What happened
A charter flight operated for Sonatrach departed Hassi R'Mel-Tilrhempt Airport at 20:30 local time, destined for Ghardaïa. The aircraft was carrying five people, consisting of three crew members and two employees. During the approach to runway 30, a disagreement occurred regarding the landing method; while the co-pilot intended to use an NDB/ILS approach, the captain opted for a visual approach.
At approximately 20:57, the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) triggered. The crew attempted to climb after reaching a minimum altitude of 240 feet above ground level. During this maneuver, the captain took control of the aircraft as the pilot flying. While attempting to locate the runway, the aircraft performed a steep bank and descent, with the nose pitching down to -18.9 degrees. Despite further EGPWS alerts, the aircraft continued its descent until it struck the ground and broke apart. The accident resulted in four survivors and one fatality, with the co-pilot later succumbing to his injuries.
Findings
The investigation identified several contributing factors that led to the crash. A primary issue was a lack of adherence to standard operating procedures and arrival checklists during the landing phase. The crew failed to follow established holding and approach protocols for Ghardaïa airport.
Furthermore, the captain became overly preoccupied with searching for the runway visually, which caused him to lose situational awareness and stop monitoring critical flight parameters. This disorientation was compounded by a lack of coordination between the crew members, who were flying together for the first time. The investigation also noted that the crew's failure to respond correctly to multiple alarms may have been linked to insufficient training on this specific Boeing 727 type. Finally, a tendency toward visual approaches due to routine operations in southern Algeria was cited as a contributing factor.