Region
Africa
code

DRC

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Kahemba

Date & Time: May 1, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CFD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04083
YOM:
1947
Location:
Kahemba
Bandundu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Kahemba was completed in heavy rain falls when the wipers failed. The airplane went out of control and crashed few km from the airfield. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Failure of the wipers during heavy rain falls.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove in Yalinga-Moke

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1953
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Belgian Congo Geographic Institute
Registration:
OO-CBM
Flight Type:
Topographic
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
04014
YOM:
1947
Location:
Yalinga-Moke
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Lualaba

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KP-2
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20741
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lualaba
Lualaba
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Bound for Kolwezi, both engines failed simultaneously in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in Lualaba, northeast of Kolwezi and came to rest in a prairie. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. It has the dual registration KP-2 & OT-CWB.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Kindu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Belgian Congo Geographic Institute
Registration:
OO-CCA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Topographic
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Kindu
Maniema
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown near Kindu, killing all four occupants. The aircraft was owned by the 'Institut géographique du Congo Belge'.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Kikwit: 16 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1952 at 1207 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Costermansville – Léopoldville
MSN:
13450
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
SN425
Location:
Kikwit
Bandundu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
At 1205LT, while overflying the Kasai province, the aircraft suffered a technical problem on the right engine where a propeller blade separated and went through the cabin. The airplane went out of control, nosed down and crashed two minutes later in the forest of Dibata located about 20 km from Kikwit. All 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The control cables in the fuselage were sheared by the right propeller which had been projected following a shaft failure caused by the sudden stopping of the engine caused by fatigue failure of No. 6 piston lug.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Kinshasa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1949 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Elisabethville
MSN:
14600/26045
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kinshasa-Ndolo
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered problems to gain height. The captain started to turn to the right when the aircraft stalled and crashed inverted near the airport. All three crew members and two passengers were killed while 15 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on both engines after liftoff due to the fact that the fuel was contaminated with water. It was determined that a certain amount of water was in the tank at the time of the accident. In addition, the spark plugs were dirty and the electrical contact was poor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Kimbwe: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1948 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manono – Elisabethville
MSN:
12420
YOM:
1944
Location:
Elisabethville
Katanga
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
3040
Circumstances:
On approach to Elisabethville in goo weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Kimbwe, few km northwest of E'ville Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 13 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as good with few clouds, no turbulence and good visibility.
Crew:
Arthur Deschamps, pilot,
Raoul Gousseau, pilot,
Englebert Rillaerts, flight engineer,
Antoine Tshisahu, steward.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, the following assumptions have been ruled out: in flight fire, loss of element such as wing or stabilizer and/or any airframe vibration which might have come from a faulty weight balance.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Magazini: 31 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1948 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels
MSN:
42932
YOM:
1946
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Léopoldville Airport at 0805LT bound for Libenge. About three hours later, as he started the descent to Libenge, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, low clouds and turbulence. While descending at an altitude of 700 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near the village of Magazini, some 27 km south of Libenge. A passenger was seriously injured while 31 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by severe turbulence and/or downdraft while flying in poor weather conditions.
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