Crash of a Dornier DO228-200 in Goma: 29 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 2019 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GNH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Goma - Butembo
MSN:
8030
YOM:
1984
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed runway 17 at Goma International Airport on a schedule service to Butembo (first service of the day). After takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane lost height and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Birere, south of the airport, and burst into flames. All 19 occupants were killed as well as 10 people on the ground.

Crash of an Antonov AN-72 near Okoto: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 2019 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A-72903
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goma - Kinshasa
MSN:
36572020385
YOM:
1987
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Goma Airport at 1532LT on a cargo flight to Kinshasa, carrying four crew members, four passengers and various goods for the Congolese Presidency. The last contact with the flight was 59 minutes after takeoff from Goma Airport then the airplane disappeared without any distress call from the crew. The wreckage was localised on October 14 near the village of Okoto, Kole region, in the west part of the Kasai-Oriental Province. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed, among them two bodyguards and one of the personal driver of the Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi who returned from Goma to Kinshasa the same day in another aircraft. The Congolese Presidency confirmed that Félix Tshisekedi spent four days in Goma and that his personal Jeep was on board the AN-72.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Beni

Date & Time: Dec 24, 2018
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9T-TAB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kisangani – Beni
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Kisangani to Beni, carrying 68 soldiers who should be dispatched in the region of Beni. After touchdown, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and went down an embankment. It came to rest in flames, broken into several pieces. While all 72 occupants evacuated safely, 10 of them were injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Kinshasa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 2018 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-AGB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tshikapa – Kinshasa
MSN:
13402
YOM:
1984
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Kinshasa after delivering election equipments and materials in Tshikapa on behalf of the Independent National Election Commission. The crew was cleared to descend to 5,000 feet on approach to runway 06 at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport but encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls. In limited visibility, the airplane crashed on a hilly terrain located about 35 km west of the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Kamako: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 2018 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GFS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kamako – Nsumbula – Diboko – Tshikapa
MSN:
1G201-29
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
4371
Aircraft flight cycles:
2585
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Kamako Airport on a flight to Tshikapa with intermediate stops in Nsumbula and Diboko, carrying five passengers and two pilots. After takeoff, while climbint to a height of about 3,500 feet, the crew spotted birds in the vicinity when the engine lost power. The captain decided to return to Kamako but as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a marshy field located 3 km from the airport, bursting into flames. The captain and a passenger survived while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the engine lost power following a collision with a flock of birds, but the extent of damages could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Kamonia

Date & Time: May 30, 2018 at 1518 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-MRH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kamonia – Kamako
MSN:
208B-2386
YOM:
2012
Flight number:
UNO212H
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3668
Captain / Total hours on type:
3385.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1373
Copilot / Total hours on type:
970
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Kamonia on a special flight to Kamako on behalf of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), carrying three passengers and two pilots. During the takeoff roll from runway 34, the pilot-in-command started the rotation but the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. The nose gear and the cargo pod impacted an embankment located at the end of the runway and the aircraft flipped over and came to rest upside down. All five occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft failed to gain sufficient speed during the last portion of the runway due to an excessive accumulation of sand on the ground. The pilot-in-command elected to rotate when the aircraft impacted terrain.
The two following factors were identified:
- The pilot's ability to make a timely decision,
- Lack of coordination between the two CRM (standard call out) pilots during takeoff manoeuvres.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-322 in Lubumbashi

Date & Time: Mar 4, 2018 at 1201 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-ASG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Lubumbashi
MSN:
24378/1704
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
18700
Captain / Total hours on type:
1100.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
710
Aircraft flight hours:
61721
Aircraft flight cycles:
36555
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport on a cargo flight to Lubumbashi, carrying five crew members and one passenger. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared to descend and to land at Lubumbashi-Luano Airport. After landing on runway 07, the crew started the braking procedure. At a speed of 80 knots, the aircraft deviated to the left. It veered off runway and while contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in a grassy area along the left shoulder of the runway after a course of about 200 metres. All six occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following factors were identified:
- Reduction of simulator training hours for economic reasons for someone who has never performed the duties of controlling an aircraft on the ground.
- The runway shoulders at Lubumbashi (Luano) do not have the same characteristics with regard to strength (see Annex 14 and Document 9157 Part 3).
In conclusion, the actions taken on the rudder before it became ineffective must have been the cause of the aircraft's deviation from the runway centreline and the loss of control of the aircraft (LOC-G).
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B near Kinshasa: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 2017 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EX-001
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Bukavu
MSN:
5 3 436 06
YOM:
1965
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport on a flight to Bukavu, carrying ammunition and two vehicles. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew reported technical problems and was cleared for an immediate return. Shortly later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a prairie located in Nsele, about 20 km northeast of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Goma

Date & Time: Sep 10, 2017 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-AFL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Goma – Bunia
MSN:
140 03
YOM:
1985
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Goma Airport, while on a cargo flight to Bunia, the crew reported technical problems with the right engine and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The crew landed long (about half way down the runway) and after touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and while contacting lava ground, the right main gear and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest with its right wing bent and all four crew members evacuated safely.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Shabunda

Date & Time: Jan 2, 2017 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CZR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu – Shabunda
MSN:
85 13 36
YOM:
1985
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew, one Russian and one Congolese, was performing a cargo flight from Bukavu to Shabunda, carrying various goods for a total weight of 1,300 kilos. After touchdown, after a course of about 300 metres, it is believed that the tire on the right main gear burst. The aircraft veered off runway and eventually collided with banana trees. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.