1983 CAAK Ilyushin Il-62 crash

On 1 July 1983, a Civil Aviation Administration of Korea (CAAK) Ilyushin Il-62M was operating a scheduled international charter flight from Pyongyang, North Korea to Conakry, Guinea via Bamako, Mali. It carried 17 passengers and 6 crew members, a total of 23 occupants. While approaching Conakry International Airport, it crashed into mountainous terrain. All 23 occupants on board were killed.

The aircraft was flying from Pyongyang with construction cargo and workers ahead of the 1984 Organization of African Unity summit due to take place the following year.

It remains the deadliest aviation accident in Guinean history, and was the tenth operational loss of an Il-62 since its introduction. It remains the first and only known fatal aviation accident involving the airline.

Flight

On 1 July 1983, the aircraft involved, P-889, was carrying construction material, as well as North Korean experts, construction workers and technicians from Pyongyang, North Korea, to complete work on a conference hall, dubbed the "Palace of Nations", ahead of the twentieth Organization of African Unity summit scheduled to take place in Conakry, Guinea, in May 1984. The flight was operated by the CAAK. The aircraft took off from Pyongyang International Airport en route to Conakry International Airport via Kabul, Afghanistan, and Cairo, Egypt.

According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, whilst attempting to land at Conakry International Airport, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions during its descent and the crew failed to take note of their low altitude; the aircraft subsequently crashed in the Guinean highland region of Fouta Djallon, near the town of Labé, 160 miles northwest of the airport. All 23 passengers and crew were killed.