What happened
On a Monday morning, a charter flight was scheduled to transport a group of training staff and programmers from a Johannesburg-based company from Rand Airport to Oranjemund, Namibia. The flight was part of a weekly routine where the aircraft and crew remained in Oranjem and returned to South Africa on Fridays. On the day of the accident, the scheduled departure time was 0500z. Before departure, company staff assisted passengers with boarding and passport procedures, while the pilot managed the loading of luggage near the aircraft.
After filing an instrument flight plan and receiving departure clearance, the aircraft taxied to the holding point. An air traffic controller reported that the initial takeoff roll proceeded normally for the aircraft type. However, shortly after lifting off, the pilot reported an engine failure and requested permission to return to the runway. Moments later, the pilot signaled that a crash was imminent. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude over a nearby highway. One observer noted that the right-hand engine had ceased functioning, as the propeller blades were clearly visible. The aircraft struck the ground along the extended centerline of Runway 29, causing a fire. The accident occurred at 0506z in daylight, and all 10 occupants were killed.
Findings
- The pilot reported a failure of the right-hand engine during the initial climb phase.