On October 4, 1976, a Douglas DC-7 (registration TZ-ARC) operated by Emirates Air Transport was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Kenya, Kenya in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew initiated a descent prematurely, leading to controlled flight into terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A four-engine aircraft crashed into the slopes of Mount Kenya during its descent, resulting in the deaths of all onboard personnel.
What happened
During an approach to Nairobi-Wilson Airport, a four-engine airplane encountered restricted visibility while descending to an altitude of 15,000 feet. During this phase of flight, the aircraft impacted the terrain on the slopes of Mt Kenya, located approximately 135 km northeast of the destination airport.
Search efforts located the wreckage several hours after the impact. The accident resulted in four fatalities, as all members of the crew perished in the crash.
Findings
Investigation into the accident determined that the crash was the result of controlled flight into terrain. This occurred because the crew began a descent before it was appropriate for the prevailing conditions.
Probable cause
The crew initiated a descent prematurely, leading to controlled flight into terrain.