Chivayo Helicopter Crash: Pilot’s Final Radio Message Reveals Desperate Struggle in Dense Cloud

The final moments before the helicopter carrying Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo crashed near Marondera have emerged through radio communications reportedly heard by the crew of another aircraft flying nearby.

The Bell 430 was returning to Harare from Chivayo’s rural homestead in Gandami, Chikomba, on Wednesday when the pilots encountered difficult weather conditions.

All five people aboard the helicopter were killed when it crashed at Kudenga Farm near Waddilove Mission in Marondera Rural at about 5pm.

Pilot Reportedly Struggled Inside Dense Cloud

Froster Chisi, Chivayo’s senior security aide, was travelling in a second helicopter that was flying in the same general area when the tragedy occurred.

According to The NewsHawks, Chisi said the weather became increasingly difficult as the two aircraft approached Marondera, where they were expected to stop before continuing towards Harare.

Captain Kelvin Tafirei Soda was reportedly flying the Bell 430 alongside fellow pilot Captain Courage Mutavirwa.

As visibility deteriorated, the crew of the second helicopter suggested an alternative route through Bromley because of the weather.

‘I Haven’t Exited the Cloud’

Despite the difficult conditions, communication between the two helicopters continued for a time.

Soda reportedly told the other aircraft over the radio: “I’m in bad weather; I haven’t exited the cloud.”

His last reported position was in the Surrey area.

The exchange reportedly continued when the pilot of the second helicopter said they were approximately 10 minutes from their destination.

Soda then asked which destination was being referred to.

“Marondera,” the other pilot reportedly replied.

No further communication was received from Chivayo’s helicopter after that exchange.

Second Helicopter Waited for the Bell 430

The second aircraft subsequently landed in Marondera.

Those aboard initially expected the Bell 430 to arrive shortly afterwards, and waited for Chivayo and the other passengers before continuing their journey to Harare.

The group eventually left to collect vehicles after more than an hour had passed without contact.

It was only later that they learned the Bell 430 had crashed.

The discovery brought an end to the search for the aircraft and confirmed the deaths of everyone aboard.

Five People Were Killed in the Crash

Chivayo was travelling with his wife, Lucy Muteke, and her personal aide, Senelisiwe Magagula.

The two pilots, Captain Soda and Captain Mutavirwa, were also on board.

All five occupants died in the crash.

The aircraft came down at Kudenga Farm near Waddilove Mission in Marondera Rural, with the incident occurring at approximately 5pm.

Fire Broke Out After the Impact

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe director-general George Mashababe said preliminary observations suggested that fuel spilled when the helicopter hit the ground.

The spilled fuel then ignited, causing a fire that also spread to the surrounding grass.

Investigators recovered the aircraft’s flight recorder from the wreckage.

The device could provide important information about the helicopter’s flight path, cockpit activity and final moments before the crash.

Investigators Will Examine Weather and Flight Data

The radio communications are expected to form part of a wider investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Authorities are likely to examine the weather conditions, the pilots’ communications, the flight recorder and the physical evidence recovered from the wreckage.

The investigation will also need to establish why the helicopter failed to emerge from the cloud and ultimately crashed.

Although the radio exchange indicates that the crew was dealing with poor visibility and difficult weather, authorities have not determined that weather or spatial disorientation caused the accident.

Cause of Crash Remains Unconfirmed

The final radio messages provide an account of the conditions reported by the pilots, but they do not by themselves explain what happened in the aircraft’s final moments.

Investigators will therefore have to compare the communications with flight-recorder data, weather information and evidence from the crash site before reaching conclusions.

For now, the cause of the fatal crash remains under investigation.