On June 20, 1996, a Gulfstream GII (registration VR-BLJ) operated by Namco was involved in an aviation accident near Jos, Nigeria during landing or approach. 12 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The antenna was installed by Nitel in a prohibited area; the crew was unable to see and avoid the obstacle due to poor weather; and the aircraft was not properly aligned because the Jos VOR was wrongly calibrated by 10°. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
On approach to Jos Airport, an executive flight from Kaduna struck a telecommunication antenna and crashed, killing all 12 occupants.
Accident
A flight operating from Kaduna to Jos was on an executive mission, carrying four crew members and eight passengers. Among the passengers was Colonel Mohammed Wase. During the approach to Jos Airport, the flight crew experienced reduced visibility attributed to marginal weather conditions. The aircraft struck a telecommunication antenna and subsequently crashed, with the wreckage bursting into flames. The aircraft was completely destroyed and all 12 individuals on board perished.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation into the accident revealed several findings. The telecommunication antenna had been recently installed by the company Nitel within a prohibited area. The flight crew was unable to visually identify and bypass the obstacle due to poor weather. Additionally, the aircraft's approach path was misaligned because the Jos VOR navigational aid had been incorrectly calibrated by 10°.
Probable cause
The antenna was installed by Nitel in a prohibited area; the crew was unable to see and avoid the obstacle due to poor weather; and the aircraft was not properly aligned because the Jos VOR was wrongly calibrated by 10°.