What happened
On the morning of the incident, a charter flight departed Dar es Salaam International Airport at 04:18 hours, intending to fly to Morogoro to collect passengers for a subsequent trip to Tabora. The aircraft, a 5H-TZD, was operated by a single pilot. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot provided estimated arrival times for the Terminal Control Area (TMA) and Morogoro to the Dar es Salaam Control Tower.
While maintaining flight level 60, the pilot contacted the Ngerengere military base to request transit through a restricted military area. This request was denied due to active operations in that airspace, leading the pilot to notify the military base of his intention to fly south of the prohibited zone. The final communication with the Ngerengere base occurred at 04:39 hours.
At 04:40:08 hours, the pilot contacted the Dar es Salaam Tower frequency, stating he was transmitting blind and provided updated arrival estimates. Following this transmission, the tower heard sounds resembling microphone clicks, and no further contact was established with the aircraft. After the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, the owner notified the Dar es Salaam Control Centre at 08:50 hours, prompting the activation of an alert phase and the Rescue Coordination Centre.
On 5 May 1996, local villagers located the wreckage on the summit of the Palapala mountains. The search and recovery process lasted 11 days, hindered by dense tropical vegetation, difficult terrain, and poor weather conditions.