Incident Description
On the day of the occurrence, an aircraft was preparing for a scheduled departure from Arusha to Seronera. At 12:15 hours, the aircraft taxied from the apron to the threshold of runway 27 and initiated its takeoff roll. The controller overseeing the flight reported that the initial segment of the takeoff roll was normal. After covering approximately 500 meters, the left main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to swing to the left of the runway. The aircraft continued to move on its belly pod across a grass hedge parallel to runway 27, eventually coming to rest at the eastern edge of the apron. There was no fire, and all occupants deplaned without injuries.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the propellers, the right wing, the fuselage, and the underside structure. The belly-mounted cargo pod was completely destroyed, and its debris was scattered along the wreckage trail.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The investigation found no defects in the aircraft that could have contributed to the accident. The available evidence pointed to premature rotation and premature retraction of the landing gear as the cause. Much of the pilot's recent flying had been on low-speed aircraft. The pilot had flown Cessna 208s and Twin Otters for many years. His experience on the Cessna 406 was 80 hours, and he had flown a Twin Otter only hours before switching to the aircraft involved in this flight.