What happened
On June 10, 2024, a Dornier 228-202(K) operated by the Malawi Air Force crashed into a hillside in the Nthungwa Forest, near Nkhata Bay, Malawi. The aircraft was performing an internal passenger flight, transporting the Vice President of Malawi and five other passengers, along with a crew of three, from Lilongwen-Kamuzu to Mzuzu.
Following an earlier flight that encountered poor weather, the crew decided to fly at a lower altitude to remain beneath the cloud base and maintain visual flight rules (VFR). The aircraft departed Lilongwe-Kamuzu at 09:16 local time. During the climb, the aircraft entered a left turn and subsequently began maneuvering at low altitudes over hilly terrain. While operating under VFR, the aircraft encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and collided with rising terrain.
The investigation
The BFU investigation, conducted at the request of the Malawian government, examined the flight's GPS data, meteorological reports, and aircraft systems. Investigators analyzed the crew's decision-making process, the availability of weather information, and the operational environment. The investigation also looked into the aircraft's technical status, including the functionality of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), and the regulatory oversight regarding pilot medical certifications and air traffic services.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the crew flying into instrument meteorological conditions while operating under VFR, leading to a collision with terrain.
- The decision to continue the flight at low altitudes despite marginal weather conditions significantly increased the risk of a controlled flight into terrain (CFTE) event.
- There was a lack of adequate situational awareness and insufficient meteorological flight preparation, as the crew did not obtain weather updates for the route or destination from the meteorological office.
- The aircraft's ELT had been non-functional for 20 years, which hindered search and rescue efforts.
- Contributing organizational factors included time pressure to complete the mission and the absence of radar and radio recordings at Lilongwe airport.