Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-102 in Nairobi

Date & Time: Mar 20, 2026 at 2054 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-BXI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kisumu – Nairobi
MSN:
376
YOM:
1994
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6953
Captain / Total hours on type:
5703.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1978
Copilot / Total hours on type:
760
Aircraft flight hours:
49438
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kisumu International Airport at 1958LT on an hour’s Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) commercial scheduled passenger flight to HKNW in Nairobi County. For this segment of flight, the Pilot-In-Command (PIC) was the pilot flying and the First Officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, a prior ground briefing was carried out at HKKI before takeoff for the approach runway 06 (RWY 06) Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (HKJK) in Nairobi. It was discussed that the flight crew would maintain Instrument Landing System (ILS) HKJK RWY 06, and if the flight crew got a visual of HKNW RWY 32, it would then break off and position for right base HKNW RWY 32. According to the flight plan, the alternate aerodrome of landing was HKJK or Kilimanjaro International Airport (HTKJ) After being visual with HKNW RWY 32, the flight crew broke off the ILS and began a visual approach for landing. The flight noticed the aircraft was too high when it crossed the threshold of RWY 32. The flight crew increased the descent rate to 700 ft per minute. An Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) “sink rate” warning sounded in the cockpit, followed by a hard landing. The aircraft lost control and veered off to the right of the runway into the grass area and stopped at about 30 metres. The nose landing gear collapsed while the left main landing gear detached, and the right main landing gear sustained damage. All 37 occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Cessna 560XL Citation XLS in Mwihoko: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 2025 at 1420 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-FDM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nairobi - Hargeisa
MSN:
560-5674
YOM:
2006
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Nairobi-Wilson Airport Runway 14 at 1417LT on an ambulance flight to Hargeisa, Somalia. On board were two medical crew and two pilots. About three minutes after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the district of Mwihoko, some 22 km northeast of Wilson Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all four occupants were killed as well as two people on the ground.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-106 in Bur Ache

Date & Time: Jul 21, 2021
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-GRS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi – El Wak
MSN:
355
YOM:
1993
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Nairobi-Wilson Airport on a charter flight to El Wak, carrying 37 passengers and 4 crew members. While descending to El Wak Airport, the pilot continued to the east and elected to land on an airfield located 18 km east of El Wak, near Bur Ache, in Somalia. After landing, the airplane veered to the left and impacted a pile of earth and rocks, causing the left main gear to collapse. All 41 occupants evaacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Nairobi

Date & Time: Mar 26, 2021 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-NJS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi – Kisumu – Eldoret – Nairobi
MSN:
BB-837
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6589
Captain / Total hours on type:
4600.00
Aircraft flight hours:
12177
Circumstances:
The aircraft, registered 5Y-NJS operated by Westwind Aviation Ltd crashed at Ngong Racecourse. The flight with two onboard was on a private mission to Kisumu, Eldoret and back to Nairobi. The aircraft departed Wilson Airport (HKNW) at 0420Z and landed at Kisumu Airport (HKKI) at 0502Z. It then departed HKKI to HKEL at 1142Z and landed at 1200Z where it picked one passenger. The flight then departed HKEL to HKNW with three onboard at 1247Z with an estimated flight time of 40 minutes. According to the preliminary information obtained from the Captain, the aircraft attained flight level 250 42NM from Eldoret VOR. The flight was then cleared to fly direct to GV VOR by Nairobi Area Control Centre. During descend to flight level 100 they encountered bad weather whereby the wings developed heavy icing. The Captain deployed deicing systems on the wings but the problem persisted. The situation prompted the Captain to request Wilson Control to descend to “Monstry fix” for landing at HKNW which was approved. As the flight continued descending the left engine went off. The Captain requested Wilson Tower for assistance. After 30 seconds, the right engine also went off. The Captain elected to make an emergency landing at Ngong Racecourse. On landing along, the left wing collided with trees and broke-off and separated together with the left engine and the left main landing gear. The turned clockwise through 180° and faced the opposite direction. All three onboard escaped unhurt but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Marsabit: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 2021 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-JKN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nairobi – Marsabit
MSN:
208B-0688
YOM:
1998
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4235
Captain / Total hours on type:
2329.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
344
Copilot / Total hours on type:
104
Aircraft flight hours:
16343
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was a continued descend into terrain without forward visibility in thick fog.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Location of the airstrip which is surrounded by high hills,
- Inadequate flight planning and crew resource management.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker 50 in Nairobi

Date & Time: Oct 11, 2019 at 0902 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-IZO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi - Mombasa - Lamu
MSN:
20244
YOM:
1992
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7492
Captain / Total hours on type:
262.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4156
Circumstances:
On October 11, 2019 at about 0902 Kenya daylight time, a Silverstone Air Services Fokker 27 Mark 050 registration 5Y-IZO experienced runway excursion on takeoff runway 14 at Wilson Airport with 55 occupants onboard (5 crew and 50 passengers). The aircraft was performing a scheduled flight from Wilson airport to Mombasa, Lamu and back to Wilson airport. The aircraft was fueled then the passengers boarded the plane before the normal pre take off procedures which were reported as uneventful as collaborated by the information from the FDR. The Right Hand engine receded the Left Hand engine in startup as depicted by the parameters from the recorders. From engine startup, taxi, lineup runway 14, power up and including the initial stages of ground roll were uneventful. At 06.02.50 GMT, while still on ground roll take off, the LH engine ITT began to fluctuate, dropped from 707.8 to 175.8. The RH ITT remained stable. The other parameters of both engines were stable. Subsequent power down ensued at 06.03.01, IAS dropped from 110.2Knots and the aircraft magnetic heading increased gradually to 144 consistent with the deviation of the aircraft to the right of the runway axis when it left the paved surface of the runway, before colliding with the airport perimeter fence, went through an embankment before coming to rest tilted to the right after the starboard wing made contact with a tree. The passengers were deplaned through the two left hand side front and rear exit doors. Immediately the event occurred, ATS Wilson airport issued a crash alert and Wilson Airport Fire Service (AFS) responded without delay, found the passengers already evacuated from the aircraft and applied foam to the sections of the aircraft with leaking fuel. Runway 14/32 was closed and all inbound and departure traffic made use of the remaining runway. Preliminary information retrieved from the Flight Data Recorder Radar regarding the engine ITT seems to correlate with the flight crew statements regarding the observed fluctuations on the LHS engine ITT.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-202 in Kichwa Tembo

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2019 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-SLM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi – Kichwa Tembo
MSN:
506
YOM:
1997
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Loss of control upon landing following a ground collision with two wildebeests.

Crash of a Fokker 50 in Guriceel

Date & Time: Apr 20, 2014
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-VVJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi – Guriceel
MSN:
20133
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nairobi-Wilson Airport on a cargo flight to Guriceel, carrying two pilots and a load of six tons of khat. After landing, the crew encountered difficulties to stop the airplane within the remaining distance. The aircraft overran and came to rest with its left wing partially torn off. Both pilots evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker 50 in Guriceel

Date & Time: Nov 10, 2011
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-VVK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi – Guriceel
MSN:
20213
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Nairobi-Wilson Airport on a cargo flight to Guriceel, Somalia, carrying three crew members and a load of khat. After landing, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, contacted rough terrain, lost its nose and left main gear before coming to rest. There was no fire. All three occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 500CRF in Nairobi

Date & Time: Jan 27, 2011 at 1335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-FFD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nairobi - Nairobi
MSN:
10530
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a local post maintenance test flight from Nairobi-Wilson Airport. The crew consisted of two pilots and two engineers. During the takeoff roll from runway 07, the captain decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, went through a fence, lost its nose gear and came to rest in a field. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.