No fatalities

Emergency landing in Kikwit results in aircraft damage (OO-CMS)

Kikwit, Democratic Republic of CongoFlight

On July 8, 1956, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration OO-CMS) operated by Air Brousse was involved in an aviation accident near Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing due to an unforeseen operational situation. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

A flight involving six people ended in an emergency landing near Kikwit after the pilot encountered unforeseen circumstances.

What happened

During a flight near Kikwit, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation that necessitated an immediate emergency descent. While attempting to manage the unplanned event, the pilot executed an emergency landing at the site.

The impact of the landing resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, rendering it a total loss. Despite the severity of the damage to the airframe, there were no casualties reported during the incident. All six occupants on board managed to exit the plane without sustaining any injuries.

Findings

An unexpected situation occurred during the flight, which forced the pilot to perform the emergency maneuver.

Probable cause

The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing due to an unforeseen operational situation.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Jul 1956 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident near Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo?

A flight involving six people ended in an emergency landing near Kikwit after the pilot encountered unforeseen circumstances.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Jul 1956 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Jul 1956 involved a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide, registration OO-CMS, operated by Air Brousse, at Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing due to an unforeseen operational situation.