Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Bunia

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-13340
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Bunia
MSN:
00 347 504
YOM:
1970
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Bunia Airport, the crew started the braking procedures when animals came on runway. The captain decided to initiated a go-around procedures and increased power on all four engines. On his part, the instructor decided to continue the landing procedure and put the engine to idle. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest 400 metres further, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Poor approach and landing planning on part of the crew. Poor crew coordination after landing.

Crash of a Boeing 707-458 in Isiro

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CWR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18357/272
YOM:
1962
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard at Isiro-Matari Airport and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 600 in Kisangani: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CLR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kisangani - Kinshasa
MSN:
10406
YOM:
1969
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
11733
Aircraft flight cycles:
10387
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kisangani Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. Three passengers were killed while 19 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-1 Skyservant near Kisangani: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CDZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4015
YOM:
1968
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from a small private airstrip located 95 km south of Kisangani. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kisangani

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9T-THZ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10446
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Kisangani Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Kisangani: 31 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9T-TCD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kisangani
MSN:
4422
YOM:
1971
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Kisangani Airport, the four engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few km from the runway threshold. The wreckage was found the following morning and all 31 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando in Bunia

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SE-CFG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26710
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
11271
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a humanitarian flight on behalf of the United Nations Organization (UNO). On short final, the airplane was too low and struck a sand pile with its left main gear. The pilot-in-command continued the approach and completed the landing. After the aircraft was stopped, it was checked and eventually decided it was declared as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the crew who continued the final approach at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Stanleyville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1964 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-DEP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanleyville – Kamina
MSN:
18384
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Aircraft flight hours:
48113
Circumstances:
The aircraft,was chartered by Air Congo and was carrying out a non-scheduled domestic flight Kamina - Stanleyville (now Kisangani) - Kamina. Eleven passengers embarked at Stanleyville and the aircraft started its take-off run at 1920 hours local time. After approximately 900 m the pilot suddenly saw, in the darkness, an empty fuel drum on the runway. In an attempt to avoid it, he veered left by braking violently on the left wheels. In spite of this manoeuvre, the nose wheel hit the drum. The forward part of the aircraft was lifted off the ground, aided perhaps by the pilot's manoeuvre in attempting take-off. By that time, the aircraft had attained a speed at which take-off would have been possible under normal conditions. Unfortunately, following the shock the drum bounced, fell back on the runway, bounced again and the aircraft in a nose high attitude caught the drum with the right stabilizer. Part of the stabilizer was torn away and fell on to the runway while the drum was tossed on to the edge of the clearway. The aircraft continued further, now deflected to the right by the unbalanced right stabilizer, which was probably completely distorted. The crew immediately retracted the landing gear. After being airborne about 500 m, the aircraft, out of vertical control, dived into the clearway at an angle of about 300, bounced up, fell back 50 m farther, skidded on its belly and finally came to a stop after a swing of 900 to the right. During that swing, the passengers in the rear of the cabin were thrown out of the aircraft through the torn-off cargo door and through the open cabin door. Fire broke out immediately after the aircraft came to a stop. The accident occurred on the north clearway of runway 28, about 150 m from the runway end. All three crew members and three passengers were killed, eight other occupants were injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was brought about by impact with a fuel drum which caused partial destruction of the.right elevator, thus rendering the aircraft uncontrollable in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Bunia: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1960 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-SBL
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brussels – Rome – Cairo – Bunia – Stanleyville – Elisabethville
MSN:
3099
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Cairo, the crew started the descent to Bunia in marginal weather conditions. In limited visibility due to low clouds, the pilot-in-command continued the approach at an insufficient altitude when the four engine aircraft struck the slope of the Bogoro Peak located about 8 km short of runway. The wreckage was found 60 meters below the summit and all 35 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred because the pilot, the captain, carried out a descent while the height of cloud base (ceiling) was below the minimum required by the Administration and the Operator.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Paulis

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1958 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
K-18
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14603/26048
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Paulis Airport (now Isiro) was completed in high cross winds. On touchdown, the airplane registered K-18 and OT-CWH swerved on runway, veered to the right, lost its right main gear and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.