Date: 2014-12-19

The recent Overland Airways mishap at the Ilorin International Airport was caused by a faulty hydraulic system, a preliminary report into the incident has revealed.

The ATR 72, which belonged to Overland Airway Limited with registration 5N-BPG from Abuja heightened tensions in Ilorin, Kwara State, on November 29, when it nearly crashed-landed by skidding off the runway at 4.40pm.

The ill-fated plane had 57 passengers, four crew members and prominent Kwara State indigenes and residents, which included the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice, Dr. Ali Ahmad, former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof Isha-q Oloyede and Professor Lanre Badmus, on board.

A preliminary report released by the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau said the plane’s crew on touching Ilorin Airport’s tarmac at 16: 01 hours, demanded for runway 05 for emergency landing because of a faulty   hydraulic system.

The report reads in part: “The Overland Airways flight (OLA 1186) departed Abuja for Ilorin at about 15:45hrs had the first VHF contact with Ilorin (DNIL) at 16:01hrs with 59 Passengers and 4 crewmembers, three hours and forty minutes endurance, estimating Ilorin at 16:30hrs.

‘’At 16:14hrs OLA 1186 requested for descent and was granted descent to 6,000ft and was asked to report 30 Nm, at 16:21hrs OLA1186 requested for further descent and a straight-in VOR approach runway (RWY) 23. OLA 1186 was asked to stand-by due to traffic, HS 125 with registration N827SA from Lagos to Ilorin on finals RWY 05 and 16 NM.

‘’At 16:27hrs the traffic was sighted at the threshold of RWY 05 and OLA 1186 was instructed to continue flight and intercept centerline RWY 23 and descend to 3,500ft and to report RWY 23 in-sight

‘’At 16:32hrs OLA 1186 reported maintaining 3,200ft requesting to join the hold overhead ILR VOR, the Tower corrected OLA 1186 that the initial altitude is 3,500ft and not 3,200ft as reported. OLA1186 reported maintaining 3,500ft as cleared and asked tower to stand-by, that they are having problems and will get back to tower. The Tower promptly alerted the Fire Service to be on stand-by.

‘’At 16:36hrs OLA 1186 requested for the position of his traffic; the only traffic then was the DA 40, training aircraft operating at area 4C - south-east of the field at 4,000ft and 15NM. OLA 1186 then requested to come in on RWY 05 on priority landing because of their problem ‘Hydraulics’. The aircraft was cleared to land without any traffic in sight’’.