1974 EgyptAir Tupolev Tu-154 crash explained

Occurrence Type:Accident
Summary:Stalled due to manufacturing error
Site:Cairo International Airport, Cairo, Egypt
Coordinates:30.102°N 31.404°W
Aircraft Type:Tupolev Tu-154
Aircraft Name:Nefertiti
Operator:EgyptAir
Tail Number:SU-AXB
Origin:Cairo International Airport, Cairo, Egypt
Destination:Cairo International Airport, Cairo, Egypt (return flight)
Passengers:0
Crew:6
Fatalities:6
Survivors:0

The 1974 EgyptAir Tupolev Tu-154 crash occurred on 10 July 1974, when an EgyptAir Tupolev-Tu-154 aircraft crashed during a training flight near Cairo International Airport. This resulted in the deaths of all six crew members on board.

Aircraft

The aircraft was a brand-new Tupolev Tu-154, with serial number 74A-048 and manufacturing number 00-48. It was built at the Aviakor аviation plant. It was the first Tupolev Tu-154 delivered to EgyptAir, on 1 December 1973 and was named Nefertiti after the wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten.[1] [2]

Accident

The aircraft was performing a training flight at Cairo International Airport carrying a crew of six; two EgyptAir pilots and four Soviet instructors.[3] After three hours and 14 minutes, the aircraft performed a touch-and-go landing on the runway known as Runway 23. during the maneuver, the aircraft pitched-up before entering a stall. This caused the aircraft to crash into the ground at 17:30 local time. All six occupants perished.[4] [5] [6]

Investigation

Investigators determined that the pilot flying had applied too many pitch-up inputs, as well as incorrect center of gravity calculations. The shifting ballasts during the flight were also contributing factors.

Aftermath

The following year, in 1975, EgyptAir returned its remaining Tupolev Tu-154s to the Soviet Union. In the same year, during the production of the Tu-154B, systems for flap resynchronization and the rearrangement of stabilizers were installed to prevent any similar incidents.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Туполев Ту-154 Бортовой №: SU-AXB . Tupolev Tu-154 Aircraft number: SU-AXB . https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011956/http://russianplanes.net/reginfo/5562 . 2014-05-13 . 2014-05-09 . russianplanes.net . ru.
  2. Web site: Авиакомпания: EgyptAir . Airline: EgyptAir . https://web.archive.org/web/20140630224831/http://russianplanes.net/airline/EgyptAir_(ex_Misr/UAA) . 2014-06-30 . 2014-05-09 . russianplanes.net . ru.
  3. "Second Soviet plane crashes in Egypt." Times [London, England] 20 July 1974: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 7 March 2015.
  4. Web site: 2001-10-07 . Хроника падающих Ту-154 . Chronicle of the falling Tu-154 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414175101/http://www.gazeta.ru/2001/07/10/hronikapadau.shtml . 2014-04-14 . 2014-05-09 . . ru.
  5. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Tupolev 154 SU-AXB Cairo . https://web.archive.org/web/20140513010841/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19740710-1 . 2014-05-13 . 2014-05-09 . Aviation Safety Network.
  6. Web site: Анализ расследований АП с Ту-154 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011648/http://www.aviasafety.ru/inspection/analysis/analiz-rassledovanij-ap-tu154 . 2014-05-13 . 2014-05-09 . AVIASAFETY.ru . ru.
  7. Web site: Советский и Российский лайнер Ту-154 . Soviet and Russian liner Tu-154 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414135832/http://www.poletim.net/samolety-rossii/sovetskijj-i-rossijjskijj-lajjner-tu154 . 2014-04-14 . 2014-05-09 . poletim.net . ru.