Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > African Aviation
Reload this Page >

Gabon aircrash into the ocean

Wikiposts
Search
African Aviation Regional issues that affect the numerous pilots who work in this area of the world.

Gabon aircrash into the ocean

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 8th Jun 2004, 11:19
  #1 (permalink)  
AlwaysOnFire
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: **** you PPRUNE!
Age: 24
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gabon aircrash into the ocean

Seem like an plane ditched into the ocean after start outside Libreville, 6 people has been fished up alive from the water,
30 onboard...
alexmcfire is offline  
Old 8th Jun 2004, 12:16
  #2 (permalink)  
RASTAMIKE
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Gabon Express's HS 748 that ditched...

Anybody heard of a crash in Cotonou? it seems that airport closed due to runway blocked
 
Old 8th Jun 2004, 13:59
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sandpit
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unhappy

This morning around 0800Z, the HS748 of Gabon Express crashed near a beach north of Libreville. There were 27 POB, including 4 crew. All the crew are alive, and between 4 and 6 passengers have been fished out (at 1030Z, but the search continues).

The guys apparently had an engine failure during the initial climb, after a takeoff from runway 16 in Libreville. They turned back to land, but they were not quite aligned for runway 34, so they did a low pass with the gear down and a prop feathered, and announced they were aiming at the beach.

The aircraft sunk fairly quick, and only its tail remains out of the water now. Fishermen brought the first survivors back to the shore. Then the firemen and ambulances and policemen and their brothers arrived in a huge mess, without any real idea of what to do, or any equipment to do it... They essentially started turning around the wreck in a small Police boat, and they were still doing that 2h30 after the crash. The large crowd watching them from the beach was so pissed of against these so-called 'emergency services' that they almost started a riot...
Treetopflyer is offline  
Old 8th Jun 2004, 17:45
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Does anyone know if it was a ZS aircraft?
wheels up is offline  
Old 8th Jun 2004, 20:13
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Somewhere South of the Limpopo
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Below posted on Rumours and News:

Aircraft was indeed a 748, the airline's sole example of the type. TR-LFW had been with them since December 2000; manufactured in 1967.
R
Rhodie is offline  
Old 9th Jun 2004, 12:37
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Africa
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Very sad news coming from LBV...

Rastamike: Cotonou airport was closed for about 24 hours because an Air Ivoire F28 blew a tire on landing and could not be moved from the runway. Only one slight injury according to a statement by the airline...
canileb is offline  
Old 12th Jun 2004, 09:00
  #7 (permalink)  
GunsssR4ever
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Out there somewhere ...
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arrow From News 24

Libreville - A passenger plane that crashed off the coast of Libreville earlier in the week left 19 people dead among the 30 aboard, according to an official toll published in the daily government L'Union newspaper on Friday.

Of the 11 survivors who were taken to hospital following Tuesday's crash, most have already left, hospital sources said.

All the bodies have been recovered, an emergency services official told reporters. The last three corpses were washed up on a beach near where the plane crashed.

French, German and Lebanese nationals were among those killed in the crash. An inquiry has been opened by the prosecutor of Libreville.

The Hawker Siddeley 748 plane suffered apparent engine failure after take-off from Libreville on Tuesday morning. It was owned by a private Gabonese company.
Gunship is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2004, 21:21
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The frequency jungle
Posts: 975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Flight International reports that the aircraft was not insured!! The government subsequently grounded the companie's other HS748.
Not insured........???? Unreal...
126,7 is offline  
Old 30th Jun 2004, 05:17
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Africa
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Problem is, insurance is a 2-way thing. You pay the premium, the insurance company will give you the insurance. Don't pay, the insurance gets cancelled. Wierd, isn't it?!
Teignmouth is offline  
Old 17th Jul 2004, 10:32
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Entebbe Uganda
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have it on good authority that the owner of Gabon express and the chief mechanic have been in prison since Tuesday!!!!!!
Was that for us? is offline  
Old 18th Jul 2004, 23:04
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: NY
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well it is AFRICA

Well it is Africa after all - I operated in Africa (Gabon) for 3 years back in the early 1980's. Seems that not much has changed (improved) since those days! It might seem a silly question but - "Isn't a HS748 supposed to be a Performance "A" airplane and shouldn't that be able to fly safely on the one remaining engine?
MercenaryAli is offline  
Old 19th Jul 2004, 07:07
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Colorado USA
Age: 68
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mercenary Ali

Of course the plane should have flown comfortably on one engine.....but that assumes that the plane is properly loaded and that the crew are properly trained............ but in this part of Africa.....................????

V1
V1 Rotate is offline  
Old 29th Jul 2004, 19:21
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sandpit
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The captain is in prison as well.

As far as Perf A and flying on one engine are concerned: the only operative hydraulic pump that day was on the engine that failed (oops ). Hence the manual gear extension procedure was used. However, once on very short final, the crew still did not have the three greens. The captain decided to go around. It so happened that the gear was actually almost completely down. So that was one single-engine go-around with mucho drag out there, which probably explains why the bloody thing simply couldn't stay airborne.
Treetopflyer is offline  
Old 30th Jul 2004, 03:30
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Down Under
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Captain in jail??

Can anyone tell me the name and nationality of the captain. Is that Bob Sobeks airline?
lokione is offline  
Old 30th Jul 2004, 11:20
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Africa
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, it was Bob's airline...
canileb is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2004, 05:31
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Down Under
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey canileb, I know some people that flew for him How could I find out the crew names? I am a bit concerned! Are Bob and the captain really in Jail?????????? I cant even begin to imagine what jail would be like there -
lokione is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2004, 06:05
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Entebbe Uganda
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As I understand it the HS 748 was in fact an Andover II.
So flying fare paying PAX in Non type certificated aircraft with no insurance and a gearbox disconnected doesnt even come near to being called an AIRLINE.
Was that for us? is offline  
Old 31st Jul 2004, 12:41
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Africa
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah, that was some rogue outfit... Unfortunately, there are quite a few around here...

Bob and the director of the local CAA in jail. I am not sure about the captain but I think he's been arrested as well. Sorry, don't know the crew names.
canileb is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2004, 18:34
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sandpit
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It was definitely NOT an Andover, but a HS748. Bob did operate an Andover with Gabex in the past (reg 3C-), but he dropped it at least a year ago.

The captain is half-Congolese half-European, the only one employed by Bob in the past few years (this is enough to figure out who it is if you know Gabex). A guy with lots of experience in general, and on type as well.
Treetopflyer is offline  
Old 5th Aug 2004, 05:35
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Entebbe Uganda
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Treetopflyer you do know the difference between an Andover II and an Hs 748?
Was that for us? is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.