Nairobi City District

Nairobi-Eastleigh (Moi Air Base)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Nairobi - Nanyuki

MSN:

123

YOM:

1986

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Nairobi-Eastleigh Airport (Moi Air Base), while in initial climb, the left engine failed and its propeller autofeathered. The captain contacted ATC, declared an emergency and was cleared to turn left. Following a left hand circuit, the crew again turned to the left and prepared to land on runway 06 when the aircraft entered an area of low clouds. The crew momentarily lost visual contact with the runway when the aircraft stalled and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Kaloleni, less than 2 km short of runway 06 threshold. The aircraft and few houses were destroyed. All 46 occupants as well as 6 people on the ground were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the left engine failure could not be determined.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321C in Nairobi: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Sudania Air Cargo

Registration:

ST-SAC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Khartoum - Nairobi

MSN:

19377

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. As the crew was unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to abandon the approach and initiated a go-around manoeuver. Few minutes later, while completing a second attempt to land, the aircraft descended below the glide when it struck power cables and crashed 4 km short of runway 06, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew descended below the MDA to establish a visual contact with the ground while approaching the airport in a 500 meters visibility due to fog. The crew failed to follow the published go-around procedures and at the time of the accident, the aircraft was not equipped with a GPWS system.

Crash of a Boeing 707-330B in Nairobi

Date & Time: May 17, 1989

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

6O-SBT

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nairobi - Mogadishu

MSN:

19316

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen meters past the runway end. All 70 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Nairobi

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

5Y-AST

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nairobi – Mombasa

MSN:

31-7452006

YOM:

1974

Location:

Nairobi-Wilson

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while climbing to a height of about 5-10 meters, the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left, causing the left wing to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the aircraft crashed next to the runway and came to rest. All nine occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Nairobi

Date & Time: May 31, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Safari Air Services

Registration:

5Y-AZZ

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

402B-0915

YOM:

1975

Location:

Nairobi-Wilson

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

After landing at Nairobi-Wilson Airport, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a ravine. There were no casualties and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Canadair CL-44D4-6 in Nairobi

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Canadair CL-44

Operator:

Tradewinds Airways

Registration:

G-BCWJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mombasa - Kigali

MSN:

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Mombasa-Moi Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the right main gear that would not lock up. The captain decided to divert to Nairobi to complete an emergency landing. Upon touchdown at Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest. All four crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was carrying 17 tons of cement from Mombasa to Kigali.

Crash of a Boeing 747-130 in Nairobi: 59 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1974 at 0754 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 747-100

Operator:

Registration:

D-ABYB

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Frankfurt - Nairobi - Johannesburg

MSN:

19747/29

YOM:

1970

Flight number:

LH540

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

140

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10464

Captain / Total hours on type:

1619.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3418

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2237

Aircraft flight hours:

16781

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane named 'Hessen' lifted off from runway 24 at a speed of 145 knots. During initial climb, at a height of 100 feet, the airplane stalled and struck the ground 1,120 meters past the runway end. It flew again for about 114 meters then struck an embankment and crashed in flames 340 meters further. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. 55 passengers and 4 crew members were killed while 98 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the flying crew. The accident was caused by the crew initiating a take-off with the leading edge flaps retracted because the pneumatic system which operates them had not been switched on. This resulted in the aircraft becoming airborne in a partially stalled condition which the pilots did not identify in the short time available to them for recovery. Major contributory factors were the lack of warning of a critical condition of leading edge flap position and the failure of the crew to complete satisfactorily their checklist items.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 in Nairobi

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Government of Kenya

Registration:

5Y-DCA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nairobi - Nairobi

MSN:

15288/26733

YOM:

1944

Location:

Nairobi-Wilson

Country:

Region: