Léopoldville – Elisabethville

On August 27, 1949 at 07:45 AM, Léopoldville – Elisabethville experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, with the event recorded near Kinshasa-Ndolo Kinshasa City Province.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a city crash site.

20 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 15 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 25.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered problems to gain height. The captain started to turn to the right when the aircraft stalled and crashed inverted near the airport. All three crew members and two passengers were killed while 15 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration OO-CBK, MSN 14600/26045, year of manufacture 1944.