No fatalities

Aircraft accident at Uli Airstrip, Biafra (TR-LNV)

Uli, NigeriaTakeoff (climb)

On June 29, 1969, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration TR-LNV) operated by Affretair was involved in an aviation accident near Uli, Nigeria during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft may have departed from an inappropriate runway for the existing weather or airfield conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed during takeoff from Uli Airstrip in Biafra, resulting in the destruction of the plane but no fatalities among the crew.

What happened

During a takeoff attempt at Uli Airstrip in Biafra, an aircraft crashed, leading to the total destruction of the airframe. Despite the severity of the impact and the loss of the aircraft, all four crew members on board were successfully rescued from the wreckage without any reported fatalities.

Findings

While the official cause of the accident has not been definitively established, unconfirmed reports suggest that the incident may have been the result of the crew performing a takeoff from an incorrect runway relative to the prevailing environmental conditions at the time.

Probable cause

The aircraft may have departed from an inappropriate runway for the existing weather or airfield conditions.