4 fatalities

Red Cross Humanitarian Flight Crashes Near Uli Airstrip, Four Crew Members Killed (HB-IBT)

Uli, NigeriaLanding (descent or approach)

On May 7, 1969, a Douglas DC-6 (registration HB-IBT) operated by Balair - Switzerland was involved in an aviation accident near Uli, Nigeria during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 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 on a Red Cross humanitarian mission from Cotonou to Uli struck the ground about 10 km north of Uli Airstrip during a night approach in marginal weather. Post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft, killing all four crew members.

Accident Details

A four-engine aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight from Cotonou to Uli, carrying 10 tons of food on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The aircraft was on final approach from the north during nighttime when the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. The aircraft then struck the ground and crashed approximately 10 km north of Uli Airstrip, near the village of Ihiala.

Aircraft and Crew

The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. All four crew members were killed. The crew consisted of:

  • Karl Eric Baltze, pilot
  • Hellmut Scharck, copilot
  • Carl Goesta Sternhag, flight engineer
  • Bo Valentin Almgren, loadmaster

Location

The accident occurred near Ihiala, a village located about 10 km north of Uli Airstrip in Nigeria. The aircraft had flown from Cotonou, Benin, on a relief mission.