20 fatalities

2006-02-11: Antonov AN-26 (7799) — Sudanese Air Force - Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya — Aweil, South Sudan

Aweil, South SudanLanding (descent or approach)

On February 11, 2006, an Antonov AN-26 (registration 7799) operated by Sudanese Air Force - Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya was involved in an aviation accident near Aweil, South Sudan during landing or approach. 20 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The simultaneous failure of both nose gear tires led to a loss of control and subsequent collision with a building. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781199058Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed and caught fire after a tire failure during landing at Aweil Airport, resulting in 20 fatalities.

What happened

During the landing phase at Aweil Airport, an aircraft experienced a significant mechanical failure when both tires on the nose landing gear burst. This failure caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable immediately following its touchdown on the runway. As the pilot lost control of the vehicle, it veered off the paved surface and careened into a nearby building.

Upon impact with the structure, the aircraft ignited, resulting in a large fire that completely destroyed the airframe. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 20 people on board, consisting of 7 crew members and 13 passengers, who were identified as Sudanese soldiers.

Findings

Investigations into the incident concluded that the primary factor leading to the crash was the simultaneous bursting of both nose gear tires, which directly caused the loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Probable cause

The simultaneous failure of both nose gear tires led to a loss of control and subsequent collision with a building.