Narrative:
Air France flight 343 left Paris-Orly (France) with destinations Dakar (Senegal), Monrovia (Liberia) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast). The first intermediate stop was to be Dakar. Arriving near Dakar, the crew first carried out a baulked landing procedure on runway 01. After declining an ILS runway 30 approach the pilot decided to enter a holding pattern and wait for improvement of the weather conditions. Shortly after 06:41 another attempt was made to land at runway 01. After reporting downwind at 06:47 the plane disappeared in a rain squall and crashed into the sea at 2400 m from the Mamelles lighthouse. Depth of the sea there was 40 m.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The cause of the accident could not be determined"
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 29 August 1960 |
| Time: | 06:47 UTC |
| Type: |  Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation |
| Operator: | Air France |
| Registration: | F-BHBC |
| MSN: | 4622 |
| First flight: | 1955 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 16417 |
| Engines: | 4 Wright R-3350 (972TC18DA13) |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 55 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 63 / Occupants: 63 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 1,6 km (1 mls) off Dakar-Yoff Airport (DKR) ( Senegal)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Paris-Orly Airport (ORY/LFPO), France |
| Dakar-Yoff Airport (DKR/GOOY), Senegal | |
| Flightnumber: | AF343 |
Air France flight 343 left Paris-Orly (France) with destinations Dakar (Senegal), Monrovia (Liberia) and Abidjan (Ivory Coast). The first intermediate stop was to be Dakar. Arriving near Dakar, the crew first carried out a baulked landing procedure on runway 01. After declining an ILS runway 30 approach the pilot decided to enter a holding pattern and wait for improvement of the weather conditions. Shortly after 06:41 another attempt was made to land at runway 01. After reporting downwind at 06:47 the plane disappeared in a rain squall and crashed into the sea at 2400 m from the Mamelles lighthouse. Depth of the sea there was 40 m.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The cause of the accident could not be determined"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
» BEAPhotos
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 Paris-Orly Airport to Dakar-Yoff Airport as the crow flies is 4161 km (2601 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Paris-Orly Airport to Dakar-Yoff Airport as the crow flies is 4161 km (2601 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.
languages: 
Senegal
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Lockheed L-1049
- 564 built
- 40th loss
- 23rd fatal accident
- 4th worst accident (at the time)
- 5th worst accident (currently)
Senegal- The worst accident
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