Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Freetown Sierra Leone
Wednesday, August 11, 2004 14:25 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On August 11, 2004 about 1425 UTC, Guinea registry 3X-GCM, a Boeing 737-200 airplane, operated by Air Guinee Express, overran the runway during takeoff and collided with terrain at Freetown International Airport-Banjul, Sierra Leone. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were two flight crewmembers, five cabin attendants, and 119 passengers aboard. There aircraft was substantially damaged, and there was no fire. The aircraft was on takeoff from runway 12 when the accident occurred. During the takeoff roll, about 1400 meters from the end of the runway, the aircraft veered left onto the grass embankment. The pilot continued the takeoff, but he was unable to get airborne. Thereafter during the ground run, the right main gear collapsed followed by the separation of the number two engine and right wing. The occupants evacuated the aircraft, and an undetermined number of passengers were injured during the evacuation. The investigation is under the jurisdication of the Guinea Department of Civil Aviation Authority. The Investigator-In-Charge is Mr Thierno Ousmane DIALLO of Guinea CAA

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1425
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City Freetown
Event State --
Event Country SIERRA LEONE
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 126
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source News media
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2004 3:09PM
User who most recently changed record JOND
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Headquarters, Washington, D.C. AAI-100

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number WAS04WA013
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing
Aircraft Model 737-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Conakry
Operator State --
Operator Country GV
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Freetown
Departure State --
Departure Country SL
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone UTC
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 17 2004 3:09PM
User who most recently changed record JOND
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --