Mike Willesee accident in a twin Cessna, 1997.

[gerry111]

Does anyone know details of the accident that Mike Willesee and Greg Low were involved in, during 1997? Apparently it was in a twin Cessna between Nairobi and Southern Sudan.

[megan]

Doesn't detail the "why", other than "The plane took off in a tropical downpour and shortly after began experiencing problems. When it stalled, and it stopped for this one excruciating second and then started to spiral and go down." Cessna 406.

Mike Willesee: A premonition, plane crash and testing miracles - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[Capt Fathom]

The video from inside the crash is a single engine Cessna crashing into trees. They then show a Cessna 406 on it's belly out in the open?

Bit of editing there!

[gerry111]

Thanks megan and Captain Fathom.

I found the 'Australian Story' to be rather fascinating. I can't find anything on the net to corroborate that the accident actually happened.

[Fris B. Fairing]

Originally Posted by Capt Fathom

The video from inside the crash is a single engine Cessna crashing into trees. They then show a Cessna 406 on it's belly out in the open?

Not to mention the shot of an MU-2 at the beginning.

[megan]

The only accident listed for a Cessna 406 in 1997 was 5Y-TAL at Nairobi, and is the registration of the aircraft Willesee is seen standing in front of. Kenyan reports available on the net don't go back that far.

https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19970615-0

[gerry111]

"That wasn't the end of the drama. When the aircraft finally settled, the pilot and the other two passengers got out as fast as they could, leaving Willesee and Low in their seats.

Greg's seat buckle was jammed because he had a camera on his lap and we thought the plane would explode and burn because of the noise and incredible amount of smoke.

So I ran back into the plane and Greg freed himself as I got in and we got out."

Anyone out there that remembers hearing about this at the time? (1997)

[Foxcotte]

This prang definitely happened! The oldies remember it well. The bar room talk is that the aircraft was somewhat laden, tried to get airborne and when it failed pancaked back onto the airfield skidding along on its belly in the wet mud. Not sure about reaching enough altitude to spin. Besides which the 406 flies extremely well on a single engine - even in a downpour! Possibly there was a fair bit of aquaplaning along the wet runway with a stressed pilot in wet conditions on one engine. And as for the passengers being abandoned - its every man for himself after a prang!

[The Wawa Zone]

its every man for himself after a prang!

Fox, I hope thats part of your pax briefing !