Plane With U.S. Tourists Crashes in Kenya

Associated Press ^ | 20 July 2003 | Susan Linee

[propertius]

Plane With U.S. Tourists Crashes in Kenya

By SUSAN LINNEE Associated Press Writer 232 words 20 July 2003 AP Online English Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - A South African-registered plane believed to have been carrying a dozen American tourists has crashed into Mount Kenya, apparently killing everyone on board, the senior game warden in the area said Sunday.

The three-engine plane ploughed into Point Lenana, the third-highest peak on Mount Kenya, an extinct volcano and Africa's highest mountain, at 6 p.m. Saturday as a cloudy sky was beginning to clear just before sunset, said Bongo Woodley of the Kenya Wildlife Service.

"I have flown over the site and seen the crash, and there do not appear to be any survivors," Woodley said by telephone from the Mount Kenya National Park headquarters in Naro Moru, 75 miles north of Nairobi.

Woodley said park rangers were preparing to trek to the crash site, located at 16,000 feet, but cloudy weather Sunday was complicating the ascent. He said police were also preparing to make the climb.

Woodley said he understood that according to a flight plan filed at Nairobi's Wilson Airport, there were 14 people on the plane and most were American tourists. No further details were immediately available.

Henry Ochieng, head of Air Navigation Services for Kenya's Civil Aviation Authority, did not have firm details about the crash or passengers.

AP-Kenya-Plane-Crash; D7SD876G0

[propertius]

Nothing as yet to suggest this was more than an accident. Of course this is in a country where al-Qa'eda has struck twice before.

[Arkie2]

Wonder what kind of plane it was? 3 engines is unusual on a light plane which I presume they would use for tours of this type.

[Arkie2]

Updated report says it was a two engine Fairchild Metro. Looks to me like a typical accident with no links to terror.

[Prodigal Son]

the third-highest peak on Mount Kenya, an extinct volcano and Africa's highest mountain

Hmmm. Whatever happened to Kilimanjaro?

[gridlock]

IIRC, whether you think Kilmanjaro or Kenya is higher has a lot to do with whether you are Kenyan or Tanzanian.

[Prodigal Son]

Yeah, but we're talking 800 meters differential in height here. You know, if it were 50 or 60 I could seem 'em haggling over it but this is over 2,000 feet worth of difference.

[Prodigal Son]

Typing too quick- correction- 600 meters. (still)

[propertius]

See it's been changed in the latest update to second-highest mountain

[a_Turk]

My condolences..

[LadyDoc]

small planes crash all the time...if it was an surface to air missle, it would have crashed near the airport. This article says the plane is on the side of a mountain, so it sounds like a "normal" crash.

[MindBender26]

Only 3 engine LIGHT A/C I know is the Britten-Norman "Trilander." Outgrowth of the BN Islander. Very basic A/C 8/16 passengers. Each pax had a door. Operates off very rough, short strips. Origionally used for flights to and among Channel Islands off England. Some flights were 2 and 3 minutes long! Trilander added 3 engine on top ot tail to increase pax load to 16. http://airlines.afriqonline.com/aircraft/bydecade/1960.htm

[Criminal Number 18F]

3 engines is unusual on a light plane

If the 3 engines is correct, it's a dead giveaway as to type: a Britten-Norman Trislander, made in Northern Ireland. Two engines are on the wings, and one on the tail. See it here [a Japanese airliner site, in English].

It's a popular bush plane worldwide. It's slow but has big doors for cramming it full of stuff, or people. It's certified for up to 18 souls on board.

d.ol.

Criminal Number 18F

[Criminal Number 18F]

Shoulda read your post before posting... -C18F

[Monty22]

You could not get me on that thing if Pam Anderson, $10million, and a nice fruit basket were at the destination.

[blam]

"Wonder what kind of plane it was? 3 engines is unusual on a light plane which I presume they would use for tours of this type."

I think the Italians put three engines on their planes...or at least they once did.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

How about Jenna Jameson, $10 billion and beer?

[Monty22]

I won't even get on a 737 again, hated it before 9/11, never again after.

So, no :)

[ErnBatavia]

Wonder if any of the celebs who went to pay homage to Mandela were on board.