6 fatalities

1990-05-29: Beechcraft 90 King Air (N707CE) — Bernard Bouchayer — Tamanrasset, Algeria

Tamanrasset, AlgeriaLanding (descent or approach)

On May 29, 1990, a Beechcraft 90 King Air (registration N707CE) operated by Bernard Bouchayer was involved in an aviation accident near Tamanrasset, Algeria during landing or approach. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot had been on duty for 14 hours without rest, obtained his licence on the aircraft the day prior, and due to lack of experience and intense fatigue, failed to realize his approach speed was too low, causing the aircraft to stall at a too low altitude… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781212885Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft on a multi-leg flight from Lyon to Luanda crashed on approach to Tamanrasset Airport, killing all six aboard. Pilot fatigue and inexperience led to a stall at low altitude.

Accident Details

A twin-engine aircraft departed Lyon, France, on a flight to Luanda, Angola, with intermediate stops in Algiers, Tamanrasset, Niamey, Port Harcourt, and Libreville. The aircraft carried five passengers and one pilot. During the final approach to Tamanrasset Airport at night, the aircraft stalled and crashed 4,300 meters short of runway 21. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and all six occupants were killed.

Investigation Findings

The investigation determined that the pilot had been on duty for 14 hours without any rest time. He obtained his licence on this aircraft the day prior to the accident and completed a test flight in Brussels before returning to Lyon to start the flight to Angola. The probable cause states that due to a lack of experience and intense fatigue, the pilot failed to realize his approach speed was too low, causing the aircraft to stall at a too low altitude to expect recovery.