1969 Aswan Ilyushin Il-18 crash

On 20 March 1969, a United Arab Airlines Ilyushin Il-18 crashed while attempting to land at Aswan Airport. 100 of the 105 passengers and crew on board were killed in the crash.

1969 Aswan Ilyushin Il-18 crash
An Ilyushin Il-18 similar to the accident aircraft.
Accident
Date20 March 1969
SummaryPilot error in low visibility and poor weather
SiteAswan International Airport
23.958°N 32.820°E / 23.958; 32.820
Aircraft
Aircraft typeIlyushin Il-18D
OperatorUnited Arab Airlines
RegistrationSU-APC
Flight originKing Abdullah Air Base
DestinationAswan International Airport
Passengers98
Crew7
Fatalities100
Injuries5
Survivors5

The crash

The flight was a non-scheduled international passenger service from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Aswan, Egypt. The aircraft was carrying home Muslim worshippers who had won a pilgrimage through a lottery.[1] It was dark in the early morning when the flight attempted to land and blowing sand had reduced visibility to 2–3 kilometers. After two unsuccessful attempts to land, the aircraft was making a third try when it banked to the right and hit the left side of the runway. The starboard wing tore off and a fuel spillage followed which caused the crashed aircraft to burst into flames.[2]

Cause

The probable cause was determined to be that the "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."[3][4]

References
  1. "Mecca pilgrims die in plane crash". The Glasgow Herald. 20 March 1969. Retrieved 8 June 2021 – via Google News.
  2. Gero, David (1996). Aviation Disasters Second Edition. Patrick Stephens Limited. p. 89.
  3. Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin Il-18D SU-APC Aswan Airport (ASW)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. "Accident Database: Accident Synopsis 03201969". Airdisaster.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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