Training flight accident at Cairo International Airport

6 fatalities • Cairo-Intl, Egypt • Landing (descent or approach)

A training flight involving a crew of six ended in a fatal crash near the end of runway 23 at Cairo International Airport.

What happened

During a local training session at Cairo-Intl Airport, an aircraft was engaged in a flight lasting approximately three hours and fourteen minutes. As the mission neared its conclusion, the crew executed a low pass over runway 23, maintaining a slight nose-up orientation. During the transition into a climb following this maneuver, the pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft type. The plane subsequently crashed in flames near the end of the runway. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and six fatalities among the crew.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was a continuous increase in the pitch-up attitude during an overshoot maneuver, which caused the aircraft to stall at an altitude too low for the crew to recover. Several contributing elements were identified, including an inaccurate calculation of the center of gravity (CG) prior to departure. Additionally, investigators noted the potential for the onboard ballast weight to have shifted toward the rear of the plane during the flight, further destabilizing the aircraft's handling.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered a stall at an unrecoverable altitude due to an increasing pitch-up attitude during an overshoot maneuver.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1974-07-09 Tupolev TU-154 accident near Cairo-Intl, Egypt?

A training flight involving a crew of six ended in a fatal crash near the end of runway 23 at Cairo International Airport.

Were there any fatalities in the 1974-07-09 Tupolev TU-154 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1974-07-09 involved a Tupolev TU-154, registration SU-AXB, operated by Egyptair, at Cairo-Intl, Egypt.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft entered a stall at an unrecoverable altitude due to an increasing pitch-up attitude during an overshoot maneuver.

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