What happened
On October 23, 2000, a Cessna P210N was conducting an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, to Entebbe, Uganda, carrying a pilot and four passengers. As the aircraft approached its destination at night, the pilot reported seeing the runway from an altitude of 7,000 ft MSL, with a cloud base of 2,000 ft and good visibility in calm air. Following this report, the pilot was cleared for a visual approach to runway 35.
At 17:07 UTC, the high-wing aircraft crashed into Lake Victoria at the end of the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern. A search and rescue operation was launched immediately following the impact. The wreckage was recovered five days later from a depth of 10 meters. The accident resulted in 5 fatalities, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation was led by the Ugandan authorities, with the BFU providing laboratory assistance by examining several cockpit instruments that were transported to Germany for analysis. The investigators focused on the pilot's reported visibility and his ability to conduct the approach under night conditions.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the pilot lacked the necessary qualifications to perform instrument approaches or visual approaches at night. There were significant doubts regarding the accuracy of the pilot's report that the active runway was in sight. The primary cause of the accident was determined to be spatial disorientation of the pilot while executing a turn during the low-altitude circuit.
Safety action
- The investigating authority recommended that aircraft operators under Air Operator Certificates (AOC) ensure proper crew qualifications and rigorous maintenance standards.
- It was recommended that the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) improve oversight regarding crew competency and the maintenance of foreign-registered aircraft operating within Uganda.
- The authority suggested that the Uganda CAA implement more regular monitoring of radio communication recording systems.
- A recommendation was made that pilots without IFR or night flight certification should only plan flights during daylight hours.