An investigative committee has released a detailed account of the military helicopter crash that occurred on August 6, 2025, in Ghana, attributing the tragedy to a combination of marginal weather conditions and the absence of key modern safety systems on the aircraft.
The report identifies the crashed aircraft as a Harbin Z-9EH helicopter, tail number GHF 631 and callsign IHRI, which was on a Ministry of Defence task to fly from Accra to Obuasi. The flight was delayed from its scheduled 8:00 a.m. departure due to poor weather in Accra, Kumasi, and Obuasi, eventually taking off at 9:12 a.m. under marginal conditions.
According to the committee’s findings, the aircraft departed Accra under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) but encountered marginal weather en route, with the crew adjusting altitude multiple times to avoid low clouds. Weather reports indicated mist and low visibility across southern Ghana. For most of the 100-mile trip, conditions were manageable, but at 9:56 a.m., the crew entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and transitioned to instrument flying. Witnesses in the Brofoyedru area reported fog and rain around the time of the crash, and investigators noted that rapid environmental changes over the terrain could have caused turbulence and downdrafts.
Moments before impact, the crew reported sighting high ground below. Seconds later, the helicopter lost height without any change in engine power or pitch attitude. The aircraft struck a ridgeline at an altitude of 1,370 feet above sea level, approximately 6.5 miles from its destination, at around 9:58 a.m. All eight people on board, including senior government officials and military personnel, died in the crash.
The report confirmed the helicopter was declared serviceable and was in good working condition before departure, according to flight data records. However, the committee noted that the helicopter lacked essential safety systems, including a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), advanced terrain-mapping navigation, and an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS). The absence of these systems, the committee stated, may have reduced situational awareness during the flight. The committee has since recommended urgent upgrades to the Ghana Air Force’s fleet, including acquiring aircraft equipped with modern safety and navigation systems to enhance flight safety and prevent future tragedies.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
