Piper PA31 accident near Antananarivo, Mg, June 18, 2018
On June 18, 2018 at about 6:15 am local time, a Piper PA31, registered N5RMKF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Antananarivo. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed.
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
- June 18, 2018 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA31 · all PA31s on the register
- Registration
- N5RMKF · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 18, 2018, about 0615 local time, a Piper PA-31 airplane, 5R-MKF, impacted terrain about 5 nautical miles from the Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo, Madagascar. The pilot in command, two pilot observers, pilot monitor, and one passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operated by Madagascar Trans Air as an instructional flight under the pertinent civil regulations for the government of Madagascar. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau des Enquêtes des Accidents et Incidents de l'Aviation Civile (BEAC). This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the BEAC. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Bureau des Enquêtes des Accidents et Incidents de l'Aviation Civile (BEAC) Ministère des Transports Rue Jules Ranaivo Anosy, Antananarivo Madagascar Tel.: (261) 20 22 24604 (261) 20 22 44757 www.transport.gov.mg
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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
- Operator: Madagascar Trans Air
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 4 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.