Kinshasa – Tshikapa

En route from Kinshasa to Tshikapa, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to divert to Kandala Airstrip, southeast of Bandundu province. After landing on a small airfield, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed in flames. Six passengers were injured while 30 other occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Kinshasa – Tshikapa

Registration

9Q-CAH

MSN

159

Year of Manufacture

1962

Date

September 11, 1984 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Kandala Bandundu

Region

Africa • Democratic Republic of Congo

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On September 11, 1984 at 12:00 AM, Kinshasa – Tshikapa experienced a crash involving Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald, operated by MMM Aero Services, with the event recorded near Kandala Bandundu.

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

36 people were known to be on board, 30 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 83.3%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 31, passenger fatalities: 25, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. En route from Kinshasa to Tshikapa, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to divert to Kandala Airstrip, southeast of Bandundu province. After landing on a small airfield, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed in flames. Six passengers were injured while 30 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration 9Q-CAH, MSN 159, year of manufacture 1962.

Fatalities

Total

30

Crew

5

Passengers

25

Other

0

Crash Summary

En route from Kinshasa to Tshikapa, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to divert to Kandala Airstrip, southeast of Bandundu province. After landing on a small airfield, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and crashed in flames. Six passengers were injured while 30 other occupants were killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

31

Estimated Survivors

6

Fatality Rate

83.3%

Known people on board: 36

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Kinshasa – Tshikapa

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Africa • Democratic Republic of Congo

Aircraft Details

Registration

9Q-CAH

MSN

159

Year of Manufacture

1962

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