What happened
On 30 January 2000, an Airbus 310-304, registration 5Y-BEN, was prepared for a scheduled flight from Abidjan to Nairobi, with a stopover in Lagos. The aircraft had previously arrived in Abidjan following a diversion from Lagos due to poor weather conditions. The flight was operated by a relief crew, and the departure from Félix Houphouët-Boysigny International Airport was set for 21:00.
During the pre-flight procedures, the crew performed engine start-ups and received taxi clearance from the tower. The captain instructed the configuration of flaps to 15 degrees. At 21:07, the tower provided wind updates and takeoff clearance. The aircraft began its takeoff roll at 21:08, with the captain managing the thrust and rotation. Shortly after the landing gear was retracted, the aircraft's stall warning activated.
As the plane climbed, the altitude decreased rapidly through successive callouts from 300 feet down to 10 feet. The crew attempted to manage the situation, with the copilot requesting clarification on the issue and the captain ordering a climb. However, the aircraft struck the ground at approximately 21:09:24, shortly after the master warning sounded.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a stall warning almost immediately after the gear was retracted during the climb.
- The aircraft's altitude dropped precipitously from 300 feet to ground impact within approximately 15 seconds.
- There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries recorded among the 169 passengers and 10 crewmembers in the provided source text, though the impact occurred at a very low altitude.