Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Kinshasa: 49 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 2007 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-COS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Tshikapa – Kananga
MSN:
8807
YOM:
1979
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
49
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled, hit tree tops and crashed onto several houses located in Kingasani neighbourhood. A crew member survived while 21 other occupants and at least 28 people on ground were killed. The Ministry of Transport was sacked after the accident due to inability to reform all aviation problem existing in DRC. The present accident is the worst occurring in DRC since 8 January 1996 when an Antonov AN-32 crashed also in Kinshasa, killing 237 people.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Nord 262A-42 in Kikwit

Date & Time: Oct 2, 2006 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Kikwit
MSN:
57
YOM:
1969
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kinshasa, the crew started the approach to Kikwit Airport in heavy rain falls. After touchdown, the aircraft deviated to the left, veered off runway, lost its left main gear and came to rest in bushes. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Apr 14, 2006 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9T-TCB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kinshasa
MSN:
4416
YOM:
1971
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this aircraft that was parked for 10 years at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. On landing, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The General Kikunda Ombala was PIC at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Aérospatiale SE-210 Caravelle 11R in Gisenyi

Date & Time: Aug 27, 2004
Operator:
Registration:
3D-KIK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Goma
MSN:
251
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport on a cargo flight to Goma, carrying five passengers, three crew members and a load consisting of telecommunications equipment for the Company Celtel. While approaching Goma, the crew was informed by ATC about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination and a landing was not possible. Following a holding circuit, the crew was low on fuel and decided to divert to Gisenyi Airport, Rwanda. After landing on runway 01/19 which is 1,000 metres long, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C-1 in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Apr 29, 2003 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TR-LFQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brazzaville - Kinshasa
MSN:
UC-80
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Brazzaville on a charter flight to Kinshasa, carrying 13 passengers (all Air France crew members) and two pilots. On approach to Kinshasa, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and strong crosswinds. After touchdown, the aircraft became unstable, deviated to the left and veered off runway. While contacting soft ground, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest beside the runway. All 15 occupants escaped uninjured but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft became unstable at touchdown due to strong crosswinds. A inappropriate reaction on part of the pilot-in-command, an overcorrection or a wrong configuration may have been a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 250 in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Aug 8, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CHA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Brussels
MSN:
193C-1227
YOM:
1982
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
188
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
71317
Aircraft flight cycles:
21669
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport on a regular schedule flight to Brussels with 188 passengers and 12 crew members on board. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet over Gabon, the crew contacted ATC and reported the failure of the engine n°3. He was cleared to return to Kinshasa for an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, all tyres burst and the aircraft skidded on the runway before coming to rest. All 200 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CMC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Tshikapa
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Kinshasa-N'DJili Airport, the captain realized he could not make it so he decided to reject takeoff. While initiating an emergency braking procedure, the nose gear collapsed, followed shortly later by both main landing gears. The aircraft slid on its belly and came to rest on the runway. All 21 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW.

Crash of a Boeing 707-366C in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Apr 26, 2002
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CKB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Johannesburg - Kinshasa
MSN:
19844
YOM:
1968
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 24 at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the right, lost its right main gear and came to rest few dozen metres further. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Weather was poor at the time of the accident with heavy rain falls and crosswinds.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-62F in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1999 at 1146 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9G-REM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ostend - Tunis - Kinshasa
MSN:
45910
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on an ILS approach to runway 24 at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. While in a circuit in the vicinity of the airport, the pilot informed ATC he would complete the second approach visually and made a short pattern because of low fuel reserve. On approach with a 6 knots tailwind, the aircraft was unstable and not properly aligned when it landed hard on the left of the centerline. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few hundred metres further, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were rescued, among them one was slightly injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188A Electra in Kinshasa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CDI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Mbandaka
MSN:
1037
YOM:
1959
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Mbandaka on behalf of the Congolese Armed Forces, carrying seven crew members and a load of fuel drums, ammunitions and bombs. After takeoff from Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, while climbing, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the engine n°3 and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft went out of control and crashed three minutes after takeoff on a building owned by the Congolese Electricity Company and located near the airport. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°3 after takeoff for unknown reasons. It was reported that the copilot failed to show up so the captain was the only pilot and he asked the flight engineer to take the copilot seat and a ground mechanic to perform the flight engineer duties.