Johannesburg – Léopoldville – Libenge – Brussels

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.