ASN Aircraft accident Let L-410UVP 9Q-CGX Calabar Airport (CBQ)
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Tuesday 21 May 2002
Time:19:42
Type:Silhouette image of generic L410 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Let L-410UVP
Operator:Sky Executive Airlines
Registration: 9Q-CGX
MSN: 851402
First flight: 1985
Total airframe hrs:8086
Engines: 2 Walter M-601D
Crew:Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:22 km (13.8 mls) SSE of Calabar Airport (CBQ) (   Nigeria)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:Port Harcourt Airport (PHC/DNPO), Nigeria
Destination airport:Calabar Airport (CBQ/DNCA), Nigeria
Flightnumber: 401
Narrative:
Let 410 9Q-CEX was being flown by a Congolese crew on behalf of the Nigerian airline company Sky Executive Airlines. The aircraft departed Abuja around 16:30 for a passenger flight to Port Harcourt. At Port Harcourt all passengers disembarked. The aircraft then took off for a ferry flight to Calabar. On approach the pilot declared an emergency due to an electrical failure. At 65 km out the crew commenced a descent to 2500 feet. The descent was continued past this altitude until the Let crashed in a swamp. During the investigation into the cause of the accident it was found out that the aircraft was non-compliant with the maintenance requirements, and proper documentation of the aircraft and crew members. Also, the plane had exceeded the prescribed annual inspection time by 248 hours, and the engines were not maintained in accordance with the standard procedure. Contrary to NCAA regulations a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), nor a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) were installed.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The premature departure of the plane from the normal minimum safe altitude of 2500 ft without air traffic controller's clearance until it flew into the terrain. Other contributing factors are the emergence of electrical problem on the aircraft on the commencement of its approach which might have distracted the attention of the pilot from having undistorted focus on the instruments, and unfavourable weather conditions of low cloud base and
thunderstorm which impaired visibility at the critical time of descent."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: AIPB Nigeria
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 90 days (3 months)
Accident number: FMA/AIPB/383
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Distraction in cockpit
Electrical system problem
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground

Sources:
» Daily Trust
» Reuters
» This Day
» Civil aviation accident report no. FMA/AIPB/383


Follow-up / safety actions

AIB Nigeria issued 4 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

photo of Let-410UVP-9Q-CGX
accident date: 21-05-2002
type: Let 410UVP
registration: 9Q-CGX
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Port Harcourt Airport to Calabar Airport as the crow flies is 154 km (96 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org