Air France Flight 2005 of 12 September 1961 was a scheduled international passenger flight from
Paris-Orly Airport
Paris Orly Airport (french: Aéroport de Paris-Orly), commonly referred to as Orly , is one of two international airports serving the French capital, Paris, the other one being Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). It is located partially in Orly an ...
to
Casablanca Airport with a stop at
Rabat-Salé Airport. The
Sud Aviation Caravelle aircraft crashed that day at 21:09
GMT
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, counted from midnight. At different times in the past, it has been calculated in different ways, including being calculated from noon; as a cons ...
near a place called ''Douar Doum'' from the threshold of runway 04 and to the left of the extended centreline at a height of above sea level, killing all 77 people on board, including 6 crew members. The weather was foggy and unfavourable for landing.
Flight history
The aircraft left Paris (ORY) at 18:26 GMT for the first leg to
Rabat with passengers and load within limits and fuel for four hours. The flight was uneventful until approaching Rabat/Salè airport. At 21:09 GMT the aircraft hit the ground before reaching the runway. It was completely destroyed.
Investigation
The investigation concluded that there was no evidence of technical failure, neither for physical failure of the personnel nor of air traffic control. Weather conditions were very unfavourable for landing at Rabat/Salé and fast changing and deteriorating shortly before the accident. The pilot took advice from the Air France operations agent in Casablanca and considered proceeding directly to Casablanca because of the weather.
During the flight the crew reviewed the weather several times with the air traffic control and finally decided to land at Rabat, using the
non-directional beacon
A non-directional beacon (NDB) or non-directional radio beacon is a radio beacon which does not include directional information. Radio beacons are radio transmitters at a known location, used as an aviation or marine navigational aid. NDB are i ...
(NDB). Air traffic control warned the pilot that the NDB was not aligned with the runway, but this message received no response.
The investigation reported an "Error in instrument reading" as probable cause.
See also
*
Air France Flight 406, another Air France aviation disaster that took place on the continent of Africa in 1961
References
Air France, SE 210 III Caravelle F-BJTB, accident near Rabat-Salé Airport, Morocco, 12 September 1961Archive. The
Minister of Foreign Affairs
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between co ...
, Morocco. – Prepared by Harro Ranter. Source: Aircraft Accident Digest No.16 (ICAO Circular 69-AN/61 ) page 169–175.
Aviation Safety Network article
{{coord missing, Morocco
Accidents and incidents involving the Sud Aviation Caravelle
2005
Aviation accidents and incidents in 1961
Aviation accidents and incidents in Morocco
Airliner accidents and incidents caused by instrument failure
September 1961 events in Africa
1961 in Morocco
1961 disasters in Morocco