Associated Aviation Flight 361 was a domestic charter flight operated by Associated Aviation that on 3 October 2013 crashed on takeoff from Lagos, Nigeria, killing 16 of the 20 people on board. The aircraft, a twin turboprop Embraer 120 Brasilia, was transporting the body of Nigerian politician Olusegun Agagu to Akure for burial.[1][2]
 5N-BJY, the accident aircraft, photographed in 2008 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 October 2013 |
| Summary | Crashed following engine failure on takeoff and pilot error |
| Site | Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Nigeria 6°33′48.32″N 3°19′25.10″E / 6.5634222°N 3.3236389°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia |
| Operator | Associated Aviation |
| ICAO flight No. | SCD361 |
| Call sign | ASSOCIATED 361 |
| Registration | 5N-BJY |
| Flight origin | Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Nigeria |
| Destination | Akure Airport, Ondo State, Nigeria |
| Occupants | 20 |
| Passengers | 13 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 16 |
| Survivors | 4 |
Accident
editThe aircraft was conveying the body of former governor of Ondo State Olusegun Agagu from Lagos to Akure for burial. It lifted off from runway 18L of Murtala Mohammed Airport at about 09:32 local time (08:32 UTC). The crew received warnings from the aircraft's aural warning system during the takeoff-roll and also failed to make "V1" and "rotate" calls; the aircraft then struggled to gain altitude immediately after takeoff.[3] Less than a minute after lifting off, the aircraft impacted terrain in a nose-down-and-near-90-degrees-bank attitude.[3]
Reports differ but according to the manifest the flight had 13 passengers and seven crew; four passengers and two crew survived the accident but one of passengers later died in hospital.[3] Fatalities included relatives of Olusegun Agagu; and officials of the Ondo State Government. An elaborate burial ceremony planned for Agagu was postponed as a result of the crash.[4]
Aircraft
editThe aircraft used for the flight was an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, registered 5N-BJY, and manufactured in 1990, at the time of the crash, 5N-BJY was 23 years old. It was delivered to Associated Aviation in May 2007.[5]
Investigation
editNigeria's Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) was responsible for the investigation.[6] On 11 October 2013, the AIB released a preliminary report suggesting that improperly configured flaps for takeoff might have led to the crash. The report also reveals that the No. 1 engine appeared to be working normally whilst the No. 2 engine produced significantly less thrust.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Plane Carrying Agagu's body Crashes in Lagos". Punch Newspapers Online. 3 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Plane crash near Nigeria's Lagos airport kills 16". Reuters. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d Crash: Associated E120 at Lagos on Oct 3rd 2013, lost height after takeoff UPDATE The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- ^ "Plane Crash Aborts Agagu's Burial". The Guardian. 3 October 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Associated Aviation 5N-BJY airfleets.net
- ^ Crash: Associated E120 at Lagos on Oct 3rd 2013, lost height after takeoff The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
