Narrative:
A Boeing 737-200 passenger plane, registered 5N-BFK, was destroyed when it crashed near Abuja International Airport (ABV), Nigeria. There were 100 passengers on board and five crew members. Eight passengers and one crew member survived the accident.
ADC Airlines Flight 53 departed Lagos (LOS) on a scheduled domestic flight to Sokoto (SKO) with an intermediate stop at Abuja (ABV). At Abuja at 11:14 local time, the crew of the aircraft requested start-up clearance. This was given along with the prevailing weather information. At 11:21, the crew requested clearance to taxi to the holding point and a wind check; both were given. Over the following six minutes Abuja Tower gave a series of six wind reports, including a statement emphasizing the gusty nature of the wind. A thunderstorm was approaching the airport and weather was worsening. At 11:26, the crew of flight 53 requested clearance for immediate takeoff, and the controller re-emphasized the deteriorating weather condition and gave latest wind check, which they acknowledged.
Immediately after takeoff from runway 22, the Boeing 737 entered into a headwind -shift to-tailwind windshear, which significantly affected the aerodynamic performance of the airplane.
The Pilot Flying responded to the windshear by adding a small amount of power and by pulling back on the control column causing a significant pitch attitude change.
The Pilot-not-flying responded to the windshear by calling for the Pilot Flying to pull up. The airplane then entered into a full aerodynamic stall followed by a roll to the left of over 90 degrees and steep descent into the ground. The aircraft was pitched to an attitude that resulted in the temporary disruption of airflow to and momentary loss of power in both engines. The airplane broke up and caught fire in a corn field.
CAUSAL FACTOR:
The pilot's decision to take-off in known adverse weather conditions and failure to execute the proper windshear recovery procedure resulted in operating the aircraft outside the safe flight regime, causing the aircraft to stall very close to the ground from which recovery was not possible.
CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS:
(1) Inability of the flight crew to apply windshear recovery procedures and the use of inappropriate equipment for windshear recovery procedure during simulator recurrrecncy. Lack of company Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for flight operations in adverse weather conditions.
(2) The coordination of responsibilities between the pilot-flying (PF) and pilot not flying(PNF) during their encounter with adverse weather situation was inconsistent with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the duties of the pilot-flying (PF) and pilot not flying (PNF) resulting in the inadequate control of the aircraft.
Loss of control
» 100 Feared Killed in ADC Air Crash (This Day 29-10-2006)
» FG Suspends ADC Operating Licence (This Day 31-10-2006)
DNAA 290800Z 00000KT CAVOK 27/24 Q1012 NOSIG=
10:00 UTC / 11:00 local time:
DNAA 291000Z 27006KT 9999 BKN012 30/24 Q1011 NOSIG=
13:00 UTC / 14:00 local time:
DNAA 291300Z 00000KT 9999 FEW010 FEW020CB BKN100 25/22 Q1009 NOSIG=
14:00 UTC / 15:00 local time:
DNAA 291400Z 00000KT 9999 FEW010 FEW020CB BKN100 26/23 Q1008 TEMPO 06022G35KT 5000 TS=
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: N279AU
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 29 October 2006 |
| Time: | 11:30 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-2B7 |
| Operator: | ADC Airlines |
| Registration: | 5N-BFK |
| MSN: | 22891/988 |
| First flight: | 1983-09-27 (23 years 1 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 56411 |
| Cycles: | 44465 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 92 / Occupants: 100 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 96 / Occupants: 105 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Abuja International Airport (ABV) ( Nigeria)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 342 m (1122 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Abuja International Airport (ABV/DNAA), Nigeria |
| Sokoto Airport (SKO/DNSO), Nigeria | |
| Flightnumber: | 053 |
A Boeing 737-200 passenger plane, registered 5N-BFK, was destroyed when it crashed near Abuja International Airport (ABV), Nigeria. There were 100 passengers on board and five crew members. Eight passengers and one crew member survived the accident.
ADC Airlines Flight 53 departed Lagos (LOS) on a scheduled domestic flight to Sokoto (SKO) with an intermediate stop at Abuja (ABV). At Abuja at 11:14 local time, the crew of the aircraft requested start-up clearance. This was given along with the prevailing weather information. At 11:21, the crew requested clearance to taxi to the holding point and a wind check; both were given. Over the following six minutes Abuja Tower gave a series of six wind reports, including a statement emphasizing the gusty nature of the wind. A thunderstorm was approaching the airport and weather was worsening. At 11:26, the crew of flight 53 requested clearance for immediate takeoff, and the controller re-emphasized the deteriorating weather condition and gave latest wind check, which they acknowledged.
Immediately after takeoff from runway 22, the Boeing 737 entered into a headwind -shift to-tailwind windshear, which significantly affected the aerodynamic performance of the airplane.
The Pilot Flying responded to the windshear by adding a small amount of power and by pulling back on the control column causing a significant pitch attitude change.
The Pilot-not-flying responded to the windshear by calling for the Pilot Flying to pull up. The airplane then entered into a full aerodynamic stall followed by a roll to the left of over 90 degrees and steep descent into the ground. The aircraft was pitched to an attitude that resulted in the temporary disruption of airflow to and momentary loss of power in both engines. The airplane broke up and caught fire in a corn field.
Probable Cause:
CAUSAL FACTOR:
The pilot's decision to take-off in known adverse weather conditions and failure to execute the proper windshear recovery procedure resulted in operating the aircraft outside the safe flight regime, causing the aircraft to stall very close to the ground from which recovery was not possible.
CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS:
(1) Inability of the flight crew to apply windshear recovery procedures and the use of inappropriate equipment for windshear recovery procedure during simulator recurrrecncy. Lack of company Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for flight operations in adverse weather conditions.
(2) The coordination of responsibilities between the pilot-flying (PF) and pilot not flying(PNF) during their encounter with adverse weather situation was inconsistent with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the duties of the pilot-flying (PF) and pilot not flying (PNF) resulting in the inadequate control of the aircraft.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Windshear/downdraftLoss of control
Sources:
» SKYbrary » 100 Feared Killed in ADC Air Crash (This Day 29-10-2006)
» FG Suspends ADC Operating Licence (This Day 31-10-2006)
METAR Weather report:
08:00 UTC / 09:00 local time:DNAA 290800Z 00000KT CAVOK 27/24 Q1012 NOSIG=
10:00 UTC / 11:00 local time:
DNAA 291000Z 27006KT 9999 BKN012 30/24 Q1011 NOSIG=
13:00 UTC / 14:00 local time:
DNAA 291300Z 00000KT 9999 FEW010 FEW020CB BKN100 25/22 Q1009 NOSIG=
14:00 UTC / 15:00 local time:
DNAA 291400Z 00000KT 9999 FEW010 FEW020CB BKN100 26/23 Q1008 TEMPO 06022G35KT 5000 TS=
Follow-up / safety actions
On October 30, 2006, the suspended the Air Operators Certificate of ADC Airlines indefinitely. AIB Nigeria issued 5 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: 5N-BFK
accident date: 29-10-2006
type: Boeing 737-2B7
registration: N279AU
Aircraft history
| date | registration | operator | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 SEP 1983 | N323AU | US Air | |
| 15 NOV 1988 | N279AU | US Air | new registration |
| 27 FEB 1997 | N279AU | US Airways | airline renamed |
| N279AU | Metrojet | transferred | |
| 02 SEP 2003 | 5N-BFK | ADC Airlines |
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 Abuja International Airport to Sokoto Airport as the crow flies is 487 km (304 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Abuja International Airport to Sokoto Airport as the crow flies is 487 km (304 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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: 
Nigeria
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Boeing 737-200
- 1114 built
- 106th loss
- 53rd fatal accident
- 14th worst accident (at the time)
- 16th worst accident (currently)
Nigeria- 7th worst accident (at the time)
- 8th worst accident (currently)
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