Flight and Pre-Approach Information
The aircraft departed Khartoum for Mwanza to load 38 tonnes of fish fillet for delivery to Europe. En route, the integral light of the radio altimeter was found to be unserviceable. The crew could not rectify the problem and continued using the Flight Management System (FMS).
At 16:58, the crew contacted Mwanza tower and were informed that there was no power at the airport and that efforts were underway to use a standby generator. Further information provided to the crew included that the VOR, DME, and NDB were all unserviceable. The weather reported: wind calm, visibility 8 km, temperature 25°C, and QNH 1015.
Approach and Go-Around
After holding for 10 minutes, the airport generator started and the runway lights illuminated. The first officer, who was the pilot flying, initiated a visual approach for runway 12. When well established on final approach with full landing configuration, the captain told the first officer that he was too low, and a few seconds later, that he was too high. Both the captain and the flight engineer then instructed the first officer to go around. The first officer overshot and climbed to 5,500 feet on the downwind leg.
Final Maneuvers and Accident
While turning onto left base, the captain remarked that the turn was too tight and said, "I will do a 360-degree turn to the right and position you finals." The captain then took control and initiated a right turn at 4,400 feet. Just before completing the turn, the first officer said, "do not go down anymore, the altimeter is reading 4,100 feet." Almost aligned with the runway, the first officer took control again. At that moment, the aircraft bounced two or three times, yawing to the left, and came to a halt in the middle of the lake.