Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Kinkole: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Zaire Air Force - Force Aérienne Zaïroise
Registration:
9T-TCG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Gbadolite
MSN:
4736
YOM:
1977
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport, while climbing, a propeller blade on the engine n°3 detached and struck the engine n°4. Following severe vibrations, the aircraft became unstable, lost speed and height and crashed in Kinkole, about 8 km northeast of the airport. Four passengers, among them a young girl aged 4 were injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of a propeller blade and subsequent loss of control during initial climb.

Crash of a Boeing 707-329C in Goma

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1990 at 0953 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CVG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Goma
MSN:
19162
YOM:
1966
Location:
Goma
Nord-Kivu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Goma Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the ground 38 meters short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the right main gear was torn off. The aircraft slid for about 300 meters then veered to the right and came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to initiate a go-around following an unstabilized approach completed at an unsafe altitude.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 202 in Kandala: 30 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
MMM Aero Services
Registration:
9Q-CAH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Tshikapa
MSN:
159
YOM:
1962
Location:
Kandala
Bandundu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
En route from Kinshasa to Tshikapa, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to divert to Kandala Airstrip, southeast of Bandundu province. After landing on a small airfield, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed in flames. Six passengers were injured while 30 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Vickers 757 Viscount in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Zaïre Aero Service
Registration:
9Q-CPD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
303
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a swampy area. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Zaire Air Force - Force Aérienne Zaïroise
Registration:
9T-THU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10434
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a heavy landing at Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 in Kinshasa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CLP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kinshasa
MSN:
10402
YOM:
1969
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
14746
Aircraft flight cycles:
13269
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200-400 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All three crew members were killed. It was reported that the loss of control occurred while the crew was attempting to simulate an engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CUP
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10063
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in Kinshasa: 45 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1969 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
WIGMO - Western International Ground Maintenance Organization
Registration:
9T-PLJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Kananga – Mbuji-Mayi
MSN:
26710
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kinshasa
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the hydraulic systems and was cleared to return. To reduce weight, the pilot followed a holding pattern over the region when the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Congo River. All 45 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was not determined. However, it is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.
Subscribe to Kinshasa-N'Djili