No fatalities

Asmara Airport Takeoff Accident: Right Main Gear Collapse (ET-AAZ)

Asmara, EritreaTakeoff (climb)

On October 13, 1976, a Douglas DC-6 (registration ET-AAZ) operated by Ethiopian Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Asmara, Eritrea during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the right main gear during takeoff roll for unknown reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 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

During a takeoff roll at Asmara Airport, the right main gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. All occupants evacuated safely, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview and Outcome During the takeoff roll at Asmara Airport, the right main gear of the aircraft collapsed. Following the structural failure, the airplane veered off the runway to the right and eventually came to rest. All occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft safely. The incident resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the right main gear during the takeoff roll. The specific reasons for the gear failure were not identified in the official findings.