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

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CMS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Port-Francqui
MSN:
6902
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kikwit
Bandundu
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:
An unexpected situation forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in Kikwit. The airplane was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Kikwit: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1952 at 1207 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Costermansville – Léopoldville
MSN:
13450
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
SN425
Location:
Kikwit
Bandundu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Aircraft flight hours:
6940
Circumstances:
At 1205LT, while overflying the Kasai province, the aircraft suffered a technical problem on the right engine where a propeller blade separated and went through the cabin. The airplane went out of control, nosed down and crashed two minutes later in the forest of Dibata located about 20 km from Kikwit. All 15 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Michael Joseph Adendorff, pilot,
Pierre Bisschop, radio navigator,
Willy Fauck, mechanic.
Passengers:
Françoise Devos,
Pierre Devos
Mercédès Dumont,
André Hubens,
Albert Lemaire,
Mrs. Albert Lemaire,
Claude Lemaire,
Anne-Marie Lemaire,
Norman Orne,
André Paquay,
Mrs. André Paquay,
Jacqueline Sailliez.
Probable cause:
The propeller blade severed the cables used to control the elevator, which explains the loss of control. Investigations indicate that the sudden shutdown of the right engine was caused by the upper half of the main connecting rod head becoming jammed between the crankshaft counterweight and the crankcase at the opening of cylinder n°14. The initial cause of the malfunctions observed was the fracture of a lug on piston n°6.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-455 in Gao: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1951 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Gao – Léopoldville
MSN:
6327
YOM:
1942
Location:
Gao
Gao
Country:
Mali
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 25, while climbing to a height of 10 metres, the airplane turn sharply to the left and climbed to a height of 30 metres when it turn again to the left. It lost altitude and hit the ground with its left wing tip before crashing near the runway and bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed while the radio navigator was seriously injured. He died the following day from injuries sustained.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine failed shortly after rotation due to a hydraulic failure. Meanwhile, hydraulic fluid spurted on the cockpit windshield, temporarily reducing the visibility of the pilots who lost control of the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Magazini: 31 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1948 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels
MSN:
42932
YOM:
1946
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Léopoldville Airport at 0805LT bound for Libenge. About three hours later, as he started the descent to Libenge, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, low clouds and turbulence. While descending at an altitude of 700 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near the village of Magazini, some 27 km south of Libenge. A passenger was seriously injured while 31 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by severe turbulence and/or downdraft while flying in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 Express in Minna

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.86 Express
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACWC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cairo – Leopoldville
MSN:
2304
YOM:
1935
Location:
Minna
Niger
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Cairo to Leopoldville, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane named 'Delia' crash landed near Minna and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.83 in Léopoldville

Date & Time: May 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.83
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUC
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
34003
YOM:
1938
Location:
Kinshasa
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. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Flandria

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Libenge – Léopoldville
YOM:
1930
Location:
Flandria
Équateur
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the left undercarriage was torn off and the airplane slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was dismantled and towed to the nearest airfield but was eventually considered as damaged beyond repair. This flight was an inaugural one.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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