Incident Overview
Date: Friday 3 May 1963
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-6B
Owner/operator: Air Afrique
Registration Number: F-BIAO
Location: Mt. Cameroon –
ÿ Cameroon
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 55
Component Affected: Pilot-in-command navigation and route selection.Pilot-in-command navigation and route selection.
Category: Accident
An Air Afrique flight experienced a catastrophic accident due to pilot negligence and improper navigation near Mount Cameroon. The pilot intentionally chose a hazardous route, resulting in a collision with the mountain.An Air Afrique flight experienced a catastrophic accident due to pilot negligence and improper navigation near Mount Cameroon. The pilot intentionally chose a hazardous route, resulting in a collision with the mountain.
Description
The Air Afrique flight took off from Douala runway 12 at 13:16 GMT on an IFR flight plan to Lagos, cruising altitude 16500 feet. Last radio contact was with Kano at 13:25 when the crew estimated leaving the FIR around 13:38. Two minutes later the aircraft struck Mount Cameroon in a straight climb at 6500 feet (800 m below the peak). PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was caused by a lack of caution on the part of the pilot-in-command who deliberately selected a route which led the aircraft into a dangerous and even prohibited sector at too low an altitude. Also, he neglected his navigation and transferred to instrument flight when approaching the mountain range.”
Primary Cause
Pilot-in-command negligence and improper navigation leading to a route selection that resulted in a dangerous and prohibited sector.Pilot-in-command negligence and improper navigation leading to a route selection that resulted in a dangerous and prohibited sector.Share on:
