Crash of a Beechcraft 200 King Air in Kinshasa: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1994 at 0045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CTG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gbadolite - Kinshasa
MSN:
BB-629
YOM:
1980
Location:
Kinshasa-N'Djili
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Gbadolite, the crew started a night approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck trees and crashed 3 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed, among them Mpinga Kasenda, Minister of Foreign Affairs by the Zaire Government, Patrice Mandoko Bingoto, General Manager of SNEL (Société Nationale d’Électricité) and two Tunisian diplomats.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Bloemfontein

Date & Time: May 6, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6816
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12112
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bloemfontein
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bloemfontein, the crew encountered engine problems. The aircraft lost height and crash landed in Bloemspruit, south of the airport. Both pilots were rescued and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Boeing 727-44F in M'Banza Kongo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1994 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
S9-TAN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luanda - M'Banza Kongo
MSN:
18893
YOM:
1965
Location:
M'Banza Congo
Zaire
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On final approach to M'Banza Kongo Airport, the aircraft was too low and struck the ground 3,200 metres short of runway. It reached a little altitude then descended again and struck the ground a second time two metres short of runway. On impact, the left main gear struck a drainage ditch and was torn off. The aircraft slid on the ground, veered to the right when the right wing struck a bus. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries while seven people in the bus were killed.
Probable cause:
The M'Banza Kongo runway is relatively short and the crew must complete a low approach to be able to land as early as possible. Here, the crew completed a too low approach, causing the aircraft to struck the ground twice before runway threshold.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F Commando in Lokichoggio

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1994 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
C-GIXZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22495
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lokichoggio
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while climbing by night, the left engine lost power and failed. Its propeller was feathered and undercarriage and flaps were retracted. The aircraft lost height and crash landed near the runway end. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was chartered by Relief Air Transport.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382G-35C Hercules in Malanje

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
D2-THC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4679
YOM:
1976
Location:
Malanje
Malanje
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Malanje Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the brakes. The aircraft came to rest on the runway, bursting into flames. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Brakes overheated after landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 50 in Kigali: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1994 at 2028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 50
Operator:
Rwandese Government
Registration:
9XR-NN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dar es Salaam - Kigali - Bujumbura
MSN:
006
YOM:
1979
Location:
Kigali
Kigali City
Country:
Rwanda
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Kigali after an official flight from Dar es Salaam, carrying members of Rwanda and Burundi government, among them both Presidents, who took part to a congress in Tanzania and ratified the Arusha Agreements. On short final to Kigali-Grégoire Kayibanda Airport runway 28, at a height of about 100 metres, the aircraft was struck by a SAM16 surface-to-air missile and crashed in the garden of the Presidency Residence, about 500 metres from the Kanombe Camp. The wreckage was found 1,850 metres short of runway 28. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jacky Héraud, pilot,
Jean-Pierre Minaberry, copilot,
Jean-Michel Perrine, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Juvénal Habyarimana, President of the Republic of Rwanda,
General Déogratias Nsabimana, Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Armed Forces,
Major Thaddée Bagaragaza, orderly officer for President Habyarimana,
Colonel Elie Sagatwa, personnel secretary of President Habyarimana,
Ambassador Juvénal Renzaho, political affairs counselor to the presidency,
Dr Emmanuel Akingeneye, personnel doctor or President Habyarimana,
Cyprien Ntaryamira, President of the Republic of Burundi,
Bernard Ciza, Minister of Communication olf Burundi,
Cyriaque Simbizi, Minister of Planning of Burundi.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a SAM16 surface-to-air missile.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Tripoli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1994
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Light Air Transport
Registration:
5A-DJK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tripoli - Tripoli
MSN:
775
YOM:
1981
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Tripoli Airport when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near the airfield. The copilot was seriously injured while the captain/instructor was killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander near Cabinda

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Mavewa - Sociedade Comercial e Industrial
Registration:
D2-ECE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Luanda - Cabinda
MSN:
903
YOM:
1981
Location:
Cabinda
Cabinda
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Cabinda on a cargo flight, the pilot reported problems with the right engine. He elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located 16 km from Cabinda Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor.
Probable cause:
Engine problems for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130H Hercules off Malindi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
69-6576
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mombasa - Mogadishu
MSN:
4351
YOM:
1969
Location:
Malindi
Coast
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route from Mombasa to Mogadishu, while in cruising altitude over the Indian Ocean, the crew contacted ATC and declared an emergency following an explosion in the cargo compartment. The crew initiated an emergency descent and elected to divert to the nearest airport when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in the sea about 200 metres offshore, some 7 km from Malindi. Six crew members were rescued while eight others were killed.
Probable cause:
A 105 mm shell exploded in a gun barrel for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV in Pointe-Noire

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV
Operator:
Registration:
TN-ADP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Gentil - Pointe-Noire
MSN:
AT-025
YOM:
1974
Location:
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire City District
Country:
Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a visual approach to Pointe-Noire Airport runway 17, the twin engine airplane belly landed and skidded on runway for about 250 metres before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the approach speed was excessive and that the flaps were deployed in an inappropriate angle. On descent, the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and forgot to lower the undercarriage. After the landing gear alarm sounded just prior to the flare, the crew elected to initiate a go-around procedure but it was obviously too late.
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