What happened
During a nighttime departure from Bangui Airport, a four-engine aircraft impacted the slope of a hill approximately 16 km south of the airfield. The accident occurred roughly four minutes after takeoff while the aircraft was in its climbing phase.
The impact resulted in a high number of casualties, with 46 fatalities among the occupants. Additionally, ten individuals sustained serious injuries, consisting of seven passengers and three crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the flight crew attempted a nighttime departure despite an inadequate understanding of local departure procedures and the surrounding terrain. Although the airport manager had warned the pilot regarding the nearby hills prior to takeoff, the aircraft maintained an insufficient altitude during the climb. The crash was triggered when the pilot initiated a turn too early, leading the plane into the hillside.
Several contributing factors were identified in the official report:
- A lack of familiarity with local flight operations by the crew
- Reduced visibility due to nighttime conditions
- Incomplete aeronautical charts for the Bangui region