No fatalities

1978-02-08: Douglas C-49 (DC-3) (N189UM) — Aero Service Corporation - USA — Tamanrasset, Algeria

Tamanrasset, AlgeriaLanding (descent or approach)

On February 8, 1978, a Douglas C-49 (DC-3) (registration N189UM) operated by Aero Service Corporation - USA was involved in an aviation accident near Tamanrasset, Algeria during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an uncontrolled hard landing of unknown origin. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781227076Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N189UM
Aircraft registered N189UM. Photo: Clive R Martin from Addlestone Surrey, England / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft sustained significant damage following a hard landing at Tamanrasset-Aguenar Airport, though all crew members escaped without injury.

What happened

During an arrival at Tamanrasset-Aguenar Airport, the aircraft experienced a high-impact touchdown. The impact of the landing caused the airframe to come to a complete stop on the airfield. Following the event, the aircraft was determined to be a total loss, as the damage sustained was beyond repair.

Despite the severity of the impact, there were no casualties reported. All three crew members on board managed to exit the wreckage safely and were found to have sustained no injuries during the incident.

Findings

Official investigations into the event concluded that the primary factor was a hard landing. The specific underlying reasons for why the aircraft struck the ground with such force remain undetermined.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an uncontrolled hard landing of unknown origin.