History of the Flight
On 11 November 2024, a Cessna 172R, registration A6-HSS, operated by Fujairah Aviation Academy (FUJAA), was scheduled for a training flight from Fujairah International Airport (OMFJ) to the North Training Area (NTA) and back. The aircraft was occupied by a student pilot and an instructor pilot.
At approximately 0821 LT, the student contacted Fujairah Tower, providing the aircraft's squawk code and stating the purpose of the flight as a training flight in NTA 1 and 2. The tower controller instructed the flight to line up for takeoff from Runway 29R at 0826, and the aircraft departed at about 0829.
At about 0831, while climbing through 1,500 feet, the flight crew switched to Approach control on frequency 129.4 MHz as instructed. At 0844, the Approach controller instructed the instructor to report when ready to return to OMFJ from the training area, and the instructor acknowledged.
At 0848, radar recording indicated a sudden drop in speed and a loss of altitude from 3,000 to 2,000 feet. At 0850, the aircraft disappeared from radar. The Approach controller made multiple attempts to contact the pilots, but no communication was established. At about 0855, the Approach controller requested the tower to initiate search and rescue actions.
Injuries and Damage
The accident resulted in two fatalities among the crew. No other injuries were reported. The aircraft was destroyed.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 172R, manufactured in 2008, with manufacturer serial number 17281521. Total flight hours since new were 1,2731:50. It was powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine and equipped with a McCauley propeller.
Meteorological Information
At the time of the accident, the weather at Fujairah International Airport was reported as CAVOK (cloud and visibility OK).
Flight Recorders
The aircraft was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), as they were not required by regulations.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was recovered from offshore Al Badyah, Fujairah. The aircraft was found destroyed. Bodies and wreckage distribution were documented.
Ongoing Investigation
The Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) of the United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) participating as the state of manufacture and design. This preliminary report contains initial factual information; further details may emerge in subsequent reports.