Elisabethville – Bukama – Luluabourg
Flight / Schedule
Elisabethville – Bukama – Luluabourg
Aircraft
De Havilland DH.50Registration
OO-AHV
MSN
1
Year of Manufacture
1929
Date
February 25, 1931 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Bukama Haut-Lomami
Region
Africa • Democratic Republic of Congo
Crash Cause
Other causes
Narrative Report
On February 25, 1931 at 12:00 AM, Elisabethville – Bukama – Luluabourg experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.50, operated by SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, with the event recorded near Bukama Haut-Lomami.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
7 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 14.3%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is other causes. The aircraft departed Elisabethville on a flight to Luluabourg with an intermediate stop in Bukama, carrying five passengers and two crew members. The crew initiated the takeoff procedure from a water logged runway. After a course of about 900 metres, the airplane overran and crashed against rocks. All five passengers and the flight mechanic escaped uninjured while the pilot Henri Van Reempst was killed after being wedged between his seat and the steering wheel.
Aircraft reference details include registration OO-AHV, MSN 1, year of manufacture 1929.
Fatalities
Total
1
Crew
1
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft departed Elisabethville on a flight to Luluabourg with an intermediate stop in Bukama, carrying five passengers and two crew members. The crew initiated the takeoff procedure from a water logged runway. After a course of about 900 metres, the airplane overran and crashed against rocks. All five passengers and the flight mechanic escaped uninjured while the pilot Henri Van Reempst was killed after being wedged between his seat and the steering wheel.
Cause: Other causes
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
5
Estimated Survivors
6
Fatality Rate
14.3%
Known people on board: 7
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Elisabethville – Bukama – Luluabourg
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Democratic Republic of Congo
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne
De Havilland DH.9
While approaching Lausanne-Blécherette Airport, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in a field located in Cossonay, about 12 km northwest of Lausanne Airport. There were no casualties and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne
Blériot Spad 33
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Belgium and destroyed by a post crash fire. Crew fate unknown.
North Sea Aerial %26 General Transport
De Havilland DH.50
The aircraft departed London on a mail flight to Nairobi with intermediate stops in Cairo, Khartoum and Kisumu. While taking off from the Bay of Kisumu, the seaplane collided with floating obstacles (jetsam) and came to rest. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
De Havilland DH.50
Few minutes after takeoff from Adelaide-Parafield Airport, while cruising at a height of 1,800 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed on hilly terrain near Golden Grove, northeast of Adelaide, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire. The pilot Charles William Anderson Scott, slightly injured, was able to assist his mechanic George Nutson who was seriously burned. Unfortunately, he died from his injuries few hours later.
Imperial Airways
De Havilland DH.50
Shortly after takeoff from Plymouth, the single engine airplane crashed for unknown reason. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Eugène de Ligne
Aviméta 92
The aircraft was performing a flight from Albertville to Uvira with a crew of three on board. While cruising along the Tanganyika Lake, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, unfavorable winds, heavy rain falls and turbulences. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near the Burton Bay, near Kibanga, south of Baraka, Sud-Kivu. Both pilots were killed while the mechanic was seriously injured. Crew: Edmond Thieffry, pilot, Gaston Julien, pilot, Eugène Gastuche, mechanic.
