Incident Overview
Date: Monday 29 August 1960
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
Owner/operator: Air France
Registration Number: F-BHBC
Location: 1,6 km off Dakar-Yoff Airport (DKR) –
ÿ Senegal
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 63 / Occupants: 63
Component Affected: Aircraft Control Systems (specifically the pilot’s decision to enter a holding pattern and delay landing).Aircraft Control Systems (specifically the pilot’s decision to enter a holding pattern and delay landing).
Investigating Agency: BEABEA
Category: Accident
A Air France flight 343 experienced a catastrophic accident near Dakar, Senegal, resulting in the loss of all crew and passengers. The aircraft initiated a holding pattern due to deteriorating weather conditions, and subsequently disappeared in a sudden rain squall. The plane crashed into the sea at a depth of 40 meters near the Mamelles lighthouse.A Air France flight 343 experienced a catastrophic accident near Dakar, Senegal, resulting in the loss of all crew and passengers. The aircraft initiated a holding pattern due to deteriorating weather conditions, and subsequently disappeared in a sudden rain squall. The plane crashed into the sea at a depth of 40 meters near the Mamelles lighthouse.
Description
Air France flight 343 left Paris-Orly (France) with destinations Dakar (Senegal), Monrovia (Liberia) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast). The first intermediate stop was to be Dakar. Arriving near Dakar, the crew first carried out a baulked landing procedure on runway 01. After declining an ILS runway 30 approach the pilot decided to enter a holding pattern and wait for improvement of the weather conditions. Shortly after 06:41 another attempt was made to land at runway 01. After reporting downwind at 06:47 the plane disappeared in a rain squall and crashed into the sea at 2400 m from the Mamelles lighthouse. Depth of the sea there was 40 m. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The cause of the accident could not be determined”
Primary Cause
Severe weather conditions, specifically a sudden rain squall, created a hazardous environment, leading to the pilot’s decision to enter a holding pattern and ultimately, a loss of control and subsequent crash.Severe weather conditions, specifically a sudden rain squall, created a hazardous environment, leading to the pilot’s decision to enter a holding pattern and ultimately, a loss of control and subsequent crash.Share on:
