Kinshasa - Kisangani - Goma

On July 8, 2011 at 03:11 PM, Kinshasa - Kisangani - Goma experienced a crash involving Boeing 727-100, operated by Hewa Bora Airways, with the event recorded near Kisangani Orientale.

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.

115 people were known to be on board, 77 fatalities were recorded, 38 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 67.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 108, passenger fatalities: 72, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration 9Q-COP, MSN 18933/185, year of manufacture 1965.