Victoria Falls – Kariba – Salisbury

On September 3, 1978 at 05:15 PM, Victoria Falls – Kariba – Salisbury experienced a crash involving Vickers Viscount, operated by Air Rhodesia, with the event recorded near Kariba Mashonaland West.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

56 people were known to be on board, 48 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 85.7%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 52, passenger fatalities: 44, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The four engine aircraft departed Kariba Airport at 1710LT bound for Salisbury. While climbing, the crew declared an emergency after a SAM-7 missile struck the right wing. With both right engines out of service, the pilots reduced the altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in the Whamira Hills, about 35 km southeast of Kariba. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and 38 occupants were killed while 18 other survived. Members of the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) arrived quickly on the scene and killed 10 of the 18 survivors. A day later, rescuers arrived at the crash site and were able to evacuate eight survivors.

Aircraft reference details include registration VP-WAS, MSN 297, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -16.3709°, 28.8568°.