Date:	Friday 3 May 1963
Time:	13:27
Type:	Douglas DC-6B
Owner/operator:	Air Afrique
Registration:	F-BIAO
MSN:	45479/996
Year of manufacture:	1958
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-2800
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 55
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mt. Cameroon -   Cameroon
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Douala Airport (DLA/FKKD)
Destination airport:	Lagos/Ikeja International Airport (LOS/DNMM)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The Air Afrique flight took off from Douala runway 12 at 13:16 GMT on an IFR flight plan to Lagos, cruising altitude 16500 feet. Last radio contact was with Kano at 13:25 when the crew estimated leaving the FIR around 13:38. Two minutes later the aircraft struck Mount Cameroon in a straight climb at 6500 feet (800 m below the peak).

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was caused by a lack of caution on the part of the pilot-in-command who deliberately selected a route which led the aircraft into a dangerous and even prohibited sector at too low an altitude. Also, he neglected his navigation and transferred to instrument flight when approaching the mountain range."

ICAO Accident Digest No.15 - Volume I, Circular 78-AN/66 (51-58)

photo (c) Mel Lawrence; Paris-Le Bourget Airport (LBG); May 1962

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