Country
Democratic Republic of Congo
code

Orientale

Crash of a Boeing 727-22 in Kisangani: 77 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 2011 at 1511 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-COP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Kisangani - Goma
MSN:
18933/185
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
EO952
Location:
Kisangani
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
108
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
77
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
5000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
52613
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kinshasa, the crew started the descent to Kisangani-Bangoka Airport in poor weather conditions with low visibility due to heavy rain falls. On final approach, the pilot did not establish any visual contact with the runway but continued until the aircraft impacted ground some 1,000 metres short of runway 31. On impact, the aircraft went out of control, veered to the right, exploded and disintegrated in a wooded area located to the right of the approach path. The wreckage was found about 500 metres southeast from the runway 31 threshold. Five crew and 72 passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
In a preliminary report, DRC authorities pointed out the following factors:
- The flight crew misjudged weather conditions,
- The airline assigned unqualified/non-licensed crew to operate the Boeing 727-100 (the pilot's licence was not up to date),
- Tower controllers were not licensed (two ATC's did not have a proper licence and above legal age)
- Tower control staff was insufficient (six only for the complete roster),
- Tower controllers provided erroneous/false weather data to flying crew,
- The airport authority lacked security plans,
- Phonic records between tower control and crew were erased (destroyed) before the commission of inquiry can start any investigation.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Isiro: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 2009 at 1616 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Services Air
Registration:
9Q-CSA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Goma – Isiro
MSN:
50 05
YOM:
1977
Location:
Isiro
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Goma on a cargo flight to Isiro, carrying one loadmaster, three crew members and a load of 7 tons of cigarettes. On approach to Isiro-Matari Airport, the aircraft crashed 3 km short of runway. The loadmaster was seriously injured while three others occupants were killed.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Kisangani

Date & Time: Jun 12, 2008 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Registration:
D-CFAI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kisangani – Bukavu
MSN:
35-365
YOM:
1981
Location:
Kisangani
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Kisangani to Bukavu on behalf of the United Nations. During the takeoff roll, the crew decided to reject takeoff for unknown reasons. The aircraft deviated to the right, causing the main gear to be torn off. The aircraft then slid for few dozen metres and came to rest with its right wing severely damaged. Both pilots escaped uninjured.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B in Isiro: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 2005 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Kavatshi Airlines
Registration:
ER-AZT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beni – Isiro
MSN:
90 05
YOM:
1979
Location:
Isiro
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On final approach to Isiro Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog. Too low, the aircraft collided with a palm tree and crashed 1,500 metres short of runway 31. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26B near Kisangani: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2005 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Kisangani Airlift
Registration:
EX-26060
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kisangani – Isiro
MSN:
111 07
YOM:
1981
Location:
Kisangani
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Kisangani-Bangoka Airport at 1248LT on a cargo flight to Isiro, carrying seven passengers, four crew members and a load of soap. About half an hour into the flight, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and elected to return. While descending to Kisangani, the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located 28 km north of the airfield, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while 10 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Let L-410A near Geti: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 2001 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
5X-CNF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bunia – Beni – Entebbe
MSN:
73 02 08
YOM:
1973
Location:
Geti
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from Bunia to Beni, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located near Geti, some 40 km east of Bunia. All six occupants were killed. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown but the aircraft may have been shot down by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels fighting the Uganda government.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Kisangani

Date & Time: Aug 15, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-ITC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
00 346 909
YOM:
1970
Location:
Kisangani
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a humanitarian flight to Kisangani on behalf of 'Médecins Sans Frontières'. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest, bursting into flames. All seven crew members escaped uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter in Durba

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Sicotra Aviation
Registration:
9Q-CZG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
916
YOM:
1996
Location:
Durba
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. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-9 Islander in Bondo

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
F-OHFY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
829
YOM:
1977
Location:
Bondo
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:
The twin engine aircraft landed just short of runway threshold and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 781D Viscount near Irumu: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Bazair
Registration:
9Q-CWL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bunia - Kisangani
MSN:
280
YOM:
1958
Location:
Irumu
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bunia Airport, the captain informed ATC about engine problems and reported fire in the cabin. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed about 40 km southwest of Bunia, in the region of Irumu. All 23 occupants were killed.
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