Engine failure and stall during training flight at Blantyre-Chileka Airport

1 fatality • Blantyre, Malawi • Landing (descent or approach)

A training flight involving an instructor and a student ended in a crash short of the runway following a series of engine power losses.

What happened

A training mission originated from Blantyre-Chileka Airport, carrying two crew members: an instructor and a pilot in training. During the flight, the instructor intentionally deactivated the right engine to conduct a simulated failure procedure. Shortly after this maneuver, the left engine also experienced a loss of power and failed.

In an attempt to recover, the crew tried to restart the right engine, but the procedure was unsuccessful. Faced with a dual engine failure, the pilots attempted an emergency return to Blantyre Airport. During the final approach phase, the aircraft entered a stall and impacted the ground approximately 1,300 meters before reaching the runway. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury.

Findings

  • The flight sequence involved a simulated engine failure followed by an actual failure of the remaining engine.
  • The loss of power in the left engine prevented the crew from maintaining flight stability during the approach.
  • The aircraft's descent ended in a stall during the landing phase.

Probable cause

The aircraft crashed after the left engine failed following a simulated right engine shutdown, leading to a stall during the emergency approach.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-11-09 Beechcraft 90 King Air accident near Blantyre, Malawi?

A training flight involving an instructor and a student ended in a crash short of the runway following a series of engine power losses.

Were there any fatalities in the 1990-11-09 Beechcraft 90 King Air accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-11-09 involved a Beechcraft 90 King Air, registration 7Q-YMM, operated by Air Malawi, at Blantyre, Malawi.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft crashed after the left engine failed following a simulated right engine shutdown, leading to a stall during the emergency approach.

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