1956 Kano Airport BOAC Argonaut crash
 | This article may be excessively based on contemporary reporting. (March 2024) |
 |
 G-ALHS, sister aircraft to the one involved in the crash, in 1954 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 June 1956 |
| Summary | Crashed on take-off following encounter with microburst |
| Site | Kano Airport, Nigeria 12°02′49″N 8°31′05″E / 12.046891°N 8.51809°E |
| 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 |
On 24 June 1956, a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) four-engined Canadair C-4 Argonaut airliner crashed into a tree on departure from Kano Airport in Nigeria, three crew and 29 passengers were killed.[1][2]
Crash
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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 Organization urgently consider investigating the special hazards to aircraft inherent in taking off or landing in close proximity to thunderstorms.[4]
References
[edit]- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f World Accident Summary. Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). 1974. p. 10/56. ISBN 0-903083-44-2.
- ^ a b "Air Crash in Nigeria Argonaut With 45 on Board, Many Casualties, Craft Bound For London". News. The Times. No. 53566. London. 25 June 1956. col A, p. 8.
- ^ a b "Death Roll Now 30 in Nigeria Air Disaster". News in Brief. The Times. No. 53567. London. 26 June 1956. col D, p. 10.
- ^ a b "Kano Crash Caused By Thunderstorm Sudden Reversal of Wind". News. The Times. No. 53598. London. 1 August 1956. col D, p. 7.
- Accidents and incidents involving the Canadair North Star
- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by microbursts
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1956
- Aviation accidents and incidents in Nigeria
- British Overseas Airways Corporation accidents and incidents
- 1956 meteorology
- June 1956 events in Africa
- 1956 disasters in Nigeria