5 fatalities

Four-engine aircraft crash into Lake Chad during cargo flight (F-BFVO)

Lake Chad, ChadFlight

On November 6, 1952, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration F-BFVO) operated by Union Aéromaritime de Transport - UAT was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Chad, Chad in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the aircraft losing control and crashing into Lake Chad is currently undetermined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 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

A four-engine aircraft crashed into Lake Chad during a cargo operation, resulting in five fatalities and one survivor.

What happened

During a scheduled cargo mission traveling from Fort Lamy to Beirut, a four-engine aircraft lost control and impacted the surface of Lake Chad. The incident occurred under circumstances that remain undetermined following the crash.

Of the six people on board the aircraft, there were five fatalities. The sole survivor of the accident was the pilot, who was successfully rescued from the wreckage.

Findings

The specific reasons for the loss of control and the subsequent impact into the water have not yet been established, as the exact circumstances surrounding the crash remain unknown.

Probable cause

The cause of the aircraft losing control and crashing into Lake Chad is currently undetermined.