Crash at Nairobi Wilson Airport

[goin'flyin]

Can anyone shed some light on the accident that happened today at Nairobi - Wilson Airport.

A very close mate of mine lost his life in this accident, and being on the other side of the world doesn't make it easy to find information on the circumstances surrounding the events.

If anyone could share any information (however basic), that would be greatly appreciated. (Private Message if you prefer).

Another great aviator leaves our land way to soon. :(

[samjetblaster]

From a Friend who is a Pilot at Wilson.The company is Blue Bird Aviation,Beech 1900 had an engine problem after takeoff,aircraft crashed on final.Captain died,F/o in ICU.My condolences to the Family.:sad:

[EladElap]

Breaking News, Kenya, Africa, Politics, Business, Sports, Blogs, Photos, Videos- Two killed as plane crashes at Wilson Airport (http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/683758/-/uomkdg/-/index.html)

A cargo plane on Monday killed two crew members when it crashed at Wilson Airport, Nairobi.

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The pilot died as he was being taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, while his co-pilot later died at the Nairobi Hospital where he had been admitted in critical condition.

They were transporting miraa to Quarrel airport in Mogadishu, when their plane developed a problem at around 8am on Monday, according to airport officials who had been in touch with the pilot moments before the accident.

They said the crew decided to return to crash-land at the airport after being airborne for about two hours. But the plane crashed into the airport’s fence and burst into flames before landing onto a ditch near the runway.

The accident, which involved a small cargo aircraft, continues to raise doubts about the safety of planes taking off and landing at the airport.

It was the fourth plane tragedy to have occurred near the airport – whose runway borders the Nairobi National Park, on one side, and human settlements, on the other – in the last four months.

Last September, a light police aircraft on a routine training mission crashed and burst into flames near the airport, injuring two officers who were on board.

The two were a pilot and his student were both police officers attached to the Police Air Wing unit based at the airport.

And barely 12 hours later, another small plane crash-landed into the Nairobi National Park moments after taking off from the airport.

In August, a plane carrying an American film crew crashed into a house at the nearby Nyayo Highrise estate, killing the pilot.

Despite these accidents raising concerns about the safety of the facility, the national regulator of airspace safety, the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, have not taken any visible action.

Condolences to all involved...

[Capt Chambo]

Very sorry for your loss.

Here is an item in one of the local papers:-

Breaking News, Kenya, Africa, Politics, Business, Sports, Blogs, Photos, Videos- Two killed as plane crashes at Wilson Airport (http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/683758/-/uomkdg/-/index.html)

Pole sana

[goma]

Fact is you take off at that elevation,temp and totally overloaded if you lose a donk its curtains,best thing is to close the other engine and land in the park,flying on one will take you to your death site,sorry to sound grim but its a fact of life,how do i know____flew there and worn the T-Shirt.

There are those that get away with it and those that dont,my sympathy too ,but the above is a fact of life in Nairobi Wilson.

safe flying guys goma,

[Carrier]

Quote: "Despite these accidents raising concerns about the safety of the facility, the national regulator of airspace safety, the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, have not taken any visible action."

Why always this anti-aviation biased reporting? How many fatal crashes have there been on the roads from Nairobi to the park and to the coast? Have the news media commented on the lack of safety of these roads and called for action, including closing them?

[Renaissance]

Goma,

This was not a take off incident. Apparently the aircraft reached the UTA and FL230. It was reported to have checked the silos at 8000 feet. If you have flown there you must know that a 1900 would comfortably glide into JKIA from overhead the silos at that altitude.

Sadly it appears to have been a management decision to return the stricken aircraft to wilson airport.

The crew attempted to land on runway 32 at HKNW.

I knew the captain and met his family. My condolences to the families.

No further comment

Renaissance

[KRONOS]

What actually went wrong with the 1900? loss of power? inflight shutdown (Failure) loss of oil pressure, anything?

There are a lot of 1900's flying and it can only be constructive to know the facts, no superpilot pseudo fact finding please, is there someone in Nairoby Wilson that can post what happened, I believe the aircraft might have stalled on final approach, very close to the runway, was the aircraft in full landing configuration or flapless and gear up?

[MungoP]

Word has it that there were four on board.. 2 crew plus 2 pilots travelling as non-flying crew... any confirmation on that ?

[keitaidenwa]

@carrirer

Bad press can be used to advantage of aviation. Such public pressure could be used to force KAA and KCAA form a credible Accident Investigation team. One that comes out with timely reports with strong recommendations on what to do to increase aviation safety.

[atco749]

@ renaissance...... i ask myself the same question....why dint the pilot land in Wajir or Jomo (perfect straight in approach) and had to insist on HKNW??? what is this obsession with Wilson by Bluebird aviation?????......this is not the first time their planes have technical problems and they insist on going back to "base".....there is something veeery FISHY with that operator!!

@KRONOS... the acft had lost one engine...but from what i can deduce, it may have lost the other other one too....coz it crashed into the fence....it stalled....could have been gliding....

@ mungoP.. only 2 on board.....was a cargo flight....sadly they all died, FO passed on in ICU.

@keitaidenwa... i do agree with you.


my condolences to the crew's family.... safe flying ya'll.

[EladElap]

Does anyone know the nationality of the crew and where the aircraft was registered?

[Coleman Myers]

Pole goin'flyin, a very sad loss.Nothing fishy with Blue Bird. Good operator with loyal staff.

[MungoP]

Thanks ATCO749... just had that clarified.. usual confusion following an event like this... I know one of the Bluebird guys but don't have an e-mail address here.. if anyone has the names of the unfortunate crew I'd appreciate a PM .. many thanks MP

[greenleader78]

Captain: Edward Maina Gatimu. - Outstanding pilot/human being, will be missed. I am affraid I dont know who the F/o was as yet. Will update as info comes to hand.

[MungoP]

greenleader78
thnx for that... much appreciated... now I just have to wait to find out who the FO was... have lost too many friends to aviation... hope not to lose any more.

[OCEANIC404]

Hi guys! The F/O is well and alive.He will be discharged soon,I saw him few minutes ago.May he recover quickly.

[EladElap]

Oceanic404 that's fantastic news!!!! :):):):):)

Looking at the photos of the wreckage, it's a miracle he made it out in one piece!!

[MungoP]

OCEANIC404

If that's true it's terrific news... only in Africa, and maybe the depths of Borneo... can it be so difficult to get simple facts... if you have his name i'd be grateful if you'd post it or PM it.. still trying to get clarification.. Do you have any more info on the problem that caused them to return ?

[Jockey Straddler]

mali ya mungu... Shut up and stick to your Nairobi Stock exchange.. we are least interested with that.:mad:


coleman myers.. we have all passed through african aviation, whereby there is always a paragraph in the company emergency procedure manual which goes like ...."in case of emergency, return to base..." Why? Of course to cut down costs..!!! Go against that or let out secrets and you are fired.... God help us all.

My sincere condolences to family and friends of the Captain.

[Jockey Straddler]

At 54 years of age, with 35,000 total hours, out of which, 6000 of them from Miraa flights out of Wilson, what can you tell me about miraa flight operations?

Thanks god, i am now out of it, flying big cargo jets now in Singapore, and preparing myself for retirement... as a matter of fact, i have taken up horse riding thats why i call myself Jockey Straddler.

:mad: from Belarus... Honestly i am not sure... what i know is that i have never been to Belarus.

Anyway everybody is entitled to his opinion.

[nugpot]

At 54 years of age, with 35,000 total hours, out of which, 6000 of them from Miraa flights out of Wilson, what can you tell me about miraa flight operations?

A thousand hours a year every year from 19 to 54??

I think Jockey Straddler has an overactive pen when he approaches his logbook.........

At least Singapore is far away from the air that I frequent.

[Cenrifugel]

Man I thought I was working hard with 980hrs last year! Amazing how some poeple manage to get so much flying done. It basically means after ten years of flying I should have 10 000hrs in my logbook!? If only that were true.

[VanDokta]

So are you straddling horses or jockeys ?:E

[groundfloor]

A thousand hours in your logbook a year with some contract companies was not uncommon a couple of years ago. That was flying 8 weeks in 4 weeks out...Go figure :}.

But to do it every year for so long - ouch!! - must say last six years have done an average of 880 a year... one third flat on my back thank goodness!

[Jockey Straddler]

Average 1000... per year. sometimes less sometimes more. I started flying at 18. Unlike others, who are flying for money, flying is a hobby to me. I been a member of so many flying clubs i have lost count.

By the way, my flying hours are TOTAL HOURS, inclussive of sim.

I confess i am tired. thats why early retirement from commercial flying.


Again my sincere condolences to family and friends of captain.

[Renaissance]

Well we're getting off topic here, but a buddy of mine flew Let 410's for blue bird for an average of 7 hrs per day for 480 days in a row. Of course due to logging rules he couldn't log all the hours...

If I'm not wrong 10 yrs ago Clay Lacy claimed to have 47,000 hrs.

[Jockey Straddler]

.....besides i do own a Bonanza 36 as a "toy". Which means I dont have to depend on Duty Roster to log hours, or come to that, I dont have to moth-ball my log book when going on holliday.

I seem to have touched a lot of raw nerves here. Sorry, it wasnt intentional. PPRune is for aviators to chill out and losen up. The only requirement here is to possess a little bit of sense of humour.


Again my sincere condolences to family and friends of the Captain.