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The Ministry of Defence has released the much-anticipated official investigation report into the August 6, 2025, Ghana Air Force helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of eight senior government officials and crew members.
The comprehensive report, presented at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, November 11, offers the clearest account yet of what caused the Harbin Z-9 helicopter (tail number GHF 631) to go down in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
According to the report, the crash was triggered by a sudden loss of altitude and lift due to a powerful downdraft — a dangerous downward air current associated with severe weather and mountainous terrain.
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The investigation, conducted jointly by the Ministry of Defence, the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Security Secretariat, and the Aircraft Accident & Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) and assisted by U.S. aviation experts, analysed flight data recorders (FDR), cockpit voice recordings (CVR), wreckage debris, meteorological data, and witness testimonies.
Presenting the findings, Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe, a member of the board of inquiry and investigator with AIB Ghana, explained that the tragedy resulted from “a combination of adverse environmental conditions and systemic deficiencies in flight safety systems.”
Key Findings from the Investigation Report:
- Sudden Loss of Lift Due to Downdraft:
The immediate cause of the crash was identified as a sudden downdraft that caused the helicopter to lose altitude rapidly, despite no change in power or flight control from the crew. - Adverse Weather and Terrain:
The flight path included hilly and forested terrain under poor visibility, creating turbulent air currents that severely affected flight stability. - Lack of Weather Data Along Route:
The pilots only had weather reports from Accra and Kumasi. There were no en route or localised weather updates for the areas they flew over, including the crash zone. - Transition from Visual to Instrument Flight:
The crew began the mission under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in marginal weather but were forced into Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) after entering dense clouds at 09:56. The helicopter lost control and crashed two minutes later. - Impact Site on Ridgeline:
The aircraft struck a ridgeline approximately 6.5 miles from its destination, Obuasi, at an elevation of about 1,370 feet above sea level. - Lack of Modern Safety Equipment:
While airworthy, the Z-9 helicopter lacked critical modern systems such as a Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS/EGPWS), advanced navigation with terrain mapping, and an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) — tools that might have alerted the crew in time to avoid the crash. - Limited National Navigational Infrastructure:
Ghana’s air navigation systems were found to be insufficient for providing real-time weather and route updates, especially over remote areas. - No Real-Time Flight Tracking:
The Ghana Air Force did not have real-time flight monitoring systems, such as Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) or Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–B), which could have helped track the aircraft’s performance before the crash. - No Simulator Training:
The investigation revealed a lack of simulator-based recurrent training for military pilots, limiting their preparedness for handling in-flight emergencies in poor weather. - Crew Ruled Competent and Healthy:
Human error was ruled out. Both the pilot and co-pilot were FAA-certified, instrument-rated professionals in good physical and psychological health.
Conclusion:
The report concluded that the crash was not caused by pilot error but rather by a mix of environmental hazards, inadequate real-time weather support, and the absence of critical onboard safety systems.
It recommended urgent reforms in Ghana’s military aviation infrastructure, including investment in modern navigational and flight-tracking systems, improved weather forecasting for military operations, and regular simulator training for pilots.
The August 6 crash remains one of Ghana’s deadliest military aviation disasters, claiming the lives of eight distinguished individuals, including:
- Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
- Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
- Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the NDC
- Mr Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
- Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampofo
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
The Ministry of Defence said the lessons from the investigation will inform sweeping reforms to strengthen flight safety standards across the Ghana Air Force and prevent future tragedies.
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