Kavango Region | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft departed Windhoek on a special flight to the disused Airfield of Omega (ex airbase), carrying six crew members and various equipment in order to collect the bodies of all 33 people who have been killed in the crash of the LAM Embraer ERJ-190AR C9-EMC that occurred in the Bwabwata National Park the previous day. The aircraft landed too far down the airstrip that was overgrown by grass and bushes. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and collided with trees, causing severe damages to the wings (the right wing was partially torn off). All six occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Hulk still in situ in FEB2014 and may be disassembled and trucked back to Windhoek.

Probable cause:

Wrong landing configuration. Disused airport and runway in poor condition.

Crash of an Embraer ERJ-190AR in the Bwabwata National Park: 33 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2013 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Embraer ERJ-190

Operator:

Registration:

C9-EMC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Maputo - Luanda

MSN:

190-00581

YOM:

2012

Flight number:

LAM470

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9052

Captain / Total hours on type:

2519.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1183

Copilot / Total hours on type:

101

Aircraft flight hours:

2905

Aircraft flight cycles:

1877

Circumstances:

Aircraft left Maputo Airport at 1126LT on flight LAM470 to Luanda, Angola. En route, while overflying Botswana and Namibia, aircraft encountered bad weather conditions with CB's at high altitude and turbulence. In unknown circumstances, aircraft went out of control and disappeared from radar screens at 1230LT, most probably after diving into the ground. As the aircraft did not arrive at Luanda, SAR commenced but were suspended by night due to low visibility and bad weather conditions (heavy rain falls). The day after, on 30NOV, Namibia Police forces announced they located the wreckage in the Bwabwata National Park, near Divundu. Aircraft was completely destroyed by impact forces and post impact fire. All 33 occupants were killed, among them 16 Mozambicans, 9 Angolans, 5 Portuguese, one French, one Brazilian and one Chinese. The aircraft crashed in a dense wooded and isolated area, sot SAR are difficult. No distress call was sent by the crew.

Probable cause:

A press conference provided by the Mozambican authorities on 21DEC2013 reported that CVR analysis revealed that the captain was alone in the cockpit which was locked. The copilot tried to enter without success and was knocking on the door several times, without answer or any reaction on part of the captain who engaged the aircraft in a descent rate of 6,000 feet per minute until impact with the ground. Several warning sounds and alarms were not responded to. On April 15, 2016, the Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations (DAAI) of Namibia confirmed in its final report that the accident was caused by the inputs to the auto flight systems by the person believed to be the Captain, who remained alone on the flight deck when the person believed to be the co-pilot requested to go to the lavatory, caused the aircraft to departure from cruise flight to a sustained controlled descent and subsequent collision with the terrain. Investigations revealed that the captain suffered personal events during the past year, such as a divorce, the death of his son in a car crash and one of his daughter that underwent heart surgery.

Final Report:

Ground fire of a Fairchild F27 at Omega AFB

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1984

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild F27

Operator:

Wonderair

Registration:

ZS-LPI

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Omega AFB - Omega AFB

MSN:

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taxiing at Omega AFB, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reasons. The crew was able to stop the airplane and to evacuate before it would be totally destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Ground fire of unknown origin.