Democratic Republic of Congo

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bukavu – Shabunda

MSN:

83 10 23

YOM:

1983

Location:

Shabunda

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

7325.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3300

Aircraft flight hours:

7187

Aircraft flight cycles:

8265

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 1341LT on a 40-minute cargo flight to Shabunda, carrying two pilots and a load of 1,500 kilos of various goods. On final approach to Shabunda Airport, at a height of 300 feet, the right engine lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in palm trees located 3,7 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both pilots were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

On final approach, the right engine lost power, causing the aircraft to stall because the speed dropped. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the loss of power because the aircraft was totally destroyed. Nevertheless, the crew was unable to expect a stall recovery because the stall occurred at an insufficient height.

Final Report:

Crash of a Let L-410UVP near Mulume Munene: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2014 at 1355 LT

Type of aircraft:

Let L-410

Operator:

Registration:

9Q-CXB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bukavu - Kama

MSN:

82 09 25

YOM:

1982

Location:

Mulume Munene

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Bukavu-Kavumu Airport at 1342LT on a cargo flight to Kama, carrying two pilots, two passengers and a load of 1,500 kilos of books. Some 10 minutes later, the crew changed his frequency and no further contact was established. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Kama, Maniema Province, SAR operations were initiated. The crew of two helicopters from the same operator spotted the burnt wreckage two days later, in the region of Mulume Munene, some 30 km southwest of Bukavu. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Kamako

Date & Time: Sep 13, 2013 at 1150 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

9Q-CFT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tshikapa - Kamako

MSN:

1G223-14

YOM:

1987

Location:

Kamako

Kasai-Occidental

Country:

Region:

Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16798

Captain / Total hours on type:

16000.00

Aircraft flight hours:

6981

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Tshikapa, the pilot initiated the approach to Kamako Airfield in relative good conditions. On final, the wind component suddenly changed. The aircraft lost height and impacted ground 16 metres short of runway 12. Upon impact, the undercarriage were partially torn off and the aircraft slid before coming to rest 37 metres past the runway threshold. All six occupants, one pilot and five passengers, escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control that occurred on short final was the result of the combination of a human error and weather component. The pilot was surprised by the abrupt change in weather conditions on short final to Kamako runway 12. He elected to initiate a go-around procedure and increased engine power but unfortunately, low level windshear caused the aircraft to lose height and to struck the ground as its speed was insufficient. In consequence, the increase power was too low to allow the pilot to maintain the approach profile. The torsion of the blades confirmed that the engine was at full power for a go-around procedure at impact. The absence of a windsock at Kamako Airfield was considered as a contributing factor as this would help the pilot to recognize the wind component and to decide to land or to go-around in due time.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Djolu

Date & Time: Mar 22, 2013 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

9Q-CTC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Djolu – Kinshasa

MSN:

001

YOM:

1958

Location:

Djolu

Tshuapa

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 a Fokker 50 in Goma: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 2013 at 1744 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker 50

Operator:

Registration:

9Q-CBD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Kananga - Lodja - Goma

MSN:

20270

YOM:

1992

Location:

Goma

Nord-Kivu

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kananga to Goma with an intermediate stop in Lodja, carrying four passengers, 6 crew members and a load of various goods. On final approach to Goma Airport Runway 36, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On final, the aircraft contacted the roof of a house and crashed in the garden of a residential area, coming to rest upside down. Three passengers were seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Butembo

Date & Time: Oct 30, 2012 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Let L-410

Operator:

Registration:

9Q-CAZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Goma - Butembo

MSN:

79 02 05

YOM:

1979

Location:

Butembo

Nord-Kivu

Country:

Region:

Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Goma, the twin engine airplane landed on runway 14/32 which is 770 metres long. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its left main gear and came to rest down an embankment with its left wing damaged. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream GI in Pweto

Date & Time: Jun 20, 2012

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

International Trans Air Business

Registration:

9Q-CIT

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lubumbashi - Pweto

MSN:

193

YOM:

1968

Location:

Pweto

Katanga

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful charter flight from Lubumbashi-Lueno Airport, the crew made a steep approach followed by a hard landing. The aircraft bounced and climbed to a height of about 20 feet, landed again and went out of control. It veered off runway to the left, collided with a rocky embankment, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in several pieces. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration after the crew made a sharp turn late on final to join the glide. The rate of descent was excessive during the last segment, causing the aircraft to land hard and to bounce. Due to excessive g-loads and aerodynamic forces, the airplane went out of control.

Crash of a Gulfstream GIV in Bukavu: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2012 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Gulfstream GIV

Operator:

Stanford Aviation

Registration:

N2SA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kinshasa - Goma - Bukavu

MSN:

1104

YOM:

1989

Location:

Bukavu

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Kinshasa to Bukavu with an intermediate stop in Goma on behalf of the DRC Government. After touchdown at Bukavu-Kavumu Airport, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance. It veered off runway to the left, went down 20 metres high embankment before coming to rest, broken in two. There was no fire. Both pilots, a passenger and two people on the ground were killed. All others occupants were seriously injured. Fifteen days later, on 27FEB2012, a second passenger died from his injuries. The Governor of Katanga Katumba Mwanke was killed as well as the Deputy of Lukunga District Oscar Gema di Mageko who died on 27FEB2012. The survivors were the Finance Minister Matata Ponyo, the Governor of Sud-Kivu Marcelin Cishambo and the Ambassador of the President Antoine Ghonda.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew was not focused on the landing procedure during the approach, causing the aircraft to be well above the glide. In such conditions, the aircraft landed 1,200 metres past the runway threshold (the runway is 2,000 metres long). After touchdown, the crew activated the reverse thrust systems on both engines but the spoilers were not used. With a landing distance of about 800 metres, the aircraft could not be stopped in a safely manner and the crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

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

Date & Time: Jan 30, 2012 at 0845 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-28

Operator:

Registration:

9Q-CUN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bukavu – Namoya

MSN:

1AJ006-11

YOM:

1989

Location:

Namoya

Country:

Region: