What happened
On December 31, 1973, at approximately 21:00 local time, a Beechcraft Baron 58 aircraft registered as CR-ANB departed from Nampula Aerodrome in Mozambique. The flight was conducted by Transportes Aéreos Comerciais with the specific purpose of transporting a critically ill child and accompanying family members to Nova Freixo for medical care. The outbound journey proceeded without incident, and the crew reported no issues.
During the return leg, shortly after takeoff from Nova Freixo, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude. Witnesses and subsequent investigation indicated that the plane had not yet climbed beyond 200 feet before it lost height and collided with a group of trees. The impact caused the aircraft to break apart and crash approximately 1,500 meters from the runway threshold. The collision was followed by intense fires and explosions fueled by the aviation gasoline in the fuel tanks. Both the fuselage and the interior were severely damaged by fire, leaving the aircraft almost completely carbonized.
The investigation
The GPIAAF (Gabinete de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes com Aeronaves) conducted a thorough examination of the accident site and the wreckage. Technical experts from the Mozambican Air Force (FAP) and the Portuguese Air Force inspected the debris field. Later, the engines and propellers were transported to Aeródromo Base nº 6 for detailed analysis by qualified technicians from the DETA.
The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, with a Certificate of Airworthiness valid until September 5, 1974. The total weight of the aircraft was substantially lower than the maximum allowable weight for this type of flight. Meteorological conditions at the time were considered good, with light winds (240°/2 knots), scattered clouds, and a temperature of 25°C. These weather conditions were not deemed a contributing factor to the accident. Radiocommunications functioned efficiently until takeoff, and there were no indications of intentional acts, sabotage, or structural defects prior to the crash.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the probable cause of the accident was a collision with trees and ground, accompanied by violent fires and explosions caused by the combustion of aviation fuel. The primary factor leading to this outcome was a combination of technical, physiological, and psychological factors that exceeded the pilot's capacity to react or utilize his immediate resources.
Contributing factors included:
- The aircraft operating in marginal conditions at low speed and low altitude.
- The pilot's lack of experience flying this specific aircraft type at night.
- The pressure for a rapid return to Nampula, driven by the desire to save a life and the timing near the end of the year 1973, with families expecting the pilots' arrival.
The violent impact with the trees and ground, exacerbated by the intense fires, exceeded the structural resistance of the aircraft. Medical examinations confirmed that all occupants likely died instantly or within moments of the accident due to the severity of the trauma and fire.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations or actions taken are recorded in this source document beyond the technical analysis and conclusions provided by the GPIAAF investigation report dated June 11, 1974.