Aircraft overrun into Lake Victoria during landing at Entebbe

No fatalities • Entebbe, Uganda • Landing (descent or approach)

A cargo flight departing from London-Gatwick ended in an accident after overrunning the runway at Entebbe, resulting in the aircraft entering Lake Victoria.

What happened

A cargo operation traveling from London-Gatwick Airport to Entebbe ended in an accident during the landing phase. The aircraft, a cargo transport, arrived at Entebbe under nighttime conditions and touched down on runway 17. During the landing roll, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length of 12,000 feet. This resulted in the plane overrunning the end of the runway and plunging into Lake Victoria.

Upon impact with the water, the airframe split into two separate sections. Despite the severity of the impact, all seven crew members on board were successfully pulled from the wreckage. Rescue operations were completed approximately 10 minutes after the incident occurred.

Findings

  • The aircraft was unable to come to a halt within the remaining distance of the 12,000-foot runway.
  • The aircraft overran the runway and entered the adjacent body of water.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to stop within the available runway length, leading to a runway excursion into Lake Victoria.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2000-04-30 Douglas DC-10 accident near Entebbe, Uganda?

A cargo flight departing from London-Gatwick ended in an accident after overrunning the runway at Entebbe, resulting in the aircraft entering Lake Victoria.

Were there any fatalities in the 2000-04-30 Douglas DC-10 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2000-04-30 involved a Douglas DC-10, registration N800WR, operated by DAS Air Cargo - Dairo Air Services, at Entebbe, Uganda.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft failed to stop within the available runway length, leading to a runway excursion into Lake Victoria.

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