What happened
On a mission to retrieve the remains of 33 individuals killed in a prior crash involving an Embraer ERJ-190AR (C9-EMC), a special flight departed from Windhoek toward the decommissioned Omega Airfield. The aircraft was transporting various equipment and a crew of six members to the site located in Bwabwata National Park.
During the approach to the overgrown airstrip, the aircraft touched down too far along the runway. Due to the presence of grass and bushes on the landing strip, the pilot was unable to decelerate sufficiently before the end of the available pavement. This resulted in the aircraft overrunning the runway and striking trees. The impact caused significant structural damage, including the partial loss of the right wing. All six crew members on board survived the incident without injuries, though the aircraft was declared a total loss. As of February 2014, the wreckage remained at the site, with plans to dismantle and transport the remains to Windhoek.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the landing distance exceeding the available runway length due to an overshoot on the overgrown strip.