Brussels – Rome – Cairo – Bunia – Stanleyville – Elisabethville

On April 22, 1960 at 07:55 AM, Brussels – Rome – Cairo – Bunia – Stanleyville – Elisabethville experienced a crash involving Douglas C-54 Skymaster, operated by Sobelair, with the event recorded near Bunia Orientale.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

35 people were known to be on board, 35 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 28, passenger fatalities: 28, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Cairo, the crew started the descent to Bunia in marginal weather conditions. In limited visibility due to low clouds, the pilot-in-command continued the approach at an insufficient altitude when the four engine aircraft struck the slope of the Bogoro Peak located about 8 km short of runway. The wreckage was found 60 meters below the summit and all 35 occupants have been killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration OO-SBL, MSN 3099, year of manufacture 1943.