What happened
During the final approach to Dakar-Yoff Airport, the captain initiated a go-around because poor weather conditions reduced visibility. Subsequent second and third landing attempts were aborted within minutes of each other. On the fourth attempt, the aircraft was short on fuel. It landed hard, causing the undercarriage to shear off. The airframe slid on its belly for several yards before coming to rest broken in two. Six passengers were killed in the incident, while nine other occupants sustained injuries.
Findings
The official investigation identified significant errors in the flight plan, specifically regarding estimated time of arrival and fuel endurance calculations. A critical failure was the pilot's decision not to divert after the second aborted landing, despite having an insufficient fuel reserve. Infrastructure limitations at Dakar-Yoff Airport also contributed, including inadequate runway lighting with no approach lights and a lack of facilities for low-visibility landings.
Additional contributory factors included difficulties in radio communications between the control tower and the aircraft, partly due to language barriers involving English-speaking controllers. The crew exhibited signs of nervousness during the multiple landing attempts. Furthermore, there was a lack of published aeronautical information for the alternate airfield at Thies, which was not available on schedules until after the final investigation report was released.