16 seconds to disaster: How two aircraft collided over city park

A promising day for a student pilot and his instructor on March 5 ended in tragedy when their Cessna collided midair with a Dash 8 over Nairobi National Park, two kilometres from Wilson Airport, resulting in their deaths.

Their final transmission to Wilson Tower was ‘looking out’ before vanishing from radar.

Shortly after, the Cessna C172M (5Y-NNJ) crashed into the Safarilink Aviation Dash 8 (5Y-SLK), just 16 seconds following the Dash-8’s takeoff and two minutes after the Cessna’s ascent.

The collision involved a Cessna engaged in circuits training and a Dash 8 departing for a commercial flight to Ukunda Airport, Kwale County.

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While the Dash 8 managed to return safely to Wilson Airport, the Cessna was not as fortunate.

The air traffic controller tried to raise the Cessna several times with no response. Wilson Tower then asked the crew and colleagues of the Ninety-Nines Flying School to go around looking for their colleagues.

The Standard learned that this happened because the Police Airwing at Wilson, which is tasked with providing search and rescue services, is not functional. 

Firefighting services

“While on early downwind of Runway 07 (to the right of upwind Runway 14), a different Cessna reported sighting the crashed plane. At this time, the tower called ARFFS (aircraft rescue and firefighting services) and activated the crash alarm advising on the position of the crashed aircraft.

“The tower also advised other responding agencies,” the report says, adding, “During this time, the tower was able to request other aircraft within the airspace, including two helicopters to proceed to the site for rescue. At 06:59GMT (9:59), one of the choppers reported sighting the wreckage and landing at the site to assist.”

According to the report, the tail of the Cessna broke apart midair when it collided with the right edge of the de-icing boot on the horizontal stabilizer of the Dash 8. Pieces of the tail were scattered along the flight path. The main wreckage was found farther along this path, broken into several pieces. The front section, wing, nose, main landing gear, and part of the tail were all in one area. The engine and propeller were under the front of the plane. The cockpit and its instruments were badly damaged, and there was evidence of leaking fuel.

“Investigators determined that the Cessna was severely damaged when it hit the ground hard. Part of the tail broke off and bent upwards at a 40-degree angle, about 130 meters behind where baggage would have been stored,” the report says.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has initiated investigations into the accident.

Fatigue, alcohol, drugs

“The flight crew was not on prescribed drugs. Toxicological examination was conducted to check if the flight crew’s performance was affected by fatigue, alcohol, drugs, and/or medication at the time of the accident. There was no evidence that physiological factors or incapacitation affected the performance of flight crew members,” the report says. 

Records provided for the investigation by the Approved Training Organization reveal that the student pilot, a 20-year-old, held a student pilot’s license valid until January 30, 2025, and a Class 2 Medical Certificate. The Cessna had a valid certificate of airworthiness in the commercial air transport category issued by KCAA until January 5, 2025. 

“The investigation continues to assess the circumstances leading up to the accident, examining environmental conditions, crew actions, and air traffic control communications,” the report concludes.