Aircraft collision with Mt Kenya peak during flight to Samburu

14 fatalities • Mt Kenya, Kenya • Flight

A twin-engine charter flight crashed into the eastern slope of Mt Point Lenana, resulting in the deaths of all 14 people on board.

What happened

On a charter mission departing from Nairobi-Wilson Airport at 15:58 local time, a twin engine aircraft was en route to Samburu with 12 passengers and two crew members. During the flight, the crew elected to alter the flight path to conduct a sightseeing tour of the Mt Kenya region before proceeding to their original destination.

While the aircraft was maintaining an altitude of 16,500 feet, it entered a cloud layer. During this period of obscured visibility, the plane collided with the eastern slope of Mt Point Lenana, which is the third-highest peak of the Mt Kenya massif. The impact occurred at an elevation approximately 450 feet below the summit. The crash resulted in 14 fatalities, with no survivors among the passengers or the pilots.

Findings

  • The flight was operating in cloudy conditions at the time of the impact.
  • The aircraft was performing a non-scheduled sightseeing maneuver over mountainous terrain.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck the mountain slope while flying through clouds during a sightseeing detour.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2003-07-19 Swearingen SA226 Metro II accident near Mt Kenya, Kenya?

A twin-engine charter flight crashed into the eastern slope of Mt Point Lenana, resulting in the deaths of all 14 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 2003-07-19 Swearingen SA226 Metro II accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 14 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2003-07-19 involved a Swearingen SA226 Metro II, registration ZS-OYI, operated by Ryan Blake Air Charter, at Mt Kenya, Kenya.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft struck the mountain slope while flying through clouds during a sightseeing detour.

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