Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 27 December 2003
Aircraft Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Owner/operator: Air Malawi
Registration Number: 7Q-YKU
Location: Mzuzu Airport (ZZU) –
ÿ Malawi
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Cessna Caravan (specifically the takeoff roll)Cessna Caravan (specifically the takeoff roll)
Category: Accident
A Cessna Caravan, carrying Malawi’s second vice president, Chakufwa Chihana, on a return flight to Lilongwe, experienced a sudden swerve during takeoff, resulting in a collision with a minibus on the runway at Mzuzu Airport. The plane skidded onto the highway, causing a fatality.A Cessna Caravan, carrying Malawi’s second vice president, Chakufwa Chihana, on a return flight to Lilongwe, experienced a sudden swerve during takeoff, resulting in a collision with a minibus on the runway at Mzuzu Airport. The plane skidded onto the highway, causing a fatality.
Description
Air Malawi’s single Cessna Caravan, named ‘Soche’ taxied to Mzuzu’s (ZZU) runway 17 for takeoff. The Cessna was carrying Malawi ‘s second vice president, Chakufwa Chihana, back to Lilongwe. During the takeoff roll the Cessna reportedly started to swerve and ran off the 1308 meters (4291 ft) runway. The plane skidded onto a highway, colliding with a moving minibus, killing a passenger.
Primary Cause
Unexpected swerve during takeoff due to a mechanical malfunction or unstable flight conditions.Unexpected swerve during takeoff due to a mechanical malfunction or unstable flight conditions.Share on:
