Plane crashes after wing hits tree

The left wing of the Cessna 210N of Scenic Air that crashed on Impalila Island on 30 August, hit a tree next to the Zambezi River after take-off and hit the water with the right wing first.After that, the plane&#039;s nose hit the water with such force that the engine and propeller broke off from the fuselage.This is evident from the preliminary investigation report by the Directorate of Aircraft Accident Investigations in the works and transport ministry that was released last week.According to the report, shortly after taking off with her four passengers from the airport on the island, the pilot, Nicole Mienie (21), tilted the plane to the left.EyewitnessesAccording to the driver of the vehicle that brought the passengers from the Chobe Water Villas to the airport, the plane banked sharply, turned away to the left and then swerved further to the left."According to the eyewitness, the left wing pointed 90 degrees downwards and hit a tree near the river, after which the plane crashed into the river close to the bank," the report states.Mienie flew to the island from Eros Airport in Windhoek at 05:55 in the morning to meet and pick up a German family from Munich: Thomas Rings (59), his wife, Dr Evelyn Wiesmeier-Rings and their daughters, Alicia (19) and Paulina Rings (17).They were on their way back to Windhoek after a holiday on the island. According to the driver, he was already waiting with the Rings family at the airport when Mienie landed. She checked in their luggage but instructed that two pieces remain behind.According to the report, Thomas, a mechanical engineer and senior partner of the international company Kearney, sat next to the pilot. His wife sat behind him, with one daughter seated next to her and the other behind her to the left.HelpThe driver of the vehicle and a woman who had accompanied him rushed to the river after the plane crashed.They contacted the naval base on the island, as well as the police. When they arrived at the scene, they saw another eyewitness who had also rushed to the scene. Upon their arrival, they heard two voices calling for help, the report said."The driver tried to get into the plane, but it was difficult because of the leaking fuel and the rough vegetation," the report said. According to the report, the impact was so severe that no one would have survived the accident.Mienie had 310.2 flight hours, with 82.1 hours on the particular aircraft in question. She obtained her commercial pilot&#039;s licence in South Africa. A full report on the investigation into the engine is still pending from the Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria.

Plane crashes after wing hits tree

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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Plane crashes after wing hits tree

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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