Flight 494 took off from Dar es Salaam around 06:00 East Africa Time and was scheduled to land at Bukoba around 08:30 after a stopover at Mwanza. A survivor stated that the pilots had to reroute the aircraft due to the deteriorating weather and that the aircraft had to fly towards the Tanzanian-Ugandan border before turning back towards Bukoba. The passenger further stated that during their approach, they encountered heavy turbulence after being informed that they were landing shortly, eventually finding themselves in the lake with the plane beginning to take on water.

The aircraft crash-landed in Lake Victoria at 08:45, 500 metres (1,600 ft) short of the runway. Survivors stated that the front portion of the aircraft was immediately filled with a large amount of water, causing panic inside the cabin. The flight attendants then opened the emergency exits and passengers began to escape from the sinking aircraft. Photos and videos spread on social media showed the plane almost fully submerged, with only its tail section visible above the water line.

5H-PWF, the aircraft involved, seen at Toulouse–Blagnac Airport in 2010, while still wearing its test registration, F-WWLA.

The aircraft involved in the accident was a 12-year-old ATR 42–500 named "Bukoba," with serial number 819, registered as 5H-PWF. It was delivered to Precision Air in August 2010. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 turboprop engines.

There were 39 passengers and 4 crew members on board, including 1 infant. The majority of those were Tanzanians, and local media stated that at least two were Kenyans, including the first officer. The pilot of the aircraft was identified as Captain Buruhani Bubaga; the co-pilot was First Officer Peter Odhiambo.

 Of the 43 people on board, 19 died, including both pilots, who drowned before rescue workers could reach them

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A plane carrying 43 people made a crash landing into Lake Victoria on Sunday while attempting to reach a nearby airport in Tanzania.

At least 19 people were killed when the plane, operated by Precision Air, crash-landed on approach to the lakeside city of Bukoba, according to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa. The airline had said earlier that 26 people had been rescued from the plane.

Flight PW 494, which departed from the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, “crash-landed” into the lake as it was approaching the lakeside city of Bukoba.

The cause was not immediately clear, but the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation