Freetown - Conakry - Banjul
Flight / Schedule
Freetown - Conakry - Banjul
Aircraft
Boeing 737-200Registration
3X-GCM
MSN
23469
Year of Manufacture
1986
Operator
Air Guinée ExpressDate
August 11, 2004 at 02:23 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Freetown-Lungi Northern Province
Region
Africa • Sierra Leone
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On August 11, 2004 at 02:23 PM, Freetown - Conakry - Banjul experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by Air Guinée Express, with the event recorded near Freetown-Lungi Northern Province.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
127 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 127 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 119, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Due to poor weather conditions in Freetown, the flight was delayed for hours. Finally, the crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 12/30 which is 3,200 metres long. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abort for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its right main gear and right engine before coming to rest in a grassy area located 100 metres past the runway end. All 127 occupants were rescued, among them 50 passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Aircraft reference details include registration 3X-GCM, MSN 23469, year of manufacture 1986.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Due to poor weather conditions in Freetown, the flight was delayed for hours. Finally, the crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 12/30 which is 3,200 metres long. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abort for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its right main gear and right engine before coming to rest in a grassy area located 100 metres past the runway end. All 127 occupants were rescued, among them 50 passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
8
Passengers On Board
119
Estimated Survivors
127
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 127
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Freetown - Conakry - Banjul
Operator
Air Guinée ExpressFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Sierra Leone
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Air Force - RAF
Douglas DC-2
On landing at Hastings Airport, south of Freetown, the aircraft collided with a RAF Hawker Hurricane (registered Z4257) and came to rest. Both aircraft were damaged beyond repair. No casualties.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Crashed on take off from Freetown-Hastings Airport for unknown reason. Crew fate unknown.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Short S.25 Sunderland
The crew was performing a maritime convoy mission off the Sierra Leone coast. En route, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. All nine crew members were killed. Crew (204th Squadron): P/O J. Quinn, P/O H. Horner, F/Sgt E. C. G. Jackman, Sgt J. James, Sgt K. O'Meara, Sgt W. A. Davis, Sgt W. D. Maconnell, Sgt E. H. Connell, Sgt D. Stevens.
United Airlines
Boeing 737-200
At 18:50 Boeing 737 "City of Bristol" taxied to runway 09 for departure. At 19:05 the first officer, who was pilot flying, initiated the takeoff roll. Shortly after rotation, at a speed above V2, a loud bang was heard and the aircraft veered to the right. The captain moved both throttles forward but there seemed to be no response. The captain then made the instantaneous decision to set the aircraft back on the runway. The aircraft touched down 1075 feet short of the runway end. The 737 continued of the end of the runway and across the blast pad. It crossed a field, passed through a 6-foot high aluminum chain link fence into an area covered with high grass, weeds and brush. The aircraft came to rest 1634 feet past the end of the runway.
United Airlines
Boeing 737-200
Flight UA553 departed Washington-National Airport at 1250LT for Omaha with an intermediate stop at Chicago-Midway Airport. Chicago ARTCC cleared the crew to descend to 4000 feet and the flight was given vectors for a Midway Airport runway 31L localizer course. At 14:19 the flight was transferred to Chicago Approach Control which later requested UA553 to slow down to 180 knots and later down to 160 knots. After issuing a descent clearance down to 2000 feet at 14:23 the controller requested the flight to slow down to approach speed because of separation between UA553 and a preceding Aero Commander. At 14:24 the Aero Commander passed the Outer Marker and was cleared to land on runway 31L. Two minutes later UA553 passed the Outer Marker inbound. Then, at 14:27:04 the air traffic controller decided to issue a missed approach clearance: "United 553 execute a missed approach make a left turn to a heading of 180 climb to 2000". At the same time, having just reached 1000 feet, the stick shaker suddenly activated. Full power was applied and the gear was retracted in an attempt to execute a missed approach. The Boeing continued to descend however, attaining a high nose up attitude (of at least 30deg, according to some survivors). The aircraft then clipped a tree and impacted trees, houses, utility pole cables and garages before coming to rest. Post crash fire destroyed part of the fuselage.
Indian Airlines
Boeing 737-200
On final approach to New Delhi-Palam Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In below-minimum visibility, despite he was unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to continue the approach and passed below the glide. With the flaps down to 40°, the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames near the district of Vasant Vihar, about 3 km east of the airport. Five crew members and 43 passengers were killed while 17 other occupants were injured.
