1956 Kano Airport BOAC Argonaut crash

1956 Kano Airport BOAC Argonaut crash
G-ALHS, sister aircraft to the one involved in the crash, in 1954
Accident
Date 24 June 1956
Summary Microburst
Site Kano Airport, Nigeria
12°02′49″N 8°31′05″E / 12.046891°N 8.51809°E / 12.046891; 8.51809Coordinates: 12°02′49″N 8°31′05″E / 12.046891°N 8.51809°E / 12.046891; 8.51809
Aircraft
Aircraft type Canadair C-4 Argonaut
Aircraft name Argo
Operator British Overseas Airways Corporation
Registration G-ALHE
Flight origin Kano Airport, Nigeria
Destination Tripoli International Airport (Idris Airport), Libya
Passengers 38
Crew 7
Fatalities 32
Survivors 13

The 1956 Kano Airport BOAC Argonaut crash occurred on 24 June 1956 when a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) four-engined Canadair C-4 Argonaut airliner registered G-ALHE crashed into a tree on departure from Kano Airport in Nigeria, three crew and 29 passengers were killed.[1][2]

Crash

At 17:21 the Argonaut departed Runway 25 at Kano Airport on the way to Tripoli in Libya.[1] The flight was from Lagos to London and had made a scheduled stop at Kano.[1][2] It was raining as the aircraft reached 250 feet (76 m) when the aircraft began to lose height.[1] The pilot applied full power but the aircraft continued to descend until it hit a tree about 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) from the end of the runway.[1] Three of the seven crew members and 29 of the 38 passengers were killed in the crash, two crew and two passengers were seriously injured.[1]

Investigation

A team from the British Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and BOAC flew out from London on 25 June in a chartered Canadair Argonaut to help in the investigation.[3] The Nigerian investigation team of four was led by the Director of Civil Aviation.[3]

Inquiry report

The Board of Inquiry concluded "The accident was the result of a loss of height and airspeed caused by the aircraft encountering, at approximately 250ft after take-off, an unpredictable thunderstorm cell which gave rise to a sudden reversal of wind direction, heavy rain, and possible downdraft conditions. The formation of the cell could not have been predicted by the meteorological forecaster at Kano airport, nor was it visible to the pilot in command before taking off. In the circumstances, no blame can be attached to the pilot in command for taking off."[4]

The report also recommended that the International Civil Aviation Organisation urgently consider investigating the special hazards to aircraft inherent in taking off or landing in close proximity to thunderstorms.[4]

The Kano crash was one of the first to a large airliner to be attributed directly to the weather phenomenon later to be more widely known by the term "microburst", and the subsequent analysis of the tragedy contributed importantly to a better understanding of a grave and hitherto under-appreciated danger to aviation.

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Civil Aviation Authority 1974, p. 10/56
  2. 1 2 "Air Crash in Nigeria Argonaut With 45 on Board, Many Casualties, Craft Bound For London". News. The Times (53566). London. 25 June 1956. col A, p. 8.
  3. 1 2 "Death Roll Now 30 in Nigeria Air Disaster". News in Brief. The Times (53567). London. 26 June 1956. col D, p. 10.
  4. 1 2 "Kano Crash Caused By Thunderstorm Sudden Reversal of Wind". News. The Times (53598). London. 1 August 1956. col D, p. 7.
Bibliography

  • World Accident Summary. Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). 1974. ISBN 0-903083-44-2.
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