Rift Valley

On 12 July 2021 at about 1245 (1545) a Viking Air Ltd DHC-2 Beaver MK1A aircraft registration 5Y-BCL operated by the Desert Locust Control Organization of Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA) with three on board crashed at Kosovo area of Ndabibi in Naivasha, Nakuru County. The accident site is located near the edge of the hilly eastern side of Eburru forest manned by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). The flight originated from Wilson airport, Nairobi County and was enroute to Lodwar airport, Turkana County. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and largely consumed by the ensuing fire. A passenger suffered fatal injuries while the pilot and the other passenger suffered serious injuries requiring more than 48 hours of hospitalization. At the time of the accident the area in the vicinity of the accident site had near overcast cloudy conditions.

The report describes the accident to C208B type of aircraft, registration 5Y-JKN with two crew on onboard that occurred on Marsabit Hill on 20th March 2021 in which the aircraft crashed killing two crew onboard. The aircraft with 2200lbs fuel onboard was chartered to ferry Marsabit County Officials to a peace keeping mission at Illeret 156 nautical miles North West of Marsabit town. Preliminary information revealed that the aircraft departed Wilson Airport at 08.20am (0520Z) and arrived within the vicinity of Marsabit town at around 10.00a.m (0700Z). It collided with Kofia Mbaya Hill - Marsabit terrain while attempting to approach Marsabit airstrip. The aircraft first impacted the terrain with its nose-wheel and the main landing gears leaving parts of the fuselage and iron box with its content kept in the lower baggage compartment on the sport. It then ballooned and missed a house before it flipped upside down and impacted the ground and came to rest facing opposite direction. It left a trail of aircraft parts along its path before it came to rest. The nosewheel and its assembly separated and fell off and was found next to the house 110m from its first point of impact. There was no fire after impact but all the occupants received fatal injuries.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Maji Moto, Rift Valley. All three occupants escaped with various injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.

Following an uneventful flight from Nairobi-Wilson Airport, the crew landed on a gravel runway at Kichwa Tembo Airport. After touchdown, the aircraft collided with two wildebeests. Upon impact, the left main gear was torn off and the aircraft veered off runway to the left and came to rest. All occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Both wildebeests were killed.

This was a commercial non scheduled flight which was being operated for air transport for local flights. The operator is based in Mombasa and mostly executes passenger flights to the Masai Mara and other game parks and reserves within the Republic of Kenya. On 22nd Aug 2012, the aircraft was scheduled to carry out a flight to the Masai Mara, do several sectors to pick and drop passengers and return to Moi international Airport via Ukunda Airport. The call sign was 5Y-UVP. The last point of departure was Ngerende Airstrip in the Masai Mara at 0917 with intention of onward flight to Mara North airstrip in the Masai Mara. The flight had earlier left Amboseli Airstrip with two crew, and 17 passengers for Ngerende Airstrip. 6 passengers had disembarked at Ngerende and the remaining 11 passengers were continuing to other destinations. No additional passengers or cargo was picked up from Ngerende airstrip. No refueling was done at the airstrip. The airfield is an unmanned airfield, with crew executing unmanned airfield communication procedures to execute approach and landings and also during takeoff. There is however a ground time keeper and a fueling bay at the airfield. Due to terrain and prevailing winds at the time of the flight, Runway 28 was in use. The crew was using unmanned airfield procedures and after the drop-off of 6 passengers, the aircraft lined up runway 28 and proceeded with the take off run. Ground staff at the airstrip reported a normal takeoff run and rotation. During the initial climb, the ground staff still had the aircraft in sight and reported to have seen the aircraft veer sharply to the left and then disappear behind terrain. Shortly afterwards, a loud sound was heard followed by dust in the air. Emergency SAR was initiated with the airport and hotel staff rushing to the accident site. The location of the accident was about 310 meters from the threshold of Runway 10, offset 30° to the left of the extended center line Runway 28. GPS coordinates (figure 1.2) 01.084189° S, 35.1781127° E, Ngerende airstrip. The accident occurred at 0917 UTC on 22nd Aug 2012, during daytime.

The twin engine aircraft was returning to Mombasa with a scheduled stop in Musiara to pickup 15 additional passengers. On departure from Kichwa Tembo, there were four passengers and two pilots on board. During the takeoff roll from runway 08, the aircraft hit a bump half way down the runway and bounced. The aircraft hit a second bump shortly later and as the crew heard the stall alarm, he decided to reject takeoff. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest 300 metres further. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Upon landing at Lokichoggio Airport, the airplane banked right, causing the right propeller and the right wing to struck the runway surface. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. There were no injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

During the takeoff roll, the copilot noticed abnormal parameters on the right engine and a possible failure. The captain confirmed and rejected the take off procedure. The twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway 08, overran, collided with a termite mound and came to rest 140 metres further on. All 13 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair.

Upon landing on runway 27 at Lokichoggio Airport, the aircraft bounced three times then landed firmly. Upon impact, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on its nose before coming to rest about 100 metres before the runway end. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The twin engine aircraft departed Moi Air Base in Nairobi on a flight to Marsabit, carrying a delegation of the Kenyan Government including two ministers. They were flying to Marsabit as part of a mediation mission between communities in dispute, in particular over grazing rights and water points. On approach to Marsabit Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds when the aircraft crashed on the slope of a hill located few km from the airport. Three passengers were seriously injured while 14 other occupants were killed.