Region
Africa
code

DRC

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Kinshasa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 24
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cotonou - Kinshasa
MSN:
24-248
YOM:
1972
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was cleared for a night visual approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. Weather conditions were good with a visibility over 10 km. On approach, ATC asked the crew to turn on the approach lights. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 20 km short of runway 24 threshold. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Mitwaba

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Shabair
Registration:
9Q-CLW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kisengwa - Mitwaba
MSN:
2030
YOM:
1981
Location:
Mitwaba
Katanga
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mitwaba Airfield, the pilot was completing a last turn to join the approach path when the aircraft stalled and crashed on hilly terrain about 3 km short of runway. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of strong downdrafts and severe atmospheric turbulences specific to this region.

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 Fokker F27 Friendship 400M near Goma: 37 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kindu - Goma
MSN:
10649
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
ZM140
Location:
Goma
Nord-Kivu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
En route to Goma, while cruising at FL190, the crew was cleared to descent successively to FL150, FL110 then FL085. Preparing for an approach to runway 36, the crew descended prematurely when, at an altitude of 8,800 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 40 km southwest of Goma. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew failed to follow the published approach procedures and initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to struck the ground. The minimum altitude of 8,500 feet could be reached only after the last turn completed between 19 and 25 km from the runway threshold.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-10-DC Skymaster in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
GLM Aviation
Registration:
9Q-CWP
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10337
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:
Suffered an accident at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport following an engine failure. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1991.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

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 Vickers 757 Viscount in Tshikapa

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CTS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
310
YOM:
1958
Location:
Tshikapa
Kasai-Occidental
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:
Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. There were no casualties. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1988.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster in Zaire

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Kinair Cargo
Registration:
9Q-CAG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10640
YOM:
1945
Location:
Zaire
All Democratic Republic of Congo
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members evacuates safely.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188AF Electra near Kasongo-Lunda: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Operator:
GLM Aviation
Registration:
9Q-CWT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kasongo-Lunda – Kinshasa
MSN:
1045
YOM:
1959
Location:
Kasongo-Lunda
Bandundu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Kasongo-Lunda, en route to Kinshasa, the crew encountered engine problems. He completed an emergency landing in the bush about 80 km north of Kasongo-Lunda. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. Two passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.
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