What happened
While performing a takeoff roll at Tshikapa Airport, the pilot of the aircraft heard an unusual noise and suspected a mechanical malfunction. In response to this concern, the captain elected to abort the takeoff procedure. However, the aircraft was unable to come to a complete stop within the available runway length. The aircraft subsequently overran the runway and collided with an embankment.
There were 14 occupants on board during the incident, all of whom managed to exit the aircraft without any injuries. Although there were no casualties, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the incident noted that the takeoff was attempted while the aircraft was positioned in an up-slope configuration. This differed from standard operating procedures at Tshikapa Airport, where takeoff rolls are typically performed using a down-slope configuration. The runway involved in the accident measures 1,000 metres in length.