Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Kiunga

Date & Time: Dec 17, 2023 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Government of Kenya
Registration:
5Y-GOK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kiunga - Nairobi
MSN:
208B-2278
YOM:
2011
Location:
Kiunga
Coast
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kiunga Airstrip, while in initial climb, the single engine airplane collided with electric wires and crashed near small houses, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. All eight passengers were officers of the Kenyan Police returning to Nairobi.

Crash of a Cessna 401A near Nairobi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 2011 at 1523 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Cezanne Air Express
Registration:
5Y-CAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nairobi - Marsabit - Lodwar - Nairobi
MSN:
401-0011
YOM:
1967
Location:
Nairobi
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Nairobi-Wilson Airport in the morning for a flight to Marsabit and Lodwar, carrying exam documents. While returning to Wilson Airport in the afternoon, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located about 15 km west of Wilson Airport. The pilot and a passenger were killed while the second passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-102 in Moba

Date & Time: Jan 13, 2010
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-8-100 (Dash-8)
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-EMD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nairobi - Moba
MSN:
110
YOM:
1988
Location:
Moba
Katanga
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nairobi on a humanitarian mission to Moba, carrying 18 passengers and 4 crew members on behalf of the United Nations Organization. After touchdown, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a marsh field. All 22 occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It appears that the pilot-in-command was distracted during the last segment by pedestrians at the runway threshold and the aircraft landed hard.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 500 in K50: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 2008 at 0450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-BVF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nairobi – K50
MSN:
10627
YOM:
1982
Location:
K50 (Lambar 50)
Shabeellaha Hoose (شبيلي السفلى)
Country:
Somalia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport on a cargo flight to the K50 Airstrip located about 35 km southwest of Mogadishu, carrying three crew members and a load of 5,4 tons of khat. On approach by night, the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway due to foggy conditions. The captain initiated a go-around and the crew attempted a second approach to land. Too low, the airplane collided with a 60 metres high communication antenna and crashed 2 km from the airport. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Busia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 2003 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-EMJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Busia – Nairobi
MSN:
158
YOM:
1965
Location:
Busia
Eastern
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was returning from Busia to Nairobi, carrying a delegation of the Kenyan Government who made a local visit in Busia following the national elections. Shortly after takeoff from runway 13/31 which is 3,281 feet long, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables and crashed onto a house. Both pilots and a passenger, the Labour Minister Ahmed Mohamed Khalif were killed while nine other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. There were no casualties on the ground.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the crew,
- The total weight of the aircraft was estimated to be over 16 tons, well above the MTOW,
- Aircraft above 5,7 tons are not allowed to land at Busia Airport,
- According to circumstances, a minimum runway length of 3,900 feet was required,
- The captain's licences were not up to date,
- The aircraft documentation was not up to date and failed to comply with Kenyan regulations,
- The aircraft's maintenance was performed by technicians who did not have the proper licence and training,
- The aircraft already had in the past several accidents in Congo and Sudan,
- Following one accident in Sudan in 2000, the aircraft was considered as written off by the insurance and the owner, MIA International Ltd, purchased the hull from the insurers, repaired the aircraft and re-registered it, changing the registration from 5Y-MIA to 5Y-EMJ.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E9 in Ngerende

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
United Airlines of Kenya
Registration:
5Y-UAS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ngerende – Nairobi
MSN:
84 13 24
YOM:
1984
Location:
Ngerende
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from a dirt strip (3,900 feet long) at Ngerende, an impala crossed the runway. To avoid a collision, the crew pulled up the control column and started the rotation. Because the airspeed was insufficient, the pilot-in-command put the nose down to gain speed when the aircraft struck the ground and crash landed in a field. All 17 occupants were rescued, among them a passenger was slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air near Nairobi: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
AD Aviation Aircharters
Registration:
5Y-JKB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nairobi - Mogadishu
MSN:
BB-72
YOM:
1975
Location:
Nairobi
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Nairobi-Wilson Airport, while flying in thick fog, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located about 50 km north of Nairobi. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Mogadishu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Kievskoye MAP
Registration:
CCCP-48088
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nairobi - Mogadishu
MSN:
29 05
YOM:
1992
Location:
Mogadishu
Banaadir (بنادر‎)
Country:
Somalia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nairobi on a cargo flight to Mogadishu, carrying seven passengers and six crew members. Due to unavailable information about the destination airport, the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and this was his first flight in the area. By night, the crew attempted to land at Mogadishu-North Airfield which was not equipped with any lighting system, so the crew completed the approach with the aircraft's approach lights only. A poor approach configuration caused the aircraft to land too far down the runway which is 1,500 metres long, about 1,000 metres past the runway threshold. The aircraft rolled for about 500 metres, overran at a speed of 280 km/h and came to rest 250 metres further in a ravine, broken in two. Twelve occupants were injured, among them six seriously, and the navigator was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Poor flight planning,
- Despite a lack of suitable information and data about the destination airport, the crew decided to initiate the flight,
- Poor approach planning,
- The crew was not familiar with the area,
- The captain decided to land on an unsuitable terrain and failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- Poor crew interactions on final approach as the copilot and the navigator failed to assist the captain in the approach and landing procedures,
- The crew failed to respond to the captain's instruction to deploy the flaps to an angle of 25° on approach, which contributed to a too long landing,
- Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Masai Mara: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
Rally Parts
Registration:
5Y-BGW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nairobi - Masai Mara
MSN:
404-0165
YOM:
1978
Location:
Masai Mara
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve, the pilot declared an emergency and informed ATC he collided with a bird. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a prairie. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed, among them six German tourists. A tip tank and an aileron struck by the bird (a Marabu stork) were found more than one km from the main wreckage.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision with a bird (Marabu stork).

Crash of a Lockheed L-382E-22C Hercules in Juba

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
N911SJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Juba - Nairobi
MSN:
4384
YOM:
1970
Location:
Juba
Central Equatoria (الاستوائية الوسطى)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Juba Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet and a speed of 155 knots, the engine n°4 lost power. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when engine n°1 and 2 oversped. While completing a turn to join the runway 31, the engine n°3 lost power and its propeller was feathered. The crew was able to land the airplane safely but after touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, veered off runway and eventually collided with containers, bursting into flames. All five occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine problems could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the fuel was contaminated by water was not ruled out.
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