On August 16, 2020, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registration 5Y-SAV) operated by CityLink Africa Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Fangak (Old Fangak), South Sudan during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft veered off the runway and struck an obstacle due to the unstable surface of the muddy airstrip during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A single-engine aircraft operating for an NGO veered off a muddy runway and struck a tree during takeoff from Juba to Fangak.
What happened
During a humanitarian mission conducted for the NGO Nile Hope, a single-engine aircraft was performing a flight from Juba to Fangak. The flight was carrying a total of seven people, consisting of two pilots and five passengers.
As the aircraft was performing its takeoff roll on an airstrip characterized by muddy conditions, the pilot lost control of the vehicle. The aircraft subsequently veered off the runway and collided with a tree. The impact was severe enough to tear the right wing from the airframe, causing the aircraft to come to rest in an inverted position.
Findings
The accident resulted in two passengers sustaining minor injuries.
The primary factor in the loss of control was the muddy condition of the airstrip during the takeoff phase.
Probable cause
The aircraft veered off the runway and struck an obstacle due to the unstable surface of the muddy airstrip during takeoff.