Africa-Press – Namibia. A Preliminary report released by the Ministry of works and transport’s Directorate of Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigations (DAAI) indicate that the Scenic Air plane which crashed in August 2022, was a result of the left wing of the plane hitting a tree and as a result culminating in the crash.
The incident which happened around 12:00 on 30 August took the lives of all five passengers on board, which included young South African pilot, Nicole Mienie (21) and four members of a German family, Thomas Rings (59), his wife, Evelyn Wiesmeier Rings, (57), and their two daughters Alicia Maria Rings (19), and Paulina Lucia Rings (17).
In the preliminary findings the DAAI stated that on Tuesday morning, 30 August 2022, a Cessna 0210 aircraft with registration V5-LMK departed from Windhoek Eros to lmpalila Island at time 05:55 UTC with only the pilot, and seven hours and 30 minutes of fuel on board.
The intention was to pick 4 passengers up from Impalila island and bring them back to Windhoek via Rundu.
The DAAI noted that upon landing at Impalila to pick up the passengers, the pilot, assisted by the driver started loading the baggage.
“According to him the pilot realized that she would not be able to carry all the bags as it was too many and too heavy. She then decided to offload two bags. The pilot then called the operator to make arrangements for the lodge to pick the two bags up. The pilot requested the driver to move the vehicle closer so that she can use it as a ladder to inspect the fuel tanks and to do other preflight checks. She then informed the driver that they are good to go,” the DAAI’s report detailed.
The report further shared that the pilot contacted Kasane Air Traffic Control (ATC) and informed them that she was lined up and will be departing at 10:00.
The pilot was then instructed to report when she was airborne. The pilot then commenced with the take-off. After rolling for some distance, she commenced with the lift-off and then contacted Kasane ATC again and informed them that she is airborne.
The report stated that the Kasane ATC then wanted to know whether the pilot will be routing via “Caprivi Strip”, on which she answered “yes”.
Kasane ATC then instructed the pilot to broadcast on the unmanned frequency 124. 8 MHz, but the pilot never acknowledged the instruction (Kasane ATC made several calls thereafter to the aircraft, but there was no reply).
The DAAI stated that after take-off, the pilot made a left turn and that the aircraft inclined sharply and veered off to the left; thereafter it rolled further to the left.
“According to the eye witness (driver), the left wing was pointing 90 degrees downwards and struck a tree next to the river, thereafter the aircraft crashed into the river close to the river bank, where the right wing impacted the water. First followed by the nose section of the aircraft. The impact caused the engine and propeller to break free from the fuselage. The aircraft came to a stop in an upright position facing south. With the tail section protruding out of the water,” the report noted.
It is further alleged that the driver and a lady that was with him rushed to the scene and that they also called the navy, the clinic and the Police of the Island to assist.
They found another eyewitness, who also saw the crash, running to scene. On arrival two voices calling for help could still be heard. The driver was trying to get into the plane but it proved to be very difficult as leaking fuel and vegetation was everywhere. Sadly, all on board was fatally injured.
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