Jamba - Kinshasa
Flight / Schedule
Jamba - Kinshasa
Aircraft
Lockheed L-188 ElectraRegistration
9Q-CRR
MSN
1080
Year of Manufacture
1959
Operator
Trans Service Airlift - TSADate
December 18, 1995 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Humanitarian
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Jamba Cuando Cubango
Region
Africa • Angola
Coordinates
-17.5076°, 22.7266°
Crash Cause
Other causes
Narrative Report
On December 18, 1995 at 12:00 AM, Jamba - Kinshasa experienced a crash involving Lockheed L-188 Electra, operated by Trans Service Airlift - TSA, with the event recorded near Jamba Cuando Cubango.
The flight was categorized as humanitarian and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
144 people were known to be on board, 141 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 97.9%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 139, passenger fatalities: 137, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is other causes. After takeoff from Jamba Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in a field located few km from the airfield. The copilot and two passengers survived while 141 other occupants were killed, among them 83 children. The aircraft was completing a charter/humanitarian flight to Kinshasa to repatriate Congolese refugees.
Aircraft reference details include registration 9Q-CRR, MSN 1080, year of manufacture 1959.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -17.5076°, 22.7266°.
Fatalities
Total
141
Crew
4
Passengers
137
Other
0
Crash Summary
After takeoff from Jamba Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in a field located few km from the airfield. The copilot and two passengers survived while 141 other occupants were killed, among them 83 children. The aircraft was completing a charter/humanitarian flight to Kinshasa to repatriate Congolese refugees.
Cause: Other causes
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
139
Estimated Survivors
3
Fatality Rate
97.9%
Known people on board: 144
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Jamba - Kinshasa
Operator
Trans Service Airlift - TSAFlight Type
Humanitarian
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Angola
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
DTA Angola Airlines - Direcção dos Transportes Aéreos
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
While starting its descent to Lobito, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Bulobulo Mountain Range, about 19 km south of Bocoio. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
DTA Angola Airlines - Direcção dos Transportes Aéreos
Beechcraft D18
On final approach to Luanda Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in Estrada de Catete, about 2 km north of the airfield. Both pilots were killed while both passengers were injured.
Private Belgian
De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
Crashed in unknown circumstances.
American Airlines
Lockheed L-188 Electra
At approximately 2356LT, the aircraft crashed into the East River while attempting an instrument approach to runway 22 at LaGuardia Airport. There were 73 persons on board, including one infant. The captain and one stewardess were killed; the first officer, flight engineer, and the remaining stewardess survived. Of the 68 passengers, 5 survived. The Board believes that a premature descent below landing minimums was the result of preoccupation of the crew on particular aspects of the aircraft and its environment to the neglect of essential flight instrument references for attitude and height above the approach surface. Contributing factors were found to be: limited experience of the crew with the aircraft type, fealty approach technique in which the autopilot was used in the heading mode to or almost to the surface, erroneous setting of the captain's altimeter, marginal weather in the approach area, possible misinterpretation of altimeter and rate of descent indicator, and sensory illusion with respect to height and attitude resulting from visual reference to the few lights existing in the approach area.
Braniff International Airways
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Flight 542 departed the ramp at Houston at 2237LT, 22 minutes behind schedule with a total of 34 persons including a crew of six consisting of Captain Wilson Elza Stone, First Officer Dan Hollowell, Second Officer Roland Longhill, and Stewardesses Alvilyn Harrison, Betty Rusch and Leona Winkler, none of whom survived. The delayed departure was due to a mechanical discrepancy involving No. 3 generator. This generator was inoperative on arrival of N9705C at Houston. Prior to departure from Houston the Nos. 3 and 4 voltage regulators were interchanged. Actual gross weight upon departure was calculated at 83,252 pounds, including 17,000 pounds of fuel, and was 16,548 pounds less than the authorized gross weight of 99,800 pounds. The estimated time en route to Dallas was 41 minutes. The flight was given an instrument-flight-rules clearance which was to the Leona omni, via Victor Airway 13 west to the Gulf Coast intersection, direct to Leona, to maintain 2,300 feet altitude to Gulf Coast, then to climb to and maintain 9,000. At approximately 2240 the flight was cleared for takeoff and at 2242 it reported ready for takeoff and was airborne at 2244. After takeoff Houston departure control advised that it had the flight in radar contact and requested it to report when established outbound on the 345-degree radial of the Houston omni. Flight 542 complied and subsequently was cleared to 9,000 feet and advised to contact San Antonio Center on 121.1 mcs. upon passing the Gulf Coast intersection. Flight 542 reported to company radio at 2251 as blocking out of Houston at 37, taking off at 42, to cruise at 15,000 feet when so cleared, estimating Dallas at 2325, and that the Center had this information. At approximately 2252 Flight 542 reported to San Antonio Center as being over Gulf Coast intersection at 9,000 feet. The flight was then issued its destination clearance to the Dallas Airport via direct to Leona, direct to Trinidad, direct to Forney, direct to Dallas, to maintain 15,000 feet. The flight was cleared to climb to its cruising altitude. The next transmission from Flight 542 was to the San Antonio, Center, giving the time over Leona as 05 at 15,000. San Antonio Center acknowledged, and requested Flight 542 to change over and monitor the Fort Worth frequency of 120.8 mcs. at this time. The flight acknowledged. Shortly thereafter Flight 542 contacted company radio with a message for maintenance, advising that the generators were then OK out that there had been insufficient time for maintenance to insulate the terminal strip on No. 3 propeller at Houston and it would like to have it done in Dallas. At this time the flight also said it would give the communication center a Dallas estimate of 25. This was then followed by one other item for maintenance, which was that No. 3 sump pump was inoperative. This was the final transmission from the flight and was logged as completed at 2307. Structural failure of the aircraft occurred at approximately 2309 on course to the next fix, Trinidad intersection. The radial from Leona omni to Trinidad intersection is 344 degrees. The main wreckage was located 19.7 miles 2 north of Leona omni, 3.19 miles east-southeast of Buffalo, Texas. The time, 2309, correlates closely with the information obtained from witnesses to the accident as well as the time indicated on impact-stopped watches recovered at the scene. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 34 occupants were killed.
Northwest Airlines
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The four engine aircraft departed Chicago-Midway at 1438LT bound for Miami, carrying 57 passengers and a crew of six. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet over the south of Indiana State, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field located east of Tell City. Some debris were also found in a wooded area. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 63 occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.
