Accident description
Last updated: 20 June 2013
| Status: | |
| Date: | 02 JAN 1971 |
| Type: | de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4C |
| Operator: | United Arab Airlines - UAA |
| Registration: | SU-ALC |
| C/n / msn: | 6439 |
| First flight: | 1960 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 25592 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 7 km (4.4 mls) N of Tripoli International Airport (TIP) (Libya)
 |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Algiers-Dar el Beida Airport (ALG/DAAG), Algeria |
| Tripoli International Airport (TIP/HLLT), Libya | |
| Flightnumber: | 844 |
The Comet, on a flight from Algiers, struck sand dunes at 395 feet while making an ADF approach procedure turn for runway 18.
PROBABLE CAUSE: The probable cause of the accident was the decision of the pilot-in-command to land while the prevailing visibility was below the Airline's minimum for that airport at night, and for undetermined reasons, the aircraft was lower than the altitude it ought to have been for an ADF approach to the runway in use.
The weather was a contributing factor. Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 118-AN/88 (131-138)
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Algiers-Dar el Beida Airport to Tripoli International Airport as the crow flies is 1006 km (629 miles).
Distance from Algiers-Dar el Beida Airport to Tripoli International Airport as the crow flies is 1006 km (629 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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DH-106 Comet
Libya- 4th worst accident (at the time)
- 9th worst accident (currently)