What happened
While performing a takeoff roll from a 3,900-foot unpaved airstrip located at Ngerende, an impala entered the path of the departing aircraft. In an effort to prevent a collision with the animal, the crew initiated a rotation by pulling back on the control column.
However, the aircraft had not yet reached the necessary airspeed for a safe climb. To recover lost momentum and increase velocity, the pilot-in-command lowered the nose of the aircraft type/model (not specified). During this maneuver, the plane made contact with the ground, resulting in a crash landing in a nearby field.
All 17 people on board were successfully rescued from the wreckage. Among the occupants, one passenger sustained a minor injury. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- The primary factor in the incident was the sudden appearance of wildlife on the runway.
- Insufficient airspeed during the attempted avoidance maneuver led to the subsequent ground impact.