Beira - Mutare - Harare
Flight / Schedule
Beira - Mutare - Harare
Aircraft
Britten-Norman IslanderRegistration
C9-AOV
MSN
624
Year of Manufacture
1970
Operator
ETA Air CharterDate
March 27, 2017 at 08:15 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mutare Manicaland
Region
Africa • Zimbabwe
Coordinates
-18.9347°, 32.6280°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On March 27, 2017 at 08:15 AM, Beira - Mutare - Harare experienced a crash involving Britten-Norman Islander, operated by ETA Air Charter, with the event recorded near Mutare Manicaland.
The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.
Aircraft reference details include registration C9-AOV, MSN 624, year of manufacture 1970.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -18.9347°, 32.6280°.
Fatalities
Total
6
Crew
2
Passengers
4
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
4
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 6
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Beira - Mutare - Harare
Operator
ETA Air CharterFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Africa • Zimbabwe
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
South African Air Force
Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial
On approach to Bulawayo, Matabeleland, the crew encountered problems and the aircraft crashed. Both occupants, engaged in a cross country flight to Cape Town, South Africa, were injured and the aircraft named 'Silver Queen II' was destroyed. Crew: Lt Col Pierre van Ryneveld, Lt Christopher Joseph Quintin-Brand.
The Rhodesian Aviation Company
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Shortly after takeoff from Bulawayo Airport, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Lt Daniel S. Judson, pilot. Passenger: Jock Speight.
Hal Roach Studios
Lockheed 9 Orion
The airplane was engaged in an aerial cinematography flight on behalf of the MGM Studios. The pilot Arthur Dickson was piloting and both passengers were the MGM's President Arthur Loew and his lawyer. For unknown reasons, the pilot mistakenly landed at Victoria Falls Airport instead of Livingstone. While trying to take off from a soft sandy field, the airplane overturned and crashed into trees. Both passengers were injured and the pilot was killed.
Rhodesian %26 Nyasaland Airways
De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly
Crashed in unknown circumstances.
Royal Air Force - RAF
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Both pilots were engaged in a training flight on behalf of the 21st Army Training School. En route, the twin engine aircraft collided with birds that hit the right wing and the right engine. The crew was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. On touch down, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both crew escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Rhodesian %26 Nyasaland Airways
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Shortly after take off from Bulawayo, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed for unknown reason. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was wrecked.