Seronera | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The single engine airplane departed Seronera Airstrip in the early morning on a short flight to Grumeti Hills, about 40 km northwest, according to a statement from the operator. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane went out of control, struck a concrete wall and crashed upside down. The pilot and the sole passenger were killed.

Statement from the operator:
https://www.auricair.com/About-Us/5HAAM_Accident_23Sept2019

Crash of a Reims Cessna F406 Caravan II in Arusha

Date & Time: Nov 27, 2004 at 1618 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 406 Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

5H-RAS

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Arusha – Seronera

MSN:

406-0005

YOM:

1986

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was taking off for a scheduled flight from Arusha to Seronera. At 12:15 hours the aircraft taxied from the apron to the threshold of runway 27 at which point take off for Seronera was initiated. The controller, who was handling the flight, said that the initial segment of the take off roll was normal. When the aircraft had covered about 500 metres he saw the left main landing gear collapsing and the aircraft swinging to the left of the runway. It continued to run on its belly pod on a grass hedge parallel to runway 27 and came to rest at the eastern edge of the apron. There was no fire and all the occupants deplaned without injuries. The aircraft sustained damage to propellers, the right wing, the fuselage and underside structure. The cargo pod in the belly was completely destroyed and its debris was scattered along the wreckage trail.

Probable cause:

There does not appear to be any defects in the aircraft, which could have contributed to this accident. The available evidence would point to premature rotation and premature retraction of the landing gear. Much of the pilot’s recent flying was on low speed aircraft. He had flown Cessna 208s and Twin Otters for many years. His experience on the Cessna 406 was 80 hours. In fact he had flown a Twin Otter only hours before switching to the Cessna 406.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II on Mt Meru: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1999 at 1026 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 404 Titan

Operator:

Northern Air

Registration:

5H-NAT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Seronera Lodge - Kilimanjaro

MSN:

404-0805

YOM:

1981

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16500

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

Two Cessna 404 Titan II operated by Northern Air departed Seronera Lodge in the mid morning on a charter flight to Kilimanjaro Airport, carrying a total of 18 US tourists and two pilots (7 passengers and one pilot in the first aircraft and 11 passengers and one pilot in the second aircraft). The passengers should be later transferred from Kilimanjaro to Nairobi with an Air Kenya aircraft. After takeoff, the pilot in the first Cessna warned the second pilot about the lack of visibility in the area. While cruising in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 8,770 feet, the second aircraft struck the southern slope of Mt Meru (4,565 metres high). The wreckage was found the following day at an altitude of 2,833 metres. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 12 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot failed to maintain the minimum safe altitude for the area of Mt Meru. It was determined that the pilot informed his colleague he wanted to maintain FL110 at a distance of 53 km from the first beacon but for unknown reasons, he was maintaining an insufficient altitude of 9,500 feet at a distance of 45 km from the first beacon. Investigations were unable to determine the reason why the pilot was unable to maintain the minimum safe altitude. Poor weather conditions with low clouds and drizzle was a contributing factor.

Final Report: