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 a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Jamba: 141 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CRR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jamba - Kinshasa
MSN:
1080
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
139
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
141
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jamba Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in a field located few km from the airfield. The copilot and two passengers survived while 141 other occupants were killed, among them 83 children. The aircraft was completing a charter/humanitarian flight to Kinshasa to repatriate Congolese refugees.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft that was certified to carry a maximum of 97 passengers.

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 Lockheed L-188A Electra in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CDG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Matadi - Kinshasa
MSN:
1119
YOM:
1960
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and descending at an insufficient speed when it collided with power cables, stalled and crashed in an open field. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing 737-298C in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CNI
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20793
YOM:
1973
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport was completed in poor weather conditions. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard and nose first. Upon impact, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: May 7, 1994 at 0045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CTG
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gbadolite - Kinshasa
MSN:
BB-629
YOM:
1980
Region:
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 Lockheed L-188A Electra in Kinshasa

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
9Q-CCV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1126
YOM:
1960
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on its belly and eventually came to rest on the runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The nose gear collapsed on landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Kinshasa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cotonou - Kinshasa
MSN:
24-248
YOM:
1972
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was cleared for a night visual approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. Weather conditions were good with a visibility over 10 km. On approach, ATC asked the crew to turn on the approach lights. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 20 km short of runway 24 threshold. Both pilots were killed.