Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a period of heightened aviation safety concerns in Angola. Just two weeks prior, on October 31, 2000, Angolan authorities had suspended all flights of Antonov AN-24, AN-26, and AN-32 aircraft across the country's airspace, with the exception of the Luanda to Namibe route. This specific flight was operating on that permitted corridor when it suffered a catastrophic engine failure. There is a notable discrepancy in the aircraft's identification: while the Aviation Safety Network and Wikipedia identify the airframe as an An-24RV, the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (BAAA) and other news sources explicitly classify it as an Antonov An-26. Eyewitness accounts described a sudden left bank immediately after rotation and reported seeing smoke trailing from the aircraft before it burst into flames upon impact. The aircraft's inability to maintain flight at such a low altitude (200 feet) suggested it may have been operating near or beyond its performance limits, a suspicion bolstered by the discovery of inaccurate weight and balance documentation.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause was the failure of the left engine during the climbout phase. Contributing to the severity and lack of recovery was the airline's operational negligence. Investigators found that Asa Pesada failed to keep accurate records of the fuel load and the exact number of passengers, making it difficult to determine if the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the engine failure.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Ivchenko AI-24 Engine
The left engine suffered a failure during the critical climb phase, leading to a loss of control.
Weight and Balance Records
The airline was accused of negligence for failing to maintain accurate manifests for passengers and fuel.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 28 years old at the time of the accident, manufactured in 1972.
- 02The crew consisted of four Ukrainian nationals and one Angolan national.
- 03Initial reports fluctuated between 45 and 57 occupants, eventually confirmed as 57 fatalities.
- 04The crash occurred in the Golfe II district of Luanda.
- 05The flight was one of the few Antonov operations still permitted after a general grounding of the type in Angola.
- 06The aircraft was scheduled to pick up a Portuguese soccer team for a tour in Angola.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Antonov Fleet Suspension
Prior to the crash, Angolan authorities had already suspended most AN-24, AN-26, and AN-32 operations effective October 31, 2000, due to safety concerns.