Plane crashes in Arusha, pilot killed!

News emerging from Arusha, Tanzania, reports that a light-weight plane Maule MT-7-235 with registration no. 5H-QTT, has crashed while on its final approach to Arusha airport (HTAR) on Saturday evening leaving its pilot killed.

The Pilot who was also the owner of the crashed plane, was the only soul on board and has been identified as Joseph Sambeke, alias 'Bob Sambeke'. He was flying into Arusha from West Kilimanjaro.

The pilot died shortly after the crash while he was being rushed to Mount Meru hospital.

It is said that the accident happened while the plane tried to land at the Arusha airport after sunset. The Arusha airport has no light facility for night landings hence its always closed at sunset, 6:30PM LT.

The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, the local police and the Arusha airport officials are investigating the accident.

The following data about the crashed aircraft is found on the TCAA website.

Aircraft Particulars
Reg:	5H-QTT
C of R Number:	578-A
Manufacturer:
Type:	MAULE MT-7(TRIKE)
Serial Number:	MT-7-235
Year of Manufacture:	1996
Name of Owner and Address:	WORLD QUALITY TRAVEL & TOURS LTD
Operator Addresss:	WORLD QUALITY TRAVEL AND TOURS
Date of Issue of C of R:	15/07/2005
Category:	COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORT
Type of Engine(s):	TEXTRON LYCOMING IO-540-W1A5
All Up Mass (LBS/KGS):	2500 /1136
C OF A EXPIRY DATE :	04/07/2012
Remarks:	FORMERLY 5H-FCF

Arusha Airport info: IATA Code: ARK

                                     ICAO Code: HTAR

                                     Latitude: -3.36779

                                     Longitude: 36.6333

                                     Country: Tanzania

                                     Airport type: medium.

                                     Sunrise: 6.33AM

                                     Sunset: 6.35PM

                                      Light intensity: No Light.

More pics:

Watch this space for updates.