Crash of an Antonov AN-8 in Pepa: 24 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TL-ACM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pepa - Kigali
MSN:
9340706
YOM:
1959
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Pepa Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds that struck both engines. The aircraft lost height and crashed past the runway end, bursting into flames. All 24 occupants were killed, among them several officers from the Rwanda Army, one major, two captains, two lieutenants and some soldiers who were returning to Kigali after taking part to a presidential ceremony.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb following a bird strike.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Goma

Date & Time: Mar 19, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-26586
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13805
YOM:
1984
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a humanitarian flight to Goma on behalf of the United Nations Organization. On final approach, at a distance of 1,000 metres from the runway threshold, the aircraft encountered windshear. The captain initiated a go-around procedure but the aircraft continued to descent until it struck the ground and crashed to the right of the runway. All 10 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Convair CV-580 in Tshikapa

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CEJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tshikapa - Kananga
MSN:
79
YOM:
1953
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Tshikapa Airport, while in initial climb, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crash landed in a field past the runway end and came to rest. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines during initial climb due to a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the aircraft had not been refueled prior to departure.

Ground explosion of an Antonov AN-12 in Mbandaka: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a military transport, carrying six crew members and a load of bombs and ammunitions. While taxiing at Mbandaka Airport, the aircraft exploded for unknown reasons and was totally destroyed. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-62F in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1999 at 1146 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9G-REM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ostend - Tunis - Kinshasa
MSN:
45910
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on an ILS approach to runway 24 at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. While in a circuit in the vicinity of the airport, the pilot informed ATC he would complete the second approach visually and made a short pattern because of low fuel reserve. On approach with a 6 knots tailwind, the aircraft was unstable and not properly aligned when it landed hard on the left of the centerline. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few hundred metres further, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were rescued, among them one was slightly injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188A Electra in Kinshasa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CDI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Mbandaka
MSN:
1037
YOM:
1959
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Mbandaka on behalf of the Congolese Armed Forces, carrying seven crew members and a load of fuel drums, ammunitions and bombs. After takeoff from Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, while climbing, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the engine n°3 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft went out of control and crashed three minutes after takeoff on a building owned by the Congolese Electricity Company and located near the airport. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°3 after takeoff for unknown reasons. It was reported that the copilot failed to show up so the captain was the only pilot and he asked the flight engineer to take the copilot seat and a ground mechanic to perform the flight engineer duties.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Kinshasa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
802
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harare - Kinshasa
MSN:
295
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Kinshasa, killing all five crew members who were completing a flight on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-48014
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
34 01
YOM:
1993
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport in heavy rain, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere during 1998.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12A near Lubutu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TL-ACJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goma - Kigali
MSN:
1 34 01 07
YOM:
1961
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Goma on a cargo flight to Kigali, carrying three crew members. En route, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and elected to divert to Kisangani Airport. LAter, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Lubutu. The wreckage was found on 1st of August 1999. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. For unknown reasons, the aircraft was not following the route from Goma to Kigali and crashed about 300 km northwest of Goma while Kigali is about 100 km southeast of Goma.

Crash of a Boeing 727-30 near Kindu: 41 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1998 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CSG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kindu - Kinshasa
MSN:
18369
YOM:
1965
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
41
Circumstances:
Three minutes after takeoff from Kindu Airport, while climbing, the captain contacted ATC and reported an explosion in the rear of the aircraft. He was able to maintain contact with ATC for few minutes when the aircraft crashed in a jungle some 39 km east of the Airport, 11 minutes later. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 41 occupants were killed, among them 20 woman and children.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft had been shot down by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile.