Nighttime Crash of a Charter Flight Near Cap Skirring (N862FW)

Flight Details and Accident Overview The aircraft was operating a charter flight from Dakar to Cap Skirring on behalf of Club Mediterranée. It carried 53 tourists from France, Belgium, and Switzerland, along with six crew members. During the night, the crew began the descent prematurely. The aircraft struck trees and crashed in a swampy area south of Kafountine, approximately 52 km north of Cap Skirring Airport runway 14. The aircraft was destroyed, and 31 occupants were killed, including all six crew members. Weather conditions were reported as good at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft Condition and Operational Status Built in 1952, the aircraft was owned by a Gambian company that was near bankruptcy and had unpaid insurance bills. The crew included a Russian stewardess, a 67-year-old American captain, and a 31-year-old Norwegian copilot. The crew was not familiar with the region. The aircraft was not maintained according to published procedures, with at least 16 instruments out of order at the time of the accident, including one altimeter. The aircraft was operated illegally under the registration of its former operator because the Gambian owner failed to complete the official deregistration and re-registration process, rendering the aircraft non-compliant with applicable regulations.