What happened
A cargo flight traveling from Kisangani to Bukavu, which included a scheduled stop in Goma, ended in a fatal accident during the landing phase. The aircraft, a four-engine transport, was transporting 18 tons of palm oil along with three passengers and five crew members. Upon touchdown at the intermediate stop, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length.
As the plane overran the landing area, it struck a field of petrified lava. The impact caused the aircraft to lose its undercarriage, leading to a subsequent post-crash fire. The intense flames resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were no survivors among the eight fatalities recorded in the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted significant regulatory and maintenance concerns. It was noted that the aircraft's certificate of airworthiness had expired in March and had not been updated prior to the flight. The primary factor in the accident was the inability to stop the aircraft within the runway limits following landing.