A Board of Inquiry into the March 16 helicopter crash with the loss of all seven crew and passengers has concluded that human error cannot be ruled out.

A statement signed by the Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor in Accra said the Board found from evidence adduced from the Air Traffic Control Centre at the Kotoka International Airport and analysis of the crash site and wreckage showed that the crew encountered bad weather to and from Nkawkaw where they were on a medical mission.

"In the course of the in-bound journey, it is apparent that the crew flew at an unsafe altitude in the mountainous terrain of Atiwa. "The aircraft therefore struck the upper branches of some trees in the forest range leading to its eventual crash and the loss of all persons on board.

"The Board therefore concluded that 'a probably loss of situational awareness by the crew may have resulted in a controlled flight into the terrain'". The Board was composed of senior officers of the Ghana Air Force assisted by a two-member team from the UK Air Accident Investigations Branch.

The Board said the aircraft had two pilots, two technicians who were both suitably qualified and the aircraft was airworthy at the time of the accident. It had gone to evacuate two accident victims who were accompanied by a nurse. The statement said to forestall any such unfortunate accident, a number of measures have already been taken, including the grounding of all Ghana Air Force aircraft to check on their serviceability state.

"The safety checks have since been completed and the airworthiness of the aircraft confirmed. The temporary ban has therefore been lifted." The statement said the Minister of Defence has held meetings with manufacturers' representatives to discuss matters pertaining to the servicing of all aircraft on the inventory of the Ghana Air Force.

"As a further step, a review of all the avionics of the Ghana Air Force helicopters has been ordered to include Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System

(EGPWS) to ensure safe, all-weather operations." The statement said appropriate administrative steps are being taken to compensate the families of all the victims since the duty was an authorised one.

The Ministry thanked the public and international community for their support and sympathy, adding that the event would in no way affect the professional standing of the Ghana Air Force and the entire Ghana Armed Forces.