A helicopter carrying Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo crashed near Marondera on Wednesday, killing all five people on board. The Bell 430 helicopter, piloted by Captain Kelvin Tafirei Soda and Captain Courage Mutavirwa, was returning to Harare from Chivayo's rural homestead in Gandami, Chikomba. The helicopter was carrying Chivayo, his wife Lucy Muteke, and her personal aide Senelisiwe Magagula. According to details of the final radio communications, Soda reported battling poor weather and struggling to emerge from dense cloud shortly before the crash.
The pilot of a second helicopter, traveling nearby, reported that the weather deteriorated as the two helicopters traveled towards Marondera. The pilot suggested changing course and flying through Bromley due to the conditions. Soda repeatedly communicated with the other helicopter, struggling with poor visibility. "I'm in bad weather; I haven't exited the cloud," Soda reportedly said over the radio. His last reported position was over the Surrey area.
When the pilot of the trailing helicopter said they were approximately 10 minutes from their destination, Soda appeared uncertain about the location being discussed. "Which destination?" he asked. "Marondera," the second pilot responded. There was no further communication from Chivayo's helicopter. The second helicopter landed in Marondera, and its occupants waited for the Bell 430, believing it might have diverted or landed elsewhere due to the weather.
The aircraft crashed at about 5 pm at Kudenga Farm near Waddilove Mission in Marondera Rural, killing everyone on board. Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe director-general George Mashababe said preliminary observations showed that fuel spilled after the helicopter struck the ground, causing a fire that burnt the surrounding grass. Reports from the scene indicated that the aircraft's tail may have struck the ground first.
A flight recorder recovered from the wreckage is expected to assist investigators as they reconstruct the helicopter's final moments. The investigation is expected to examine the recorder, radio communications, weather information, and wreckage before determining what caused the aircraft to descend. Although the pilot's account indicates that they encountered challenging weather and poor visibility, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The tragedy claimed the lives of Chivayo, Muteke, Magagula, Soda, and Mutavirwa. Police initially reported that six people were aboard the aircraft but subsequently revised the number to five and formally identified the victims. President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted Chivayo provincial hero status and visited his children and ex-wife Sonja.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has not officially concluded that bad weather or spatial disorientation caused the crash. Aviation authorities have said that the cause remains under investigation and that a detailed report will be released once the necessary technical examinations have been completed. The incident has raised concerns about helicopter safety in Zimbabwe, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
Key points
- The helicopter crash that killed Wicknell Chivayo and four others was likely influenced by poor weather conditions.
- The pilot's final radio calls revealed struggles with dense cloud and poor visibility.
- The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities examining the flight recorder, radio communications, and wreckage.
