No fatalities

Night Approach Accident at Dembidolo (ET-AIQ)

Dembidolo, EthiopiaLanding (descent or approach)

On June 22, 1986, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration ET-AIQ) operated by Ethiopian Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Dembidolo, Ethiopia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed on hilly terrain near Dembidolo during a night approach in stratus clouds. All 20 occupants were injured, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview During a night approach to Dembidolo in stratus clouds, the crew did not recognize that the aircraft's altitude was too low. The aircraft encountered a mountain, and the crew increased engine power to gain height. The aircraft subsequently stalled, lost altitude, and crashed on hilly terrain located a few kilometers from the airfield. All 20 occupants were injured, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. ## Contributing Factors The source indicates that the crew failed to realize the altitude was too low during the approach. The presence of stratus clouds and night conditions were noted. The aircraft stalled after the crew increased engine power while facing a mountain.