Fatal Accident (3 on ground) – Cessna 172N, 5Y-CDC, Kwachocha Village area in Malindi, Kilifi County, Kenya, January 10, 2025
OFFICIAL PRELIMINARY REPORT: Report Not Available Yet
OFFICIAL FINAL REPORT: Report Not Available Yet
AviationSafetyX Report:
The crash of a Cessna 172 aircraft, registered 5Y-CDC, occurred on January 10, 2025, in the Kwachocha area of Malindi, Kenya. The aircraft was operated by the Kenya Aeronautical College as part of a training flight. It had departed from Malindi Airport and was en route to Wilson Airport in Nairobi when it experienced a mechanical failure, leading to an emergency landing attempt. The crash site was near the busy Malindi-Mombasa Highway, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life.
The aircraft collided with roadside structures and motorcycles, causing an intense fire upon impact. Onboard were a pilot, an instructor, and a student, all of whom survived with minor injuries. They were transported to Tawfiq Hospital in stable condition. However, three fatalities occurred on the ground: two boda boda (motorcycle taxi) riders and a pillion passenger, identified as Naomi Chitsaka Mwagona, a 58-year-old school head teacher. One of the boda boda riders was severely burned, while others were fatally struck by the aircraft during its descent.
Emergency response teams, including firefighters from the Kenya Airports Authority and Malindi Municipality, as well as local authorities, extinguished the fire and secured the area. The crash caused significant traffic disruptions and drew a large crowd of onlookers. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and the Directorate of Air Accident Investigations have initiated an investigation into the mechanical failure that led to the incident.
Aircraft Operator:
Kenya Aeronautical College (https://www.kac.co.ke/)
Video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/2ZH9yauyePg
Video(non-accident):
https://www.tiktok.com/@furytygres/video/7379249724924202246
Accident Location:
Kwachocha Village area in Malindi, Kilifi County, Kenya (East of the Malindi Airport)
3°13’15.54″S 40° 6’50.49″E (https://g.co/kgs/EUKEpDJ)
Malindi Airport (IATA: MYD, ICAO: HKML) is located west of the central business district of Malindi in Kilifi County, southeastern Kenya, near the Indian Ocean. It lies approximately 132 kilometers (82 miles) northeast of Moi International Airport by road and about 485 kilometers (301 miles) southeast of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The airport is situated at an elevation of 80 feet (24 meters) above sea level and features two bitumen runways: Runway 17/35, which measures 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) long and 98 feet (30 meters) wide, and Runway 08/26, which measures 3,549 feet (1,082 meters) long and 76 feet (23 meters) wide. Malindi Airport serves as a medium-sized airport for the region, and significant upgrades, including terminal building expansion, construction of a new control tower, and runway rehabilitation, were completed between 2011 and 2012 at a cost of KES 200 million (approximately USD 2 million). Future expansion plans aim to extend Runway 17/35 to 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) and include new facilities such as a 7.5-kilometer perimeter fence and parking for 500 vehicles. These projects are designed to attract direct international flights and enhance capacity, although progress has faced delays due to land compensation and other challenges.
ASN:
https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/470676
FAA/International Registration:
5Y-CDC
Year of Manufacture:
unkn.
SN/Military Registration/BUNO:
unkn.
NTSB:
n/a
Facebook:
n/a
X/Twitter (reports+videos):
https://x.com/Turbinetraveler/status/1877723013140947143
ADS-B Exchange:
n/a
FlightAware:
n/a
flightradar24:
n/a
AirNav.radar:
n/a
National Report(s):
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-plane-crash-malindi-3c41baec5aa126b1d25d93313566f14d
Local Report(s):
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/107937-plane-crashes-malindi
https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/kilifi/3-people-die-light-aircraft-crash-lands-malindi-mombasa-highway-4884882
Image Reference(s):
https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/kilifi/3-people-die-light-aircraft-crash-lands-malindi-mombasa-highway-4884882
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