54 Years ago today: On 20 March 1969 a United Arab Ilyushin 18 crashed on landing at Aswan, Egypt; killing 100 out of 105 occupants.
Date: | Thursday 20 March 1969 |
Time: | 02:00 |
Type: | Ilyushin Il-18D |
Operator: | United Arab Airlines – UAA |
Registration: | SU-APC |
MSN: | 188011301 |
First flight: | 1969 |
Total airframe hrs: | 128 |
Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 93 / Occupants: 98 |
Total: | Fatalities: 100 / Occupants: 105 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
Location: | Aswan Airport (ASW) ( Egypt) |
Crash site elevation: | 202 m (663 feet) amsl |
Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
Nature: | Int’l Non Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Jeddah International Airport (JED/OEJD), Saudi Arabia |
Destination airport: | Aswan Airport (ASW/HESN), Egypt |
Narrative:
Rising sand in the Aswan area caused the visibility to drop from 10 km to 2-3 km. The flight had made 2 missed NDB approaches to Aswan Airport and was approaching for the third time when it suddenly banked right. The right wing contacted the left side of the runway 1120 m from the threshold. The wing broke off and the aircraft crashed in flames.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: “Pilot descended below the minimum safe altitude without having the runway lights clearly in sight. A contributory factor was fatigue arising from continuous working hours without suitable rest periods.”