Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 23 April 1995
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
Owner/operator: Bristow Helicopters Nigeria (BHN)
Registration Number: 5N-AJQ
Location: Lagos-Murtala Muhammed Airport (LOS) – ÿ Nigeria
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Aircraft structure (nosegear-first impact).Aircraft structure (nosegear-first impact).
Category: Accident
A Twin Otter aircraft, en route from Port Harcourt, experienced a severe weather event during approach to Lagos runway 19L. Strong gusts and heavy rain caused a squall line, leading to drafts that impacted the aircraft’s approach. A microburst, characterized by a sudden shift in wind direction, occurred, resulting in rapid descent and a hard landing on the runway. The aircraft bounced and subsequently collided with a parked Fokker F-27 of the Nigerian Air Force.A Twin Otter aircraft, en route from Port Harcourt, experienced a severe weather event during approach to Lagos runway 19L. Strong gusts and heavy rain caused a squall line, leading to drafts that impacted the aircraft’s approach. A microburst, characterized by a sudden shift in wind direction, occurred, resulting in rapid descent and a hard landing on the runway. The aircraft bounced and subsequently collided with a parked Fokker F-27 of the Nigerian Air Force.

Description

After a flight from Port Harcourt, the Twin Otter approached Lagos runway 19L in strong gusting winds and heavy rain. A squall line passed the airport at the time and associated drafts possibly caused the Twin Otter to be high on approach. The captain took over control and tried to steepen the approach. The aircraft was still high, however when crossing the threshold. Shortly after full flaps were selected, the aircraft encountered a microburst with the wind suddenly shifting from 270deg/10 knots to 360deg/50 knots. The rate of descent increased and the aircraft struck the runway hard, nosegear-first. The Twin Otter bounced and ran off the left side of the runway. Full power was applied to attempt a go-around, or to try to get over a large drainage ditch. The aircraft continued with full power between 2 C-130 Hercules aircraft before colliding with a parked Fokker F-27 of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF908). Some sources report the Twin Otter registration to be 5N-AJS.

Primary Cause

Microburst induced by a squall line during approach.Microburst induced by a squall line during approach.

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