Investigation Summary
The accident flight was a charter operation on behalf of Club Méditerranée, transporting 53 tourists from Dakar to the resort area of Cap Skirring. The aircraft, a 40 year old Convair CV-640, was owned by Gambcrest, a Gambian company facing significant financial distress. Investigators found that the aircraft was not compliant with safety regulations, as it had not been properly re-registered and was operating under its former U.S. registration. Maintenance was severely neglected: at the time of the crash, at least 16 cockpit instruments were non-functional, including one of the altimeters. The flight deck crew consisted of an American captain and a Norwegian first officer who were unfamiliar with the local geography. During the night approach, the crew observed blue lights from a hotel in Kafountine and, believing them to be the runway environment of Cap Skirring, initiated a descent into terrain. The aircraft struck trees and came to rest in a marsh, killing all six crew members and 25 passengers.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) resulting from the crew's misidentification of hotel lights as airport approach lights. Contributing to the disaster were poor flight planning, inadequate crew coordination, and the crew's lack of familiarity with the area. The investigation also highlighted the 'poor general state of the aircraft,' noting that it was operated illegally without valid insurance or proper maintenance, with multiple critical flight instruments out of order.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Altimeter
One of the aircraft's altimeters was documented as being out of order at the time of the accident.
Flight Instruments
A total of 16 cockpit instruments were reported to be inoperative, contributing to the poor general state of the aircraft.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was built in 1952 and converted to a CV-640 in 1966.
- 02At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operated illegally as the owner had failed to complete official re-registration.
- 03The flight was chartered by Air Senegal on behalf of Club Méditerranée.
- 04The crash site was located approximately 52 kilometers north of the intended destination airport.
- 05The crew included an American captain, a Norwegian co-pilot, and a Russian stewardess.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Legal Prosecution
In 2000, a French court convicted the founder of Club Med and his son of involuntary manslaughter, handing down suspended sentences due to the company's failure to ensure the safety of the chartered flight.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Club Méditerranée Liability
Reference ↗During trials, it was argued whether Club Med should be held accountable for the crash, as the company claimed they could not have known the specific mechanical and legal status of the aircraft provided by the charterer.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · Position recorded by the wikidata coordinate without a stated precision, so the ring shows roughly where the event occurred rather than an exact point. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.