2010 Tarco Air Antonov An-24 crash

2010 Tarco Air Antonov An-24 crash

An Antonov An-24 similar to the one involved
Accident
Date	11 November 2010 (2010-11-11)
Summary	Pilot error
Site	Zalingei Airport, Zalingei, Sudan 12°56′40″N 23°33′47″E
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Antonov An-24
Operator	Tarco Air
Registration	ST-ARQ
Flight origin	Khartoum International Airport, Khartoum, Sudan
Stopover	Nyala Airport, Nyala, Sudan
Destination	Zalingei Airport, Zalingei, Sudan
Occupants	44
Passengers	38
Crew	6
Fatalities	2
Injuries	6
Survivors	42

On 11 November 2010, an Antonov An-24 passenger aircraft of Tarco Air on a domestic service from Khartoum to Zalingei, Sudan, crashed on landing at Zalingei Airport, bursting into flames on the runway. Two passengers died, although reports on the number of fatalities varied from one to six.

Accident

The airplane had departed Khartoum International Airport at 13:27 on 11 November and, after a stopover at Nyala, arrived at Zalingei at 16:18, finding good weather conditions. The Antonov landed heavily on Zalingei's dirt runway 03, bounced and made another heavy contact with the ground, causing the landing gear and engines to shear off. Fuel from the ruptured wings ignited, and the resulting fire consumed most of the wreckage.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a twin-turboprop Antonov An-24 with Sudanese registration ST-ARQ. It was built in 1970.

Investigation

Sudan's Air Accident Investigation Central Directorate (SAAICD) conducted an investigation into the crash. It found that the flight data recorder did not contain any data, and that the cockpit voice recorder contained only four minutes of recording, of which none where from the accident flight.

The SAAICD attributed the accident to the flight crew's poor performance and co-ordination in executing the landing. Four safety recommendations were made.