1970-03-12: Douglas DC-6 (ET-AAY) — Ethiopian Airlines — Asmara, Eritrea

No fatalitiesAsmara, EritreaLanding (descent or approach)

A four-engine aircraft overran the runway at Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport, resulting in a post-crash fire and total hull loss.

What happened

Following its arrival at Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport, a four-engine aircraft experienced an overrun during the landing phase. The aircraft was unable to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length, leading to a departure from the paved surface. During the excursion, the plane lost its undercarriage and subsequently caught fire.

Despite the intensity of the flames that destroyed the airframe, all four occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage safely. There were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the crew and passengers following the incident.

Findings

Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary factor was the failure to deploy thrust reversers after the aircraft had touched down on the runway.

Probable cause

The crew did not utilize the aircraft's thrust reverser systems following touchdown.