On May 16, 1995, a Piper PA-31 Cheyenne (registration 5Y-FKI) operated by Sky Tours - Kenya was involved in an aviation accident near Liuli, Tanzania during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot lost control of the aircraft while performing an abrupt maneuver to avoid a sand dune during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft crashed during its initial climb from Liuli Airstrip after the pilot attempted to avoid an obstacle.
What happened
During the takeoff phase from Liuli Airstrip, an aircraft was performing a climb when the pilot initiated a sudden, sharp turn. This maneuver was intended to steer the plane away from a nearby sand dune. During this avoidance attempt, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, resulting in a ground impact.
Findings
The accident occurred while the aircraft was in the climbing phase of flight.
The primary factor in the loss of control was the sharp turn executed to avoid a sand dune.
There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported following the impact.
The aircraft sustained damage that resulted in it being a total loss.
Probable cause
The pilot lost control of the aircraft while performing an abrupt maneuver to avoid a sand dune during takeoff.