Crash of Algerian Air Force plane kills 103

[fox niner]

Reportedly military transport plane.

BBC News - Algeria plane crash 'kills 103' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26138101)

[1stspotter]

A plane operated by the Algerian Air Force crashed in East Algeria with 103 people on board. It was on its way to Mali.
No more details known at the moment.
Type of aircraft likely a IL76 or C130

[looseobject]

According to Algerian TVs, the flight was operating on domestic network, final destination was Constantine, DABC. Passengers were military staff and their families.

[Love_joy]

Just spotted this on AV8; Algerian Air Force transport crash kills 103 - AV8|News (http://av8-news.com/safety/1596-algerian-air-force-transport-crash-kills-103#sthash.2GG7X8Zy.dpbs)

Seems they maybe also operate A340's

[looseobject]

The ( unique ) A340 they operate , is the Algerian Air Force one.

[DaveReidUK]

Sky News reporting C-130, FWIW:

Algeria Plane Crash: More Than 100 People Killed (http://news.sky.com/story/1209919/algeria-plane-crash-more-than-100-people-killed)

[Desert185]

Military and families. Sad. Lots of folks on a C-130. I bet not everyone had seats.

[AtomKraft]

Aircraft involved is 7T-WHM.

Soldiers and families.

[Love_joy]

There are reports emerging from Algeria of a sole survivor.

Not confirmed yet, news reports coming out have been sketchy at best all afternoon.

[Loose rivets]

A strange coincidence from a previous crash there.


An Air Algerie Boeing 737 crashed on take-off from Tamanrasset in 2003, killing all but one of the 103 people on board.

[readywhenreaching]

there is some footage of the aircraft

????? ???? : ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ????????? - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PuElhzDQ94#t=56)

furher info:
JACDEC - Algerian AF C-130 crash (http://www.jacdec.de/news/[email protected])

[Herod]

Lots of folks on a C-130. I bet not everyone had seats.

Not necessarily. IIRC the RAF K model had capacity for 92 troops. Add in 5 seats on the flight deck, plus straps on the lower bunk for 3, plus the loadmaster/jumpmaster seating. 103 is pretty full, but there should be seats for all.

[Hamid]

C-130H has 92 troops seats (plus crew)
C-130H-30 the one that crashes has 128 seats

[Lonewolf_50]

MSA looks to be 7800'.
High ground looks to be about 5000'

:(

[momo95]

Having just watched a Canal Algerie news report it seems to be confirmed that there were 103 on board with 1 survivor. All on board were soldiers with their families, so many children involved. Apparently bad weather was to blame with snow reported in the Constantine region.
The most recent incident involving the Algerian military before this was a mid-air collision between two fighters during a military exercise.

[ve3id]

"The Defense Ministry, meanwhile, blamed the weather. "

Isn't it a bit soon to be saying this? I thought I would log on here to find the truth.

[Lakhan]

Apparently 78 onboard 1 sole survivor.

[momo95]

I would say it's more of an assumption than anything, probably the most likely cause at this stage.

[momo95]

The numbers are varying. Having conducted a quick check it would seem that foreign news outlets are reporting 77 dead and 1 survivor. But for some reason Algerian TV and Radio are reporting 102 dead with 1 survivor. Lemonde originally said 102 but have now edited and put in 77.

[RoyHudd]

Bad weather my foot....you simply fly above MSA, using the correct pressure setting, and making appropriate corrections for temp and pressure. That's it. The Herc was not on approach to Constantine, and should not have been flying visually in any event. Constantine has perfectly adequate STARs and procedural approaches to ILS/VOR aids. Any professional pilot can determine this.

Why do so many half-wits here pick up on the idiocy of the media and then ask stupid questions? Do they have no self-respect? Or can they not be bothered to research the basics?

[momo95]

No one asked any questions, who are these "half-wits" you speak of in your very condescending post ? can we focus on the crash rather than others ?

[ve3id]

That's exactly what I learned in CPL g/s. I was speaking tongue in cheek. I hope you are not referring to me as a stupid contributor.

[777300]

http://img.aktualne.centrum.cz/607/2/6070248-alzirsko-letadlo-letecke-nestesti-hercules-c-130.jpg

[zikko380]

worst crash in Algeria in a decade!!! bu the deadliest was the air algerie flight 6289 in 2003.

[captplaystation]

I have landed many times in Constantine. Yes there is terrain to the South, but, if you respect the STAR & approach procedure, there is no way to park the aircraft a couple of thousand feet below the highest MSA, sorry , but it ain't rocket science & Algerian Air Force guys should know (at least ) their own country & how it is constructed vertically.

[aterpster]

capt ps:

I have landed many times in Constantine. Yes there is terrain to the South, but, if you respect the STAR & approach procedure, there is no way to park the aircraft a couple of thousand feet below the highest MSA, sorry , but it ain't rocket science & Algerian Air Force guys should know (at least ) their own country & how it is constructed vertically.

NO STARS for DABC in the Jepps.

Both ILS (32 and 34) are marked "provisional/experimental." That's a new one.

[BOAC]

Algerian AIP has quite a few IFR charts (Cat I)

[framer]

Since when is " weather" the cause of a crash?
You either make good decisions regarding the weather you face or ..... you don't. It may be a factor, but it's not the cause.

[RoyHudd]

Atwerpster, join the hold over the a/d VOR above MSA, descend in the hold, and start the procedure at the nominated altitude.. Done it a few times at DABC. Simples....though my encounters with the Algerian AF C-130's were not much fun. They never transponded, but joined the pattern to land at places like Annaba without informing ATC. Scary stuff.

[aterpster]

RoyHudd:

Atwerpster, join the hold over the a/d VOR above MSA, descend in the hold, and start the procedure at the nominated altitude.. Done it a few times at DABC. Simples....though my encounters with the Algerian AF C-130's were not much fun. They never transponded, but joined the pattern to land at places like Annaba without informing ATC. Scary stuff.

Agree, that is the way it's been done for many years at lots of places in the world. I was just responding to another post that stated there was a STAR or STARs for DABC.

Can you explain why the two ILS and two VOR approach procedures at DABC are "Provisional Procedure on Experimental Basis?" (exact verbiage on Jepp charts.)

[BOAC]

You'll need to ask Jepp - my schoolboy French tells me the annotation is NOT on the national charts which are dated 2008.

[COxt]

Can't explain why they were "provisional" in the past but check your Jepp Chart Change Notices for DABC: "(11-1/11-2, 13-1/13-2) IAPs no longer on provisional basis."

[jcjeant]

Black box recovered in good shape
VIDEOS. Crash en Algérie : la boîte noire retrouvée en «bon état» (http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/videos-crash-en-algerie-la-boite-noire-retrouvee-en-bon-etat-13-02-2014-3586879.php)
From this press article:
Before the crash the pilot ask for an emergency landing at the tower of Oum El Bouaghi

[aterpster]

COxt:

Can't explain why they were "provisional" in the past but check your Jepp Chart Change Notices for DABC: "(11-1/11-2, 13-1/13-2) IAPs no longer on provisional basis."

Thanks. I didn't think to look at the Chart Change Notice.

[jcjeant]

News in a renowed Algerian newspaper (use Google translator if needed)
Le film de la catastrophe - Actualité - El Watan (http://www.elwatan.com/actualite/le-film-de-la-catastrophe-14-02-2014-245697_109.php)
In short:
Fog present on crash site (but no dangerous wind or snow)
Aircraft too low
In landing configuration (flaps .. landing gear out)
Low speed
Possible navigation problems (pilot or instruments)
Possible navaid problem at airport

[ehwatezedoing]

though my encounters with the Algerian AF C-130's were not much fun. They never transponded, but joined the pattern to land at places like Annaba without informing ATC. Scary stuff.

Always a bit worrying when you cannot listen what's going on UHF would be more accurate.