Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled domestic service from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba with a stopover in Mwanza. Upon arrival at Bukoba, the crew encountered a sudden deterioration in weather, including Cumulonimbus clouds and visibility dropping from 10 km to 2 km. After circling twice and considering a diversion to Mwanza, the crew attempted a third approach to Runway 31 when they briefly regained sight of the runway. During this final approach, the aircraft encountered a high rate of descent and gusting crosswinds. The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) issued alerts that were not immediately acted upon by the crew. The aircraft struck the lake surface, causing the main landing gear to separate and the cabin floor to dislodge, which allowed water to flood the cabin rapidly. The investigation highlighted that the approach was unstabilized and conducted below required weather minima.
Final Conclusions
The Tanzania Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) determined the cause was an unstabilized final approach conducted in poor weather conditions that did not allow clear sight of the terrain. The aircraft struck the water at a 2 degree pitch down attitude and a 10 degree left bank. Contributory factors included the Captain's decision to proceed below weather minima instead of diverting, heavy rain and turbulence, the absence of air traffic services at Bukoba, and a high rate of descent at low altitude. The crew failed to respond immediately to EGPWS warnings, with corrective action initiated only 2 seconds before impact during a period of high workload.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
EGPWS
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System; provided alerts during the high rate of descent that were not immediately corrected by the crew.
Landing Gear
The main landing gear separated from the fuselage upon impact with the water.
Emergency Exits
Flight attendants successfully opened emergency exits, allowing 24 occupants to escape the sinking airframe.
Interesting Facts
- 01The Captain, Buruhani Rubaga, was highly experienced with 23,515 total flight hours.
- 02The First Officer, Peter Odhiambo, was 45 years old and had 2,109 total flight hours.
- 03The aircraft was named 'Bukoba' and was 12 years old at the time of the accident.
- 04Both pilots survived the initial impact but drowned before they could be extracted from the cockpit.
- 05Local fishermen used rowing oars to break the rear door of the aircraft to rescue survivors.
- 06The impact dislodged the cabin floor, allowing high-pressure water to enter the fuselage as it decelerated.
- 07Bukoba Airport lacked active air traffic services at the time of the approach.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Weather Minima Compliance
Source ↗Reinforcement of strict adherence to weather minima and stabilized approach criteria, emphasizing the necessity of diversion when conditions are below limits.
Air Traffic Services Improvement
Source ↗Recommendations to ensure consistent air traffic service availability at regional airports like Bukoba during scheduled commercial operations.