What happened
On December 26, 1991, a Piper PA-34 (registration 5Y-SHV) was conducting a routine charter flight from Mombasa to Kichwa Tembo within the Maasai Mara National Reserve. While flying at a low level near the Musiara Airstrip, the aircraft encountered a large bird. The impact caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled, shallow dive. Witnesses observed the aircraft oscillating and pitching wildly at approximately 250 feet above the ground. The aircraft eventually struck the ground with its right wing at a high bank angle, approximately 40 meters from the threshold of runway 09. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate and burst into flames, resulting in 9 fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and the physical evidence at the crash site. Investigators recovered the remains of a bird near the wreckage and identified blood on the shattered windscreen. Forensic analysis by the National Museum of Kenya confirmed the bird was an adult African white-backed vulture, weighing approximately 5.4 kg with a wingspan of about 2.2 meters. The investigation also examined the pilot's medical and licensing records, as well as the aircraft's maintenance history, to determine if any mechanical or human factors contributed to the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft's center of gravity was within prescribed limits, and the aircraft was maintained according to an approved schedule.
- The pilot held a valid airline transport pilot license and a valid medical certificate.
- A white-backed vulture smashed through the aircraft windscreen during flight.
- The bird strike caused immediate spinal injuries to the pilot, incapacitating him and preventing any corrective flight maneuvers.
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent following the impact, leading to the fatal crash and subsequent fire.