By Edward Acquah
Accra, May 26, GNA – The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau (AIB Ghana) has attributed the March 16 microlight aircraft crash at a daycare centre in Tema to engine failure caused by overheating.
The Bureau said the aircraft’s engine most likely failed during the return flight from Ho to Accra, leaving the pilot too low to identify a suitable landing area before the crash.
Presenting the findings of the final investigative report in Accra on Tuesday, Captain Paul Forjoe, Investigator-in-Charge, said the aircraft had a history of engine overheating and earlier warning signs had not been properly addressed.
The microlight aircraft, registration 9G-ADV, crashed within the premises of the TMA Day Care Centre near Oninku Drive Basic School in Tema Community One, killing the two occupants on board. No casualties were recorded on the ground.
“The investigation believes that the aircraft most likely had an engine failure due to overheating, and also that the aircraft at which the engine failed was too low to enable the pilot to find a suitable safe landing area,” he said.
The report identified contributory factors, including the pilot’s failure to address earlier engine malfunctions, distractions from persistent mobile phone use during flight, and the pilot’s seating position in the rear seat, which limited access to critical instruments and switches.
Investigators found that all three flights conducted from Ho Airport on the day of the crash were unauthorised because they lacked valid permits.
The report said although the pilot was licensed and qualified, he occupied the rear seat during all three flights while non-pilots occupied the front pilot seat, contrary to permit conditions.
It said the aircraft had no nominated maintenance facility or personnel responsible for its upkeep and that no maintenance records existed between January 14, 2026, and the final flight on March 16, during which 15 flights were conducted.
Captain Forjoe said white smoke had been observed emanating from the aircraft engine after an earlier local flight at Ho, but no known maintenance action was taken.
“The pilot’s awareness of the white smoke emanating from the engine, coupled with his knowledge of the history of the engine overheating, should have given him ample warning of the possibility of an engine failure,” he stated.
According to the report, the pilot later experienced engine overheating during another flight and conducted only a visual inspection before continuing the journey to Accra.
Investigators also established that the pilot used his personal cell phone during critical stages of the flight and sent a photograph of the cockpit instrument panel showing engine overheating about 25 minutes before the crash.
“The pilot’s personal texting activities were a possible source of distraction and interruptions,” Captain Forjoe noted.
The report said no distress call or emergency declaration was made before the accident.
Witnesses observed the pilot attempting to signal children playing at the Oninku School Park to vacate the field for an emergency landing, but the children misunderstood the signal and continued playing, forcing the pilot to abort the attempt.
The aircraft subsequently crashed within the daycare centre compound and burst into flames upon impact.
The Bureau recommended a review of oversight of general aviation operations by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and improved communication of flight permit conditions to air traffic control and airport managers.
It also called for stricter compliance with permit conditions by aircraft operators and reminded air traffic controllers of their obligation under the law to immediately notify AIB Ghana of aircraft accidents.
Mr John Wumborti, Commissioner of AIB Ghana, said the Bureau remained committed to improving aviation safety and preventing future occurrences.
“AIB Ghana has all that it takes to do any investigation… We are doing a lot of prevention, and we feel that our airspace is safe,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Edward Acquah