Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 21 August 1994
Aircraft Type: ATR 42-312
Owner/operator: Royal Air Maroc – RAM
Registration Number: CN-CDT
Location: near Tizounine –
ÿ Morocco
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 44 / Occupants: 44
Component Affected: ATR-42 aircraft autopilot systemATR-42 aircraft autopilot system
Category: Accident
On RAM flight 630, an ATR-42 aircraft experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of control during ascent, resulting in a steep dive and subsequent crash in the Atlas Mountains. The incident was attributed to the captain’s deliberate action of disconnecting the autopilot, leading to the aircraft’s descent.On RAM flight 630, an ATR-42 aircraft experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of control during ascent, resulting in a steep dive and subsequent crash in the Atlas Mountains. The incident was attributed to the captain’s deliberate action of disconnecting the autopilot, leading to the aircraft’s descent.
Description
RAM flight 630 departed Agadir (AGA) on a domestic flight to Casablanca. Some ten minutes after takeoff, while climbing through 16000 feet, the ATR-42 lost control. The ATR-42 entered a steep dive and crashed in the Atlas Mountains. The accident was said to have been caused by the captain disconnecting the autopilot and directing the aircraft to the ground deliberately. The Moroccan Pilot’s Union challenged these findings, claiming the pilot had been totally in control of himself prior to departure and that he had shown no signs of frustration of unhappiness in his personal or work life.
Primary Cause
Captain’s deliberate disconnection of autopilot controls.Captain’s deliberate disconnection of autopilot controls.Share on:
