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Kinshasa City Province

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.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Kinshasa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
802
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harare - Kinshasa
MSN:
295
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Kinshasa, killing all five crew members who were completing a flight on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-48014
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
34 01
YOM:
1993
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport in heavy rain, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere during 1998.

Crash of a Boeing 707-323C in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CKK
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19577
YOM:
1968
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the crew informed ATC that the nose gear was stuck in its wheel well and could not be lowered, even manually. The aircraft landed on its nose and slid on the runway before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD in Kinshasa: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
UR-76539
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Athens
MSN:
00334 42234
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
2134
Aircraft flight cycles:
1358
Circumstances:
While taxiing backwards at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the crew used thrust reversers and failed to extend the flaps prior to takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command started the rotation when the nose gear lifted off. Despite the aircraft failed to take off, the crew did not reject the takeoff procedure and continued. The aircraft adopted a high nose up attitude and a super critical angle of attack. It rolled for about 3,800 metres, overran, rolled for another 800 metres when it struck irregularities on the ground. On impact, the right wing was torn off and the aircraft crashed, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed. The aircraft was on its way to Athens, carrying a load consisting of engine and spare parts.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and failed to extend flaps prior to takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor flight preparation,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Misunderstanding by the crew about the aircraft configuration,
- The pilot-in-command failed to reject takeoff.
- Crew's fatigue,
- The aircraft was not equipped with an alarm in case of wrong flaps' position.

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Kinshasa: 298 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1996 at 1243 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-26222
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kahemba
MSN:
2301
YOM:
1989
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
298
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Kahemba, carrying two passengers, four crew members and a load of food and basic necessities. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 204 km/h, the pilot-in-command pulled up the control column to start the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew decided to abort the take off procedure but this decision was taken too late. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,700 metres long), the aircraft overran, rolled for about 240 metres and came to rest in the district of Simbazikita, bursting into flames. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured. On ground, at least 297 people were killed while 253 others were injured, some seriously.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was unable to take off because its total weight at the time of the accident was well above the MTOW. Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the exact value of the excess mass, probably between 2 and 7 tons. Nevertheless, the decision of the crew to abort the takeoff procedure was taken too late and the runway length was insufficient. It was also reported that the aircraft was operated by African Air and leased from Moscow Airways. The flight was operated illegally on behalf of Scibe-Airlift which was not concerned about such operation. The certificate of airworthiness expired last December and the aircraft was not authorized to fly.