The German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau has released the preliminary report on the tragic plane crash that killed the former vice-president of Malawi, Saulos Chilima.

The report shows a series of deficiencies in the aircraft carrying Chilima, from the Emergency Locator Transmitter, which had been out of service for 20 years, to an expired battery, writes Rádio Moçambique.

According to the report, this device was out of date because its frequency signals had been out of sync with the satellite's frequencies since February 2009.

The report also points out that the plane was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder, which could have provided crucial information about the crash.

Investigators say that the lack of these two crucial devices has made it difficult to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.

Another factor put forward by the investigators is the fact that the flight's radar data was not recorded on the day of the crash, making it difficult to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.

The report only shows that from the photos provided, the plane made dangerous turns while flying over the Chikangawa forest, then hit a tree with its wing, which caused significant damage and loss of control to the aircraft before it crashed into a hillside.

However, several civil society organizations claim that the report lacks substance and does not provide answers to the questions Malawians have about what really led to the accident that killed the vice-president.

According to aviation experts, a final report should be released next year.

It should be noted that Malawi's vice-president, Saulos Chilima, and eight other people died in a plane crash on June 10 this year in the interior of the country. (Image: DR)