São Sebastião

The aircraft was refuelled to capacity at Polokwane Airport, South Africa on 28 June 2004 with 1750 litres of Jet A1 fuel where after it flew to São Sebastião, near Vilanculos, Mozambique. Later the day on 28 June 2004 the crew attempted to take off on a non-scheduled flight from Sao Sebastiao (near Vilanculos) to Vilanculos Airport (VNX). The purpose of the fight was to airlift an injured man to a hospital at an unknown destination. The crew did not use the full runway length available but attempted the takeoff run with only 870ft (265 m) of runway available. The aircraft failed to become airborne and overran the runway, colliding with a sandbank, the perimeter fence and trees and erupted in fire. Calculations, using the takeoff performance graphs in the POH (Pilot Operating Handbook), showed that the aircraft would have required a ground roll distance of 2000 ft (610 m) with 40° flap and 2100 ft (640 m) with no flap selected.

While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the engine number two fuel pressure dropped to zero. The crew feathered the propeller when the oil pressure on both left engines rose and smoke spread from the battery and generator compartment. The engine number two caught fire and the crew declared an emergency. Shortly later, the engine number two detached and the crew attempted to ditch the aircraft into the Praia de Balaia off São Sebastião. All 34 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.