What happened
During a scheduled service from Libreville to Port Gentil, an aircraft encountered severe weather conditions characterized by a passing thunderstorm and heavy rainfall. As the flight approached the destination, visibility was reduced to approximately 1,000 metres due to the intensity of the rain.
Upon landing, the aircraft failed to achieve the necessary deceleration on the runway. This lack of braking effectiveness caused the plane to skid across the surface and eventually overrun the runway boundaries. The aircraft came to a stop in shallow water at the base of a small embankment. The impact and subsequent movement resulted in both engines catching fire and caused partial structural failure to both wings.
Despite the significant damage to the airframe, all 30 occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft without injury. The aircraft was subsequently declared a total loss.
Findings
- The accident occurred during the landing phase under poor visibility and heavy precipitation.
- The aircraft failed to slow down sufficiently after touchdown, leading to the excursion.