Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Katchungu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 2024 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-EBT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu - Katchungu
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After landing on the airfield of Tchambogo located east of the village of Katchungu, the single engine airplane went out of control, hit a small house, lost its right wing and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was rescued and the captain was killed. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Kasese: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 2022 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GAX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bukavu – Kasese
MSN:
1AJ002-08
YOM:
1986
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 1150LT on a cargo flight to Kasese with three crew members on board. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found two days later in a wooded and hilly terrain near Kasese. All three occupants were killed.

Ground fire of a Let L-410UVP-E3 in Bukavu

Date & Time: Feb 14, 2022 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GFA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu - Lulingu Tschionka
MSN:
87 19 21
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport on a cargo flight to Lulingu Tschionka, carrying two pilots and a load of 1,600 kilos of various goods. Few minutes after takeoff, a fire erupted in the cargo compartment and the crew elected to return for an emergency landing. The crew landed normally and was able to stop the airplane and the runway and to evacuate safely. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in Bukavu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 2021 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S9-GRJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bukavu - Shabunda
MSN:
872006
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport on a cargo flight to Shabunda, carrying one passenger, two pilots and a load consisting of 1,600 kg of metal sheet. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie located near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E3 near Bukavu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 2020 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GEN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kalima – Bukavu
MSN:
89 23 25
YOM:
1989
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Bukavu-Kavumu Airport on a flight from Kalima, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog. Seven minutes prior to ETA, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded and mountainous area located in the Kahuzi-Miega National Park. The wreckage was found about 15 km south of the airport. All four occupants were killed.

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 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.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Shabunda

Date & Time: Oct 25, 2014 at 1416 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-COT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu – Shabunda
MSN:
83 10 23
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
7325.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3300
Aircraft flight hours:
7187
Aircraft flight cycles:
8265
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 1341LT on a 40-minute cargo flight to Shabunda, carrying two pilots and a load of 1,500 kilos of various goods. On final approach to Shabunda Airport, at a height of 300 feet, the right engine lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in palm trees located 3,7 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
On final approach, the right engine lost power, causing the aircraft to stall because the speed dropped. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the loss of power because the aircraft was totally destroyed. Nevertheless, the crew was unable to expect a stall recovery because the stall occurred at an insufficient height.
Final Report:

Crash of a Gulfstream GIV in Bukavu: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2012 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N2SA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Goma - Bukavu
MSN:
1104
YOM:
1989
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Kinshasa to Bukavu with an intermediate stop in Goma on behalf of the DRC Government. After touchdown at Bukavu-Kavumu Airport, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance. It veered off runway to the left, went down 20 metres high embankment before coming to rest, broken in two. There was no fire. Both pilots, a passenger and two people on the ground were killed. All others occupants were seriously injured. Fifteen days later, on 27FEB2012, a second passenger died from his injuries. The Governor of Katanga Katumba Mwanke was killed as well as the Deputy of Lukunga District Oscar Gema di Mageko who died on 27FEB2012. The survivors were the Finance Minister Matata Ponyo, the Governor of Sud-Kivu Marcelin Cishambo and the Ambassador of the President Antoine Ghonda.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was not focused on the landing procedure during the approach, causing the aircraft to be well above the glide. In such conditions, the aircraft landed 1,200 metres past the runway threshold (the runway is 2,000 metres long). After touchdown, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems on both engines but the spoilers were not used. With a landing distance of about 800 metres, the aircraft could not be stopped in a safely manner and the crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Namoya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 2012 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CUN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu – Namoya
MSN:
1AJ006-11
YOM:
1989
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 0745LT for a one-hour cargo flight to Namoya. On approach, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the aircraft crashed in a dense wooded area located 10 km short of runway threshold. Two passengers among them a 60 years old women were seriously injured while three other occupants were killed, among them both pilots, a Russian captain and an Indian copilot.