The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau has disclosed that children playing on a field near the Tema Day Care School misunderstood attempts by a microlight pilot to clear the area for an emergency landing moments before the aircraft crashed.

Presenting the Bureau’s final report on Tuesday, May 26, Head of Investigation, Captain Paul Fordjour, explained that the pilot flew the aircraft at low altitude over parts of Tema in an effort to alert pupils playing on the school field to move away.

According to investigators, the pilot was attempting to use the low flight manoeuvre as a warning signal to create space for an emergency landing.

However, the report said the children failed to understand the situation and instead waved excitedly at the aircraft while remaining on the field, forcing the pilot to abandon the attempted landing.

The Bureau stated that during a subsequent emergency landing attempt, the aircraft entered a left-bank position before losing control and crashing within the premises of the school near Oninku School Park in Tema Community One.

Investigators further revealed that the aircraft’s final path took it through nearby trees before it struck part of the roof of the daycare facility and eventually crashed into a tree at a dumpsite located between two school buildings.

The microlight aircraft, registered 9G-ADV, crashed on March 16, 2026, near the Oninku Drive Basic School, killing the two occupants onboard.