What happened
On a flight traveling from Dar es-Salaam toward Nairobi, an aircraft operating at 10,500 feet struck the southeast slope of Mawenzi Peak, the second-highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro. The incident occurred during a period of marginal weather characterized by poor visibility and heavy cloud cover obscuring the mountain. Upon impact with the terrain, the plane disintegrated, leading to 20 fatalities and no survivors. Search and rescue teams were able to locate the debris field on May 22.
Findings
Investigations into the crash highlighted several critical errors in flight planning and decision-making. The pilot chose to maintain a direct course to Nairobi despite the deteriorating weather conditions. A significant contributing factor was the failure to consult with a meteorological forecaster regarding the current atmospheric state. Had this consultation occurred, the crew might have opted for an alternative route via Tanga. Furthermore, the lack of specific instructions for an alternate flight path and the pilot's relative inexperience with the airline may have influenced the decision to proceed despite the risks.