History of the Flight
On 25 November 2019, a Bombardier DHC-8-311, registration 9J-PZB, operated by Proflight Commuter Services Limited, departed Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport on a scheduled commercial flight to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The aircraft carried five crew and 41 passengers. During the flight, the pilots requested a heading deviation to avoid significant weather indicated on the weather radar. After clearing the weather, they routed directly to the Non-Directional Beacon 'Lima Whisky'. On descent, the aircraft entered a cloud with reduced visibility. At flight level 160, the aircraft entered a storm, experienced violent shaking, the autopilot disengaged, and the cloud turned dark grey with heavy hail. The crew executed a rapid descent; the windshield cracked, and systems including electrical generation, rudder pressure, and pressurization were lost. The aircraft landed safely at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 13:28 UTC.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Bombardier DHC-8-311, serial number 405. It was maintained by Proflight Zambia Aircraft Maintenance Organisation. The Certificate of Airworthiness was valid from 15 July 2019 to 14 July 2020.
Personnel Information
The Pilot in Command held a Zambian Airline Transport Pilot Licence with 4,679.0 total flight hours. The First Officer also held a Zambian Airline Transport Pilot Licence with 2,963.0 total flight hours. Both had valid medical certificates as of 3 May 2019.
Meteorological Information
Meteorological reports indicated few Cumulonimbus clouds, broken towering cumulus with base at 3,500 ft, scattered clouds with base at 10,000 ft, temperature 29°C, dew point 15°C, and visibility greater than 10 km. The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast for Kenneth Kaunda International Airport showed visibility greater than 10 km.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained extensive damage: right-hand winglet tip and navigation light damaged; radome/nose cone panels damaged; left-hand leading edge wing root fairing damaged; right-hand wing root severely broken; leading edge horizontal stabilizer paint scraped off; leading edge horizontal stabilizer and lens covers damaged; taxi and landing lights broken. A damage survey by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada concluded the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
Injuries to Persons
No crew, passengers, or others suffered fatal, serious, or minor injuries.
Survival Aspects
All on board survived and disembarked without any injuries.
Fire
There was no post-impact fire.
Recorders
The aircraft was equipped with a flight data recorder and a voice recorder.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The aircraft entered a severe storm during descent, which caused the listed damage.
Additional Information
Air traffic control communications indicate the flight requested left deviation due to weather, was cleared for descent, and later requested a visual approach to Runway 10. The aircraft did not declare an emergency. No interaction with the secondary radar track was observed during the descent.