Accident Overview
On the morning of the flight, a twin-engine airplane departed Leopoldville bound for Angola. On board were one passenger, an aerial photographer, and three crew members: a pilot, a navigator, and a mechanic. En route, marginal weather conditions were encountered. The aircraft was not equipped with a radio communication system or a radiocompas, prompting the pilot to land at Thysville Airfield (now Mbanza-Ngungu).
Takeoff and Emergency Landing
After refueling, the pilot commenced the takeoff procedure from a grassy runway measuring 593 meters. The airplane rolled the entire length of the runway and then continued beyond it into tall grass. During this rollout, the right wheel detached. The aircraft became airborne, climbing at 80 mph, but then its speed decreased to 60 mph and it began to descend. While in a constant left turn, the pilot attempted an emergency landing approximately 4 kilometers southwest of the airfield.
Aftermath
Upon landing, the airplane came to a halt and burst into flames. All four occupants escaped without injury. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable Cause
The investigation was unable to determine the exact cause of the accident with certainty. Investigators did not rule out two possibilities: the airplane may have been overloaded, or the engine may have lacked power due to the use of 60/120 menasol fuel, a product typically used in gasoline stoves.