Investigation Summary
The flight was part of a series of sectors in the Okavango Delta. After refuelling at Kasane, the pilot, a British national and Moremi Air's general manager, diverted to Xakanaka to drop off two passengers (who were Botswana officials) without filing a revised flight plan or informing the airline base. At Xakanaka, despite company procedures limiting the passenger load to ten for that specific airfield, the pilot agreed to board two additional passengers bound for Maun, bringing the total to eleven passengers and one pilot. During the initial climb at 13:55, the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A engine lost power. The aircraft, heavily loaded and operating in a challenging environment, struck tall trees and crashed nose-first approximately 600 metres from the runway. An intense post-crash fire consumed the wreckage, making the identification of seven victims (including the pilot) impossible without DNA testing. One survivor later died in the hospital, bringing the death toll to eight. The two Botswana officials were among the four survivors.
Final Conclusions
The Directorate of Accident Investigation (DAI) concluded the primary cause was engine failure resulting from the failure of compressor turbine blades. While sulphidation corrosion was present, investigators could not rule out material failure or inappropriate engine operation. The report heavily criticized Moremi Air's safety culture, noting it had eroded to the point of compromising safety. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to exceed passenger limits, the lack of oversight by the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), and the engine manufacturer's failure to effectively disseminate critical maintenance information regarding turbine blade health.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
General Manager of Moremi Air; described as the company's most seasoned pilot.
Systems & Failure Modes
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A
The turboprop engine suffered a failure of the compressor turbine blades, leading to a total loss of power during the critical initial climb phase.
Aircraft Data Acquisition System (ADAS)
The investigation noted that the ADAS was not sufficiently fire-resistant, hindering the recovery of engine performance data after the post-crash fire.
Interesting Facts
- 01The pilot was Moremi Air's general manager and most experienced pilot, a British national with over 12,000 flight hours.
- 02The aircraft was manufactured in 1996 and was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A engine.
- 03Company procedures specifically restricted the maximum number of passengers to ten for operations at Xakanaka Airstrip.
- 04The investigation found that the engine's compressor turbine blades were affected by sulphidation corrosion.
- 05The 8 fatalities included 4 Swiss passengers, 2 British (the pilot and 1 passenger), and 2 French passengers.
- 06Survivors included 2 French passengers and 2 Botswana officials from the Department of Road Transport.
Safety Actions & Advisories
CAAB Oversight
The DAI recommended stricter supervision of airline and airfield operators by the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana.
ADAS Fire Resistance
A recommendation was made to Cessna to ensure that the Aircraft Data Acquisition System is designed to resist fire damage to preserve flight data.