Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Djolu

Date & Time: Mar 22, 2013 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CTC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Djolu – Kinshasa
MSN:
001
YOM:
1958
Location:
Djolu
Tshuapa
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20412
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
795
Copilot / Total hours on type:
311
Aircraft flight hours:
17247
Aircraft flight cycles:
14728
Circumstances:
Last March 12, the aircraft sustained damages upon landing at Djolu Airport. Repairs were carried on and the aircraft was ready for its back trip to Kinshasa on March 22, carrying three crew members, two pilots and one mechanic. After the brakes were released, while accelerating on a dirt runway, the aircraft veered off runway, contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. All three crew members evacuated the burned wreckage and only the mechanic was injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during the takeoff roll due to the poor condition of the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Kinshasa: 298 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1996 at 1243 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
African Air
Registration:
RA-26222
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kahemba
MSN:
2301
YOM:
1989
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
298
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Kahemba, carrying two passengers, four crew members and a load of food and basic necessities. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 204 km/h, the pilot-in-command pulled up the control column to start the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew decided to abort the take off procedure but this decision was taken too late. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,700 metres long), the aircraft overran, rolled for about 240 metres and came to rest in the district of Simbazikita, bursting into flames. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured. On ground, at least 297 people were killed while 253 others were injured, some seriously.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was unable to take off because its total weight at the time of the accident was well above the MTOW. Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the exact value of the excess mass, probably between 2 and 7 tons. Nevertheless, the decision of the crew to abort the takeoff procedure was taken too late and the runway length was insufficient. It was also reported that the aircraft was operated by African Air and leased from Moscow Airways. The flight was operated illegally on behalf of Scibe-Airlift which was not concerned about such operation. The certificate of airworthiness expired last December and the aircraft was not authorized to fly.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32 in Kinshasa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Miabi Air
Registration:
UR-48074
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3010
YOM:
1992
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight on behalf of the United Nations and was carrying 28 passengers, 4 crew members and various goods. On short final, at low height, the aircraft nosed down and struck the ground few metres short of runway threshold. Out of control, the aircraft came to rest few dozen metres further. Fifteen occupants were injured, 16 others escaped uninjured and one passenger died.
Probable cause:
It was determined that on final approach, the attachments used to fix the cargo failed, causing the load to move forward and the aircraft to nose down.

Crash of a Nord 262A-44 in Kinshasa: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Nord 262
Operator:
Trans Service Airlift - TSA
Registration:
9Q-CJK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Tembo
MSN:
11
YOM:
1965
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kinshasa-Ndolo Airport on a cargo flight to Tembo, carrying 18 passengers, three crew members and a load of diamonds for a total price of 150 M of Zaire. Just after liftoff, at a height of one metre, both engines lost power. The captain decided to land back on runway and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran at high speed, rolled through a road where it struck several vehicles and eventually came to rest, bursting into flames. Six passengers and eight people on the ground were killed while other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was overloaded and that both engines lost power at liftoff.

Crash of a Partenavia P.68 off Kinshasa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Partenavia P.68
Operator:
Zaire Catholic Mission
Registration:
9Q-CEZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
197
YOM:
1979
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kinshasa-Ndolo Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in the Zaire River few hundred meters offshore. The pilot, sole on board, was killed and the aircraft sank.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Molegbe

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1960
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CJT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Gbadolite
MSN:
6925
YOM:
1945
Location:
Gbadolite
Nord-Ubangi
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Gbadolite Airport, a fuel exhaustion forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft crash landed in Molegbe, about 7 km west of the airport and came to rest. All six occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Luozi

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1960 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
OO-ARN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Luozi – Boma
MSN:
6785
YOM:
1936
Location:
Luozi
Kongo-Central
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1686
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Léopoldville on a regular scheduled service to Boma with an intermediate stop in Luozi. On board were one pilot and six passengers including a child. Following a normal approach, the aircraft touched down 560 metres past the runway threshold which is marked by concrete curbs. The aircraft bounced several times and veered off course to the right. At the point where the curbs mark the end of the runway threshold, the right wing grazes the tall grass along the runway edge. Due to erosion caused by rainwater, the right wheel enters a dip between the runway surface and the right edge of the runway threshold. The impact of the right wheel against the concrete edge of the runway threshold further accentuated the rightward deviation, and the aircraft veered off runway and entered the grassy lateral clearance area. After a course of about 30 metres, the left wheel strikes a hole, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The airplane came to a stop, bursting into flames. All seven occupants escaped, the pilot and a passenger were slightly injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a combination of the following factors:
- The pilot’s improper use of the runway. Although a 1,172-meter runway was available, the pilot landed the aircraft 560 metres from the runway threshold.
- Poor judgment on the part of the pilot who should have either corrected the aircraft’s rightward deviation in a timely manner or taken off again when he realized the landing was being performed under defective conditions.
- Very poor piloting technique during the landing.
Final Report:

Ground accident of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Léopoldville

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
L. M. Berner & Company
Registration:
G-ALTZ
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5134
YOM:
1947
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
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 a ground accident while taxiing at Ndolo Airport in Léopoldville. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2 in Léopoldville

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1957
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Aviation de la Force Publique
Registration:
D-10
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04252
YOM:
1949
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Kinshasa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1949 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Elisabethville
MSN:
14600/26045
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered problems to gain height. The captain started to turn to the right when the aircraft stalled and crashed inverted near the airport. All three crew members and two passengers were killed while 15 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on both engines after liftoff due to the fact that the fuel was contaminated with water. It was determined that a certain amount of water was in the tank at the time of the accident. In addition, the spark plugs were dirty and the electrical contact was poor.
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