What happened
The flight, operating as SXC401, initially departed Abuja for Port Harcourt carrying two passengers. Prior to the flight's commencement, the aircraft's Chief Engineer had replaced the carbon brushes on the starboard starter generator, though the origin of these replacement parts was noted as uncertain. After a stop in Port Harcourt to refuel and disembark passengers, the aircraft departed for Calabar at 17:50 UTC with a total of five occupants, consisting entirely of crewmembers.
While flying at 5,000 feet, the crew contacted Calabar Tower to receive weather updates and requested information regarding the approach to runway 03. At 18:09 UTC, the pilot received clearance to descend to 2,500 feet for a straight-in approach. However, at 18:24 UTC, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting an electrical problem. During this period, the pilot requested higher intensity for the approach lights, but the controller noted they were already at maximum brightness.
Following the emergency declaration, communication became difficult. When asked for the aircraft's altitude, the pilot responded only that they were approaching Calabar. Subsequent attempts by the controller to establish the aircraft's position were met with "standby" responses. After the aircraft failed to respond to repeated queries between 18:33 and 18:42 UTC, emergency services and search and rescue agencies were notified. The aircraft type (unspecified) subsequently struck trees and crashed in a marshy area approximately 22 km from the airport. The impact resulted in five fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.