

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

In the early morning, an Air Botswana captain boarded a parked ATR42 and took off without permission. While circling over the Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the pilot contacted ATC and wanted to talk to several people, among them the company's President who was not available at this time. Negotiation started between the pilot and local authorities but after two hours, he decided to crash the aircraft on the apron where two others ATR42 of the same operator were parked. The aircraft crashed at a speed of 200 knots and exploded on impact. The pilot was killed and all three aircraft were destroyed. The two other ATR42 were registered A2-ABC and A2-AJD. There were no casualties on the ground as the airport was evacuated.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 1

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Gaborone - Gaborone

Operator

Air Botswana

Flight Type

Illegal (smuggling)

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Africa • Botswana

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

ATR42-300

Registration

A2-ABB

MSN

101

Year of Manufacture

1988

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