2 Die in Kenya Crash

[Gunship]

From News 24 :

Two people, whose nationality is unknown, died Saturday when their light aircraft crashed and burst into flames in a mountainous region near the Kenyan capital, police said.

A flight instructor and his student died when the aircraft crashed after apparently being swayed by the wind in the air at Ngong Hills, about 30km southwest of Nairobi, a police officer said.

The officer said a probe had been launched to establish the cause of the crash.

[Foxcotte]

This is such a sad accident!:(

The ground rumors are a bit different to the newspaper report. It wasn't a flight instructor but a self-fly PPL with a friend taking a 'jolly' on a hot, sunny Saturday.

Apparently he flew out past the Ngong hills, turned around and tried to fly back in. Altitudes range in this area between 6500 and 8500 and the reported wind at Wilson airport that time was 32kts! It seems he was trying to fly over a ridge into a 30+ headwind on a hot day at altitude in a Reims150 with two people up. Eye witnesses say he turned around in the Rift Valley and was battling a strong orographic downdraft and hillside convective turbulence. In short he didn't make it.

Such a shame as this is the aircraft I did my PPL in and I have fond memories of its quirks, patience and long-suffering vibe. Hard to find anything else to say other than ... such a shame!!

[ShenziRubani]

Very sad. Prayers for the two guys and their families

[406pilot]

sad news indeed, the infamous ngong claims another victim,rip to the crew and prayers for the family members..

no more 406pilot

[ozplane]

There but for fortune. I remember coming back from Arusha, four up in a Mooney at mid-day, past the Ngongs and I still can feel the thump as we hit the turbulence at the ridge. I'm surprised the wings didn't come off. What was the reg of the Cessna? Might have been my solo a/c as well. Condolences to the families.

[joebloggs13]

Never flown there, regardless, my condolences to all families involved. They were doing something they loved. RIP

p.s 406 Pilot, if no more, what are you driving now?

[5Y-NOT]

Accident as Foxcotte eplained. Plane was seen with virtually no groundspeed left in the downdraught, ended up a a very low power on stall. Survived the crash, but couldn't get out before it caught. RIP. A/C was aero club's 150, 5Y AZX.

[Coleman Myers]

Very sad news indeed. Story goes that the pilot and passengers warned away would be rescuers shortly before the aircraft caught fire, an act that no doubt saved further loss of life or injury at the ultimate price to them.

Thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost.