Narrative:
An Air Rhodesia Viscount, named "Hunyani", took off from Kariba Airport at 17:10. Shortly after departing Kariba, the starboard wing was hit by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile (also known as SA-7). An emergency descent was carried out and the crew tried to make an emergency landing in a large clearing in the bush. The aircraft crash-landed, striking an irrigation ditch, cart-wheeled, broke up and caught fire. Fighters from the Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), also responsible for shooting down the airliner, later killed 10 of the 18 survivors. The rest of the survivors were rescued the next day.
Forced landing outside airport
accident date: 03-09-1978
type: Vickers 782D Viscount
registration: VP-WAS
| Status: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
| Date: | Sunday 3 September 1978 |
| Time: | 17:30 |
| Type: |  Vickers 782D Viscount |
| Operator: | Air Rhodesia |
| Registration: | VP-WAS |
| MSN: | 297 |
| First flight: | 1958-03-04 (20 years 6 months) |
| Engines: | 4 Rolls-Royce Dart 510 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 34 / Occupants: 52 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 38 / Occupants: 56 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Whamira Hills ( Zimbabwe)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Kariba Airport (KAB/FVKB), Zimbabwe |
| Salisbury Airport (HRE/FVHA), Zimbabwe | |
| Flightnumber: | RH825 |
An Air Rhodesia Viscount, named "Hunyani", took off from Kariba Airport at 17:10. Shortly after departing Kariba, the starboard wing was hit by a 9K32 Strela-2 shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile (also known as SA-7). An emergency descent was carried out and the crew tried to make an emergency landing in a large clearing in the bush. The aircraft crash-landed, striking an irrigation ditch, cart-wheeled, broke up and caught fire. Fighters from the Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), also responsible for shooting down the airliner, later killed 10 of the 18 survivors. The rest of the survivors were rescued the next day.
Classification:
Shot down from the groundForced landing outside airport
Photos
accident date: 03-09-1978
type: Vickers 782D Viscount
registration: VP-WAS
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Kariba Airport to Salisbury Airport as the crow flies is 281 km (176 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Kariba Airport to Salisbury Airport as the crow flies is 281 km (176 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Zimbabwe
Share
Vickers Viscount
- 445 built
- 114th loss
- 58th fatal accident
- 15th worst accident (at the time)
- 19th worst accident (currently)
Zimbabwe- The worst accident (at the time)
- 2nd worst accident (currently)
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation