What happened
A cargo flight operating from Kongolo to Goma experienced a critical malfunction shortly after departure. The aircraft, which was transporting 9 tons of cassiterite, was carrying 12 passengers and a crew of 3 at the time of the incident. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, the flight crew notified air traffic control of an engine problem, prompting a decision to abort the mission and return to the departure airfield.
During the subsequent approach to Kongolo, the aircraft lost airspeed and entered a stall. This led to a collision with trees in a forested region situated roughly 3 km before reaching the runway. The impact resulted in a total of 14 fatalities among the occupants, with only two survivors, including a young boy.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
- The loss of altitude and subsequent impact were caused by an aerodynamic stall during the return approach.