What happened
On the date of the accident, an Antonov An-26B departed from runway 31 at Juba Airport, destined for Aweil with a scheduled stop in Wau. The aircraft was transporting cargo on behalf of the World Food Programme, including food supplies and funds for wages. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude and crashed into a prairie area near Referendom, situated approximately 4 km northwest of the airport. The impact and subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.
Of the ten people on board, there were nine fatalities and one passenger who sustained serious injuries. Reports indicated that the aircraft was carrying a cargo load of approximately 8 tons, which significantly exceeded the maximum allowable limit of 5.5 tons.
Findings
An official Commission of Inquiry investigated the crash near Juba in Central Equatorial State. While the commission stated that the specific cause of the accident had not been established, several regulatory violations were identified. The investigation revealed that the aircraft was being operated without a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and that the operator, South-West Aviation Co. Ltd, lacked a valid Operator's Certificate.