Algiers - Frankfurt

The four engine aircraft departed Algiers-Houari Boumédiène Airport at 1705LT on a cargo flight to Frankfurt with a crew of three on board. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet over north Italy, the copilot informed ATC about the failure of the automatic pilot system. Less than a minute later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent during which the overspeed alarm sounded in the cockpit. In a nose down angle of 45-50° and at a speed of 850/900 km/h, the aircraft crashed in an open field located southwest of Piacenza. The aircraft totally disintegrated on impact and all three crew members were killed. A large crater was found at the point of impact and debris were found till 800 metres around.

Flight / Schedule

Algiers - Frankfurt

Registration

7T-VHG

MSN

4880

Year of Manufacture

1981

Operator

Air Algérie

Date

August 13, 2006 at 08:15 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Piacenza Emilia-Romagna

Region

Europe • Italy

Coordinates

44.7056°, 9.7177°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On August 13, 2006 at 08:15 PM, Algiers - Frankfurt experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-130 Hercules, operated by Air Algérie, with the event recorded near Piacenza Emilia-Romagna.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The four engine aircraft departed Algiers-Houari Boumédiène Airport at 1705LT on a cargo flight to Frankfurt with a crew of three on board. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet over north Italy, the copilot informed ATC about the failure of the automatic pilot system. Less than a minute later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent during which the overspeed alarm sounded in the cockpit. In a nose down angle of 45-50° and at a speed of 850/900 km/h, the aircraft crashed in an open field located southwest of Piacenza. The aircraft totally disintegrated on impact and all three crew members were killed. A large crater was found at the point of impact and debris were found till 800 metres around.

Aircraft reference details include registration 7T-VHG, MSN 4880, year of manufacture 1981.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 44.7056°, 9.7177°.

Fatalities

Total

3

Crew

3

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The four engine aircraft departed Algiers-Houari Boumédiène Airport at 1705LT on a cargo flight to Frankfurt with a crew of three on board. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet over north Italy, the copilot informed ATC about the failure of the automatic pilot system. Less than a minute later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent during which the overspeed alarm sounded in the cockpit. In a nose down angle of 45-50° and at a speed of 850/900 km/h, the aircraft crashed in an open field located southwest of Piacenza. The aircraft totally disintegrated on impact and all three crew members were killed. A large crater was found at the point of impact and debris were found till 800 metres around.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 3

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Algiers - Frankfurt

Operator

Air Algérie

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Europe • Italy

Aircraft Details

Registration

7T-VHG

MSN

4880

Year of Manufacture

1981