Air Brousse | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On approach to Gbadolite Airport, a fuel exhaustion forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft crash landed in Molegbe, about 7 km west of the airport and came to rest. All six occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

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

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1960 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

OO-ARN

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Léopoldville – Luozi – Boma

MSN:

6785

YOM:

1936

Location:

Luozi

Kongo-Central

Country:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1686

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Léopoldville on a regular scheduled service to Boma with an intermediate stop in Luozi. On board were one pilot and six passengers including a child. Following a normal approach, the aircraft touched down 560 metres past the runway threshold which is marked by concrete curbs. The aircraft bounced several times and veered off course to the right. At the point where the curbs mark the end of the runway threshold, the right wing grazes the tall grass along the runway edge. Due to erosion caused by rainwater, the right wheel enters a dip between the runway surface and the right edge of the runway threshold. The impact of the right wheel against the concrete edge of the runway threshold further accentuated the rightward deviation, and the aircraft veered off runway and entered the grassy lateral clearance area. After a course of about 30 metres, the left wheel strikes a hole, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The airplane came to a stop, bursting into flames. All seven occupants escaped, the pilot and a passenger were slightly injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The accident resulted from a combination of the following factors:
- The pilot’s improper use of the runway. Although a 1,172-meter runway was available, the pilot landed the aircraft 560 metres from the runway threshold.
- Poor judgment on the part of the pilot who should have either corrected the aircraft’s rightward deviation in a timely manner or taken off again when he realized the landing was being performed under defective conditions.
- Very poor piloting technique during the landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89B Dominie in Dakar

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1960

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

OO-CJS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Léopoldville – Dakar

MSN:

6429

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on approach to Dakar Airport while on a flight from Léopoldville. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

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:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.