On February 17, 1990, a De Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo (registration AF-316) operated by Zambia Air Force was involved in an aviation accident near Lusaka, Zambia during landing or approach. 29 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A twin-engine aircraft experienced an uncontrolled descent while approaching Lusaka, resulting in a crash in a nearby field that claimed the lives of all 29 people on board.
What happened
The incident occurred as the aircraft was conducting its approach phase toward Lusaka. During this critical stage of flight, the twin-engine airplane lost controlled flight characteristics and began an uncontrolled descent. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground in a field situated approximately 10 kilometers from the airport.
Findings
The crash resulted in the total loss of all individuals on board. There were no survivors among the 29 occupants, which included both crew members and passengers. The event is characterized by the complete fatality rate for everyone involved in the accident.
An X-AIR HAWK ultralight crashed in Chonburi, Thailand, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. The accident was caused by deteriorated wing fabric and…
A Challenger II Special ultralight aircraft (U-B23) landed off-runway at Pai Airport, Mae Hong Son, on September 17, 2024, due to a gust of wind. No injuries…
The Polish aviation safety authority is investigating a serious incident involving an AT-3R100 aircraft that occurred on September 2, 2024. The investigation…
A SZD-48-3 glider suffered damage when its left wing struck a ground obstacle during a low final approach at EPWK on June 20, 2025. The pilot was uninjured.
A 39-year-old skydiver died after a hard landing near Leszno on May 1, 2026. The PKBWL preliminary report indicates the fatal impact resulted from a late,…
A student pilot crashed an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider into the airfield fence during a solo training flight on June 6, 2026. The pilot was uninjured, but the…