Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Kasese: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 2022 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GAX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bukavu – Kasese
MSN:
1AJ002-08
YOM:
1986
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 1150LT on a cargo flight to Kasese with three crew members on board. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found two days later in a wooded and hilly terrain near Kasese. All three occupants were killed.

Ground fire of a Let L-410UVP-E3 in Bukavu

Date & Time: Feb 14, 2022 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GFA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukavu - Lulingu Tschionka
MSN:
87 19 21
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport on a cargo flight to Lulingu Tschionka, carrying two pilots and a load of 1,600 kilos of various goods. Few minutes after takeoff, a fire erupted in the cargo compartment and the crew elected to return for an emergency landing. The crew landed normally and was able to stop the airplane and the runway and to evacuate safely. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Short 360-300 in Shabunda: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 2021
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GPS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goma - Shabunda
MSN:
3752
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Goma on a cargo flight to Shabunda, carrying two conveyors and three crew members. On approach to Shabunda Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the arcraft crashed 15 km from the airport. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in Bukavu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 2021 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GRJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bukavu - Shabunda
MSN:
872006
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport on a cargo flight to Shabunda, carrying one passenger, two pilots and a load consisting of 1,600 kg of metal sheet. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie located near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E3 on Mt Kahuzi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 2020 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GEN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kalima – Bukavu
MSN:
89 23 25
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
24000
Captain / Total hours on type:
23000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
450
Aircraft flight hours:
8487
Aircraft flight cycles:
12461
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kalima Airport on a schedule service to Bukavu, carrying two passengers and two pilots. While approaching Bukavu, the crew encountered poor visibility due to dry mist. Seven minutes prior to ETA, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Kahuzi (3,317 metres high), in the Kahuzi-Miega National Park. The wreckage was found about 15 km northwest of the airport. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Probable causes:
- A human error,
- A non-compliance with meteorological alerts,
- A non-compliance with the specified flight altitude for this mountainous area because, in the case of dry mist during the dry season (from the beginning of June to the end of August each year), the visibility can be zero in this area.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- A sudden break in communication between the controller and the pilot just after the first contact without any prior reason "I am 15 nautical miles from your station (Airport) and I estimate arrival at 1342 TU." This was his first contact during the flight from KALIMA, but also his last contact and his final flight.
- Probable fuel shortage,
- Excessive workload for the crew members.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130BZ Hercules in Goma

Date & Time: Jan 9, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
403
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Beni - Goma
MSN:
3750
YOM:
1962
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
59
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Beni to Goma, carrying 59 South African troops and eight crew members from the 28th Squadron on behalf of the MONUSCO (Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies pour la stabilisation en République Démocratique du Congo). The approach and landing were completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown, the airplane veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a grassy area with the left wing broken in two and the n°1 engine on fire. All 67 occupants escaped uninjured and the fire was quickly contained. However, the aircraft seems to be damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E10 in Kamina

Date & Time: Dec 28, 2019 at 1434 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GDX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lubumbashi – Kamina
YOM:
1987
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on a wet earth runway, the airplane went out of control. It veered off runway to the right, struck a shoulder and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was substantially damaged.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-200 in Goma: 27 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 2019 at 0908 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9S-GNH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Goma - Butembo
MSN:
8030
YOM:
1984
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Aircraft flight hours:
23990
Aircraft flight cycles:
36980
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed runway 17 at Goma International Airport on a schedule service to Butembo (first service of the day). After takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew contacted ATC and requested to return to land on runway 35. Shortly later, the airplane lost height and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Birere, south of the airport, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while 21 other occupants were killed as well as six people on the ground. The air traffic controller reported that he noticed the wings were rocking shortly after the aircraft became airborne.

Crash of an Antonov AN-72 near Okoto: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 2019 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK-72903
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goma - Kinshasa
MSN:
36572020385
YOM:
1987
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Goma Airport at 1532LT on a cargo flight to Kinshasa, carrying four crew members, four passengers and various goods for the Congolese Presidency. The last contact with the flight was 59 minutes after takeoff from Goma Airport then the airplane disappeared without any distress call from the crew. The wreckage was localized on October 14 near the village of Okoto, Kole region, in the west part of the Kasai-Oriental Province. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed, among them two bodyguards and one of the personal driver of the Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi who returned from Goma to Kinshasa the same day in another aircraft. The Congolese Presidency confirmed that Félix Tshisekedi spent four days in Goma and that his personal Jeep was on board the AN-72.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Beni

Date & Time: Dec 24, 2018
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9T-TAB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kisangani – Beni
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Kisangani to Beni, carrying 68 soldiers who should be dispatched in the region of Beni. After touchdown, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and went down an embankment. It came to rest in flames, broken into several pieces. While all 72 occupants evacuated safely, 10 of them were injured, the aircraft was destroyed.