What happened
During a night flight originating from Gbadolite, the crew attempted an approach to Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport. While on short final approach, the aircraft descended into a line of trees, causing a crash approximately 3 km before reaching the runway. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were nine fatalities recorded, including all occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicated that the crew did not maintain a sufficient altitude during the final stages of the approach. The failure to maintain proper altitude led to the collision with vegetation short of the landing strip.