Retired Officer Sogbodjor analyzes on likely cause of helicopter crash
In the wake of the devastating Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash that claimed eight lives near Obuasi, retired Ghana Air Force officer Wing Commander Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor has offered expert insight into possible causes of the tragedy, drawing national attention to critical issues surrounding military aviation safety.
The crash occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The fatal incident involved a Z-9 military helicopter, which went down during a flight from Accra to Obuasi. All eight passengers and crew on board perished, including two government ministers and three high-ranking political figures.
The deceased include Ghana’s Minister for Defense, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Also among the victims were Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former Member of Parliament; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The military flight crew—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah—also died in the crash.
In an exclusive interview with TV3 on Friday, August 8, Wing Commander Sogbodjor (Rtd) shared a professional assessment of what may have gone wrong mid-flight. Speaking as a veteran with decades of military aviation experience, he explained that all aircraft, particularly military-grade helicopters, are subjected to strict pre-flight protocols to ensure safety and operational integrity.
“Pilots do not take off if there’s even the slightest doubt about the aircraft’s airworthiness,” Sogbodjor asserted. “Every aircraft is thoroughly inspected before flight. Pilots conduct their own external checks. If anything seems amiss, the flight is aborted.”
Suggesting a technical failure as a possible cause, the retired officer said it is likely the helicopter experienced a loss of engine power during the flight. “The pilot may have been struggling to maintain lift and altitude,” he speculated. “And with aviation kerosene, any impact can easily result in a fire.”
According to Sogbodjor, the aircraft’s impact with a tree before crashing and bursting into flames raises serious questions about the helicopter’s altitude at the time. He dismissed the possibility that any naturally occurring trees in Ghana could reach altitudes of 1,000 to 2,000 feet, which suggests the aircraft had already lost significant altitude before the crash.
“I believe we need to find out what caused the aircraft to descend to a level where the rotor could strike a tree,” he stated.
He also raised concerns that the victims may have been incapacitated before the helicopter burst into flames, limiting their ability to escape. “By the time it hit the tree and crashed, they may have already been in a comatose state,” he said. “Otherwise, one would expect them to try and crawl out before the explosion.”
Offering detailed insight into standard aviation procedures, Sogbodjor outlined the multiple steps a military pilot undertakes before flight—external aircraft inspections, cockpit system checks, route and weather assessments, and final clearance from air traffic control.
“Pilots don’t just start the engine and take off. There’s a pre-start checklist, route planning, weather analysis, and tower communication before clearance is granted,” he explained.
He further emphasized the importance of data from the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder, which he said would be key to uncovering the final moments before the crash. “The voice recorder stores all communication between the cockpit and control center. Combined with flight parameters, this will help investigators understand what happened.”
Despite the tragedy, Wing Commander Sogbodjor expressed confidence in the capabilities of Ghana’s aviation investigation team. “We have the experience and expertise. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, and we’ve been able to conduct thorough investigations.”
The military and government have since launched a formal investigation into the crash. As the nation mourns the loss of prominent leaders and dedicated service personnel, public attention remains focused on the outcome of the probe and the need for heightened oversight of military aviation safety.
Source: Trendz Gh
About The Author
