Cessna 402 Crash on Ngong Hills, Kenya (5Y-AJZ)

Accident Overview and Flight History On 7 December 1983, a Cessna 402 aircraft, registration 5Y-AJZ, operated by Boskovic Air Charters Ltd., crashed into the Ngong Hills near Nairobi, Kenya. The aircraft departed Wilson Airport at 0404 GMT on a special VFR clearance for Keekorok, routing south of the Ngong Hills at an altitude not exceeding 6,500 feet. The pilot, Captain John Victor Nutter, had requested a VFR departure after being informed of expected delays for an IFR clearance due to poor weather conditions, including cloud cover to the ground at Jomo Kenyatta Airport. The pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and was cleared for takeoff on Runway 07. After takeoff, the pilot reported observing two layers of stratus cloud at approximately 5,800 feet and 7,400 feet. He remained in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) between the layers for a few minutes before the weather deteriorated significantly. The aircraft subsequently entered cloud, and the pilot lost sight of the ground. Unaware of his exact position, the pilot noted that both ADF needles, tuned to the VOK transmitting station, indicated the aircraft was past the starboard abeam position, suggesting it was very close to the Ngong Hills and heading directly toward them. A climbing turn to the left was initiated, but the aircraft struck trees and crashed almost simultaneously. The impact occurred at 0410 GMT. The pilot, the sole occupant, survived with minor injuries, though he passed out briefly after impact. The aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair, with the nose area and wings completely destroyed and the engines detached from the main wreckage. Some trees on the hillside sustained damage, and a small fire started on impact but did not spread extensively. The investigation noted that the pilot was flying a charter booking that had come in late, despite being scheduled to be off duty, and was in a hurry to complete the flight and return to Nairobi. The weather was poor, and the analysis concluded that the pilot flew into bad weather, attempting to find gaps in the cloud or break through to the southern side of the hills where conditions were reported to be better. The aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness and maintenance, and the pilot held a valid license with the correct type rating for the Cessna 402.