Investigation Summary
The aircraft was conducting a domestic flight from Lagos (Murtala Muhammed International Airport) to Enugu. Upon arrival at Enugu, the crew encountered severe weather conditions characterized by thick fog. Despite the airport visibility being reported as below the legal minima for a VOR approach, the crew decided to proceed. The aircraft initially maintained the MDA of 300 feet above local terrain while maneuvering to regain the track after passing the VOR. However, for reasons not fully determined, the aircraft was allowed to descend further while still approximately 2 miles from the threshold. The Fokker F28 impacted a cassava field in a nearly level attitude. The landing gear collapsed or was torn off, and the aircraft slid on its belly through mounds of earth and trees. A tree strike severed the left wing, leading to the separation of the left engine and the aft fuselage section. A fire ignited at the separated wing and eventually consumed the main fuselage wreckage.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the flight crew's decision to continue the approach in weather conditions that were below the established minima. The aircraft was in a proper approach configuration at the time of impact, but the unauthorized descent below the MDA led to a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). Contributing factors included the unserviceability of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Enugu Airport at the time of the accident, which forced the crew to rely on a less precise VOR approach in poor visibility.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range)
The primary navigation aid used for the approach; however, it does not provide vertical guidance, making it critical for pilots to strictly adhere to MDAs.
ILS (Instrument Landing System)
A precision approach system that was unserviceable at Enugu, which would have provided the crew with more accurate lateral and vertical guidance.
Aft Pressure Bulkhead
This structural component separated during the ground slide, contributing to the breakup of the fuselage.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 8 years and 10 months old at the time of the accident.
- 02Of the 53 fatalities, 15 occurred during the initial impact and 38 were caused by the subsequent fire.
- 03There were 19 survivors in total, including the flight crew and the forward flight attendant.
- 04The Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Enugu Airport was unserviceable at the time of the crash.
- 05The surviving flight crew and forward flight attendant escaped the wreckage via the cockpit's emergency windows; some passengers also escaped through the cockpit.
- 06The crash was the fourth-deadliest aviation accident in Nigeria at the time it occurred.
- 07Among the victims were four children of Offia Nwali, who was an Anambra State government commissioner at the time.
- 08Dr. Josephine Onoh, daughter of the then-governor of Anambra State C.C. Onoh, was among the victims.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Accident Investigation Panel
The Nigerian Ministry of Transport and Aviation appointed a five-man panel to investigate the accident and determine the factors leading to the unauthorized descent.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Pre-existing Technical Complaints
Following the crash, reports surfaced regarding a formal complaint lodged by another Nigeria Airways pilot concerning recurring fuel gauge malfunctions within the Fokker F28 fleet. While investigators looked into these claims, no evidence was found linking a fuel system failure to the crash of 5N-ANF, which was attributed to CFIT during a VOR approach.