Narrative:The Argonaut had taken off from London for a flight to Kano. Following a scheduled stop at Rome, the aircraft continued to Tripoli. Visibility was poor at Tripoli and strong winds existed as the aircraft approached the airfield. The first three attempts to land had to be rejected. On the fourth attempt to land, the aircraft descended too low and struck trees some 1200 feet short of runway 11. A crash followed.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was a result of an error of judgement on the part of the captain who having made three unsuccessful attempts to line-up and land on runway 11 on his fourth attempt allowed his desire to keep the runway lights in view to effect his judgement, in that during a visual approach to the runway he failed to make adequate reference to his flight instruments. In the restricted visibility the runway lights gave him insufficient guidance as to attitude, height and angle of approach and unknowingly he permitted the aircraft to descend below its correct approach path."
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 50-AN/45 (183-187)
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 Roma-Ciampino Airport to Tripoli-Idris Airport as the crow flies is 1010 km (631 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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.