1979 Interflug Ilyushin Il-18 crash

Coordinates: 8°52′41″N 13°12′42″W / 8.87806°N 13.21167°W / 8.87806; -13.21167
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1979 Interflug Ilyushin Il-18 crash
An Interflug Ilyushin Il-18D similar to the aircraft involved
Accident
DateMarch 26, 1979 (1979-03-26)
SummaryOvershoot runway due to engine failure and pilot error
SiteQuatro de Fevereiro Airport, Luanda, Angola
8°52′41″N 13°12′42″W / 8.87806°N 13.21167°W / 8.87806; -13.21167
Aircraft
Aircraft typeIlyushin Il-18D
OperatorInterflug
RegistrationDM-STL
Flight originQuatro de Fevereiro Airport, Luanda, Angola
DestinationLusaka International Airport, Lusaka, Zambia
Passengers6
Crew4
Fatalities10
Survivors0

On 26 March 1979, an Ilyuishin-18 crashed during takeoff from Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Luanda, Angola, killing all ten people on board.

Background[edit]

When Angola gained independence in 1975, power was in the hands of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MLPA), which was supported by the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc. The Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), which fought for the abolition of apartheid in Southern Rhodesia, also enjoyed the support of communist countries. For the planned ZAPU offensive, heavy weapons were delivered to the port of Luanda from East Germany by sea, which were planned to be further transported by air to Lusaka, Zambia, which bordered Southern Rhodesia (their government also supported ZAPU). As TAAG Angola Airlines could not transport these deliveries, an Il-18 cargo aircraft from Interflug was chartered instead, which was supposed to carry a total of 500 tons of weapons. Because the transportation of such cargo was prohibited by international agreements, the operation was carried out in secrecy. The plane arrived in Luanda, where the crew and technical staff were supposed to stay until the mission was completed.[1]

Aircraft and crew[edit]

The aircraft was an Ilyushin Il-18D (registered as DM-STL) that was built and delivered to Interflug in 1966 as a passenger aircraft.[2] In 1974, it was converted into a freighter.[3]

The crew consisted of captain Dieter Hartmann (44), first officer Jochen Wilsdorf (29), navigator Horst Umlauft (45), and flight engineer Frank-Rolf John (35).[1][4]

Accident[edit]

The aircraft took off with a take-off weight of 60.5 tons. 56 seconds into the takeoff roll, engine #2 failed. The takeoff was rejected, but there was insufficient runway remaining. The aircraft overran the end of the runway at high speed, collided with the instrument landing system antennas and burst into flames. All 10 people on board were killed.[5]

Investigation[edit]

The investigation was carried out by the airline led by Interflug's CEO, Klaus Henckes. The commission found that the decision to abort the takeoff was inappropriate, since the aircraft had aborted its takeoff after V1 at 145 knots (269 km/h; 167 mph). The V1 speed of the accident flight was 120 knots (220 km/h; 140 mph), but the takeoff was aborted at 268 kilometres per hour (145 kn; 167 mph). Captain Hartmann attempted to rotate the aircraft despite the failure, but then rejected the takeoff, presumably concerned that the engines would not provide enough thrust.[1][6]

Aftermath[edit]

Due to the classified nature of the cargo, Angola's report to ICAO stated that the aircraft was carrying humanitarian aid.[1]

The Socialist Unity Party of Germany decided to continue the cargo transfer operation and sent another Ilyushin Il-18 (registration DM-STP) on 2 April 1979.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "DM-STL" (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-12-11. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  2. ^ "Карточка самолёта: Ильюшин · Ил-18Д · DM-STL (зав.н. 186009402)" [Aircraft card: Ilyushin Il-18D DM-STL (serial number 186009402)]. russianplanes.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  3. ^ Billig, Detlef; Meyer, Manfred (2002). Flugzeuge der DDR [GDR aircraft] (in German). Vol. 1. TOM Modellbau. p. 187. ISBN 9783613021976.
  4. ^ "Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D in Luanda: 10 killed". www.baaa-acro.com. Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  5. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin Il-18D DM-STL Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport (LAD)". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Archived from the original on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  6. ^ Yakubovich, N. V. (2013). Все самолеты Ильюшина. Самая полная энциклопедия [All Ilyushin aircraft. The most complete encyclopedia] (in Russian). Moscow: Eksmo. p. 146. ISBN 978-5-699-65600-4.
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