Zimbabwe | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The pilot encountered an unexpected situation and elected to make an emergency landing in an open muddy field. He lowered the landing gear and upon touchdown, the airplane overturned and came to rest upside down. All five occupants were rescued and the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Zvikomborero Nyamakura, pilot,
Passengers:
Salfina Karimazondo, Murowa Diamonds’ security officer,
Obey Mabvundwi, constable of CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit,
Petros Chaguruka, Fawcett's guard,
Fredrick Maroyi, Fawcett's guard.

Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2A-3 Islander near Mutare: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 2017 at 0815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

C9-AOV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Beira - Mutare - Harare

MSN:

624

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was performing a charter flight from Beira to Harare with an intermediate stop in Mutare on behalf of the Mozambican company Cornelder. Ten minutes before its ETA in Mutare Airport, while descending to the altitude of 5,200 feet, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit obstacles and crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Vumba Botanical Reserve. The wreckage was found 23 km southeast from the airport. It appears that a passenger survived but later died from his injuries. Among the passengers were Adelino Mesquita, brother of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Mozambique.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Xian MA60 in Harare

Date & Time: Nov 3, 2009 at 1936 LT

Type of aircraft:

Xian MA60

Operator:

Registration:

Z-WPJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Harare - Bulawayo

MSN:

03 01

YOM:

2005

Flight number:

UM239

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Harare Airport, the aircraft was bout to lift off when it collided with five warthogs, causing the left main gear to be torn off. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway to the left and came to rest. All 38 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during takeoff following a collision with five warthogs.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Harare: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 2005

Type of aircraft:

Casa 212 Aviocar

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Harare - Harare

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Harare Airport for a local night training flight. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Nkayi

Date & Time: May 25, 1998

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 404 Titan

Operator:

World Geoscience Corporation

Registration:

VH-WGH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

404-0430

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Greece to Gaborone, Botswana, the pilot encountered technical problems when the right engine failed. He completed a belly landing in an open field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Harare

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1997

Type of aircraft:

Casa 212 Aviocar

Operator:

Registration:

801

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

293

YOM:

1983

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Harare Airport. Crew fate unknown. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in 1997.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-55F in Harare

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1996

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

Z-WSB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Johannesburg - Harare

MSN:

45805

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Johannesburg, the crew started the approach to Harare Airport in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. After landing on runway 05, the aircraft encountered difficulties and was unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 05 is 4,750 metres long). It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The following findings were reported:
- Poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls,
- Limited visibility,
- The runway 05 was wet and the braking action was reduced,
- The aircraft suffered aquaplaning,
- The reverse thrust systems were unserviceable on engine n°2 and 4,
- The crew completed the landing without the spoilers being armed,
- The aircraft was not airworthy,
- The crew failed to follow the approach checklist.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Chiredzi: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1989

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bulawayo – Chiredzi

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Chiredzi Airport by night on a charter flight from Bulawayo, the twin engine airplane crashed short of runway. All eight occupants were killed. It is believed the accident occurred while the pilot was attempting to land on a runway lit by temporary light/flares.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Harare

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Crest Breeders

Registration:

Z-WRJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

11989

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Harare-Charles Prince Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed 5 km from the airport. All three crew members were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.