By Francis Kobena Tandoh
After months of investigations into the wreckage, flight history, and technical condition of the microlight aircraft that crashed in Tema early this year, the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) has attributed engine failure and poor professional maintenance practices as the cause of the crash.
In presenting their final report on the cause of the crash on Tuesday, head of the investigation, Captain Paul Fordjour, said the aircraft had previously developed engine overheating during short flights and landings in the Volta Regional capital of Ho with white smoke coming from the engine before the flight continued.
Despite the initial technical problems, investigators emphasized that the defects were ignored and not fixed before subsequent flights.
The AIB also revealed that the pilot of the aircraft resorted to pouring water on the engine in an attempt to cool it down and that no flight permits had been issued for its movement, leaving the Air Traffic Control (ATC) unaware of its operations and history of mechanical faults.
The microlight aircraft, registered 9G-ADV, crashed near the Tema Metropolitan Assembly Day Care Centre at Tema Community One on March 16, 2026, killing two brothers onboard.
Witnesses reported that the pilot attempted an emergency landing and appeared to signal children on a nearby school park to move away before the aircraft lost control and crashed. End item
Source: Ghana Eye Report
