2 fatalities

1981-03-09: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) (HB-FCX) — Zimex Aviation — Q5 A-103 Oil Field, Libya

Q5 A-103 Oil Field, LibyaTakeoff (climb)

On March 9, 1981, a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) (registration HB-FCX) operated by Zimex Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Q5 A-103 Oil Field, Libya during takeoff. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of poor flight preparation on the part of the crew who failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and failed to remove the system that was blocking the aileron on the left wing. 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 1781222877Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine airplane departed Q5 A-103 Oil Field en route to Benghazi but lost control one minute after takeoff and crashed about 350 km southeast of Benghazi. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Overview

A single-engine airplane crashed shortly after departing from the Q5 A-103 Oil Field, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and fatalities of both pilots. The accident occurred approximately one minute after takeoff while the flight was en route to Benghazi.

Accident Details

The airplane took off from the Q5 A-103 Oil Field and climbed initially. About one minute after departure, the aircraft went out of control and crashed. The crash site was located approximately 350 kilometers southeast of Benghazi. The airplane was totally destroyed. Investigations confirmed that both pilots were killed in the accident.

Probable Cause

According to official findings, the loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of poor flight preparation on the part of the crew. The crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and did not remove a system that was blocking the aileron on the left wing.