An amateur-built aircraft accident near Harare, Zw, November 3, 2009
On November 3, 2009 at about 5:36 pm local time, a an amateur-built aircraft, registered ZWPJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Harare. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. No one was hurt; 42 people were on board or involved.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2009 · about 5:36 pm local time
- Place
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 42 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- An amateur-built aircraft
- Registration
- ZWPJ · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 3, 2009, a Xian Aircraft Industries MA-60, registration Z-WPJ, operated by Air Zimbabwe, struck wildlife on the runway during takeof at Harare, Zimbabwe. The aircraft exited the runway to the left side and was substantially damaged. There were no injuries. The CAA-Zimbabwe requested NTSB assistance with flight recorders.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during takeoff
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Air Zimbabwe
The flight
- Departed from: Harare
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 38 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.