On June 19, 2005, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 9Q-CWI) operated by Wimbi Dira Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Kalima, Democratic Republic of Congo during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft veered off the runway following multiple bounces during the landing sequence. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft veered off the runway during landing at Kalima-Kakungwa Airport, resulting in significant damage to the airframe but no casualties.
What happened
During the landing phase at Kalima-Kakungwa Airport, the aircraft experienced a series of bounces on the runway surface. Following these impacts, the pilot lost directional control of the plane. The aircraft subsequently drifted off the active runway and came to a stop in a nearby grassy field.
While the incident resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair, there were no injuries reported among the occupants.
Findings
The sequence of events began with multiple bounces during the touchdown process.
The loss of control led to the aircraft exiting the paved runway surface.
Probable cause
The aircraft veered off the runway following multiple bounces during the landing sequence.