Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels
Flight / Schedule
Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels
Aircraft
Douglas DC-4Registration
OO-CBE
MSN
42932
Year of Manufacture
1946
Date
May 13, 1948 at 11:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region
Africa • Democratic Republic of Congo
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On May 13, 1948 at 11:00 AM, Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-4, operated by SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, with the event recorded near Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.
32 people were known to be on board, 31 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 96.9%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 25, passenger fatalities: 24, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. The four engine aircraft left Léopoldville Airport at 0805LT bound for Libenge. About three hours later, as he started the descent to Libenge, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, low clouds and turbulence. While descending at an altitude of 700 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near the village of Magazini, some 27 km south of Libenge. A passenger was seriously injured while 31 other occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration OO-CBE, MSN 42932, year of manufacture 1946.
Fatalities
Total
31
Crew
7
Passengers
24
Other
0
Crash Summary
The four engine aircraft left Léopoldville Airport at 0805LT bound for Libenge. About three hours later, as he started the descent to Libenge, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, low clouds and turbulence. While descending at an altitude of 700 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located near the village of Magazini, some 27 km south of Libenge. A passenger was seriously injured while 31 other occupants were killed.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
25
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
96.9%
Known people on board: 32
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
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.
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.
SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne
Sabca W.8
The airplane departed Brussels-Haren Airport on a taxi flight to Antwerp, carrying 10 passengers and two crew members on behalf of the Touring Club de Belgique. While approaching Antwerp, the left engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude and made an emergency landing in an open field located in Edegem, about 4 km south of Antwerp Airport. The aircraft came to rest, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Société Générale Aéronautique
Farman F.190
The crew departed Algiers on 13DEC1929 bound for Antananarivo where he arrived on 01JAN1930. On 10JAN1930, the crew departed Antananarivo for his back trip to Paris, with intermediate stops in Quelimane and Elizabethville. Few minutes after its departure from Port-Francqui, the aircraft crashed in the jungle near Dibaya, Kasai. The wreckage and the dead bodies of the crew members were found on 13MAR1930 in an isolated area. Crew: Léopold Roux, pilot, Raymond Caillol, radio, Eric Dodemont, mechanic.
SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne
Sabca F7
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were marginal with mist and rain, and the visibility was limited due to the night. It appears that a fire erupted in the cabin shortly after rotation but the cause of the fire was not defined. Crew: Edouard G. L. Sobry, pilot, Fernand Cooremans, mechanic.