Narrative:
Rising sand in the Aswan area caused the visibility to drop from 10 km to 2-3 km. The flight had made 2 missed NDB approaches to Aswan Airport and was approaching for the third time when it suddenly banked right. The right wing contacted the left side of the runway 1120 m from the threshold. The wing broke off and the aircraft crashed in flames.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot descended below the minimum safe altitude without having the runway lights clearly in sight. A contributory factor was fatigue arising from continuous working hours without suitable rest periods."
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 20 March 1969 |
| Time: | 02:00 |
| Type: |  Ilyushin Il-18D |
| Operator: | United Arab Airlines - UAA |
| Registration: | SU-APC |
| MSN: | 188011301 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 128 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 93 / Occupants: 98 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 100 / Occupants: 105 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Aswan Airport (ASW) ( Egypt)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 202 m (663 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Int'l Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Jeddah International Airport (JED/OEJD), Saudi Arabia |
| Aswan Airport (ASW/HESN), Egypt |
Rising sand in the Aswan area caused the visibility to drop from 10 km to 2-3 km. The flight had made 2 missed NDB approaches to Aswan Airport and was approaching for the third time when it suddenly banked right. The right wing contacted the left side of the runway 1120 m from the threshold. The wing broke off and the aircraft crashed in flames.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot descended below the minimum safe altitude without having the runway lights clearly in sight. A contributory factor was fatigue arising from continuous working hours without suitable rest periods."
Classification:
Insufficient rest / fatigueControlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» Soviet TransportsPhotos
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 Jeddah International Airport to Aswan Airport as the crow flies is 706 km (442 miles).
Distance from Jeddah International Airport to Aswan Airport as the crow flies is 706 km (442 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.
languages: 
Egypt
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Ilyushin Il-18
- 569 built
- 41st loss
- 25th fatal accident
- 2nd worst accident (at the time)
- 7th worst accident (currently)
Egypt- 2nd worst accident (at the time)
- 5th worst accident (currently)
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