Ethiopian Air Lines Flight 372 Explained

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 372
Date:15 July 1960
Type:Controlled flight into terrain due to pilot error
Site:Near Jimma, Ethiopia
Aircraft Type:C-47 Skytrain
Operator:Ethiopian Air Lines
Tail Number:ET-T-18
Origin:Bulki, Ethiopia
Destination:Aba Segud Airport
Passengers:8
Crew:3
Injuries:10
Fatalities:1
Survivors:10

On 15 July 1960, at 09:04, Ethiopian Air Lines Flight 372, a C-47 Skytrain registered as ET-T-18, took off from Bulki, Ethiopia, on a short-haul flight to Aba Segud Airport, Jimma, Ethiopia. There were eight passengers, three crew and a cargo of coffee on board. At 09:40, the pilot requested the activation of the Jimma non-directional beacon (NDB) to assist his navigation. There was no further contact with the flight. The aircraft was found to have crashed at 9,400 feet into the side of a mountain 27.5km (17.1miles) south of Jimma, killing one of the pilots and leaving the passengers and remaining crew injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Cause

It was determined[1] that the accident was caused by the following:

1. The pilot misjudged the weather conditions, in that he continued to fly into deteriorating weather conditions while trying to maintain visual flight rules.

2. The pilot misjudged the performance capabilities of the aircraft, in that he attempted to climb at a speed below the minimum safe climbing speed of the aircraft.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47A-20-DK ET-T-18 Jimma . Aviation-safety.net . 15 July 1960 . 5 July 2013.