No fatalities

Gemena Airport Accident: Four-Engine Aircraft Crash Landing (9Q-CBH)

Gemena, Democratic Republic of CongoLanding (descent or approach)

On April 7, 1974, a Douglas DC-4 (registration 9Q-CBH) operated by Air Zaïre was involved in an aviation accident near Gemena, Democratic Republic of Congo during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft lost height on short final after being caught by downdrafts. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft struck the ground 100 meters short of runway 29 at Gemena Airport due to downdrafts during final approach. The plane was destroyed, but no casualties were reported.

Incident Overview

An accident occurred involving a four-engine aircraft while it was on final approach to runway 29 at Gemena Airport. During the last segment of the approach, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude and subsequently struck the ground approximately 100 meters short of the runway threshold.

Outcome and Damage

Following the impact with the terrain, the aircraft went out of control and resulted in a crash landing. The incident caused significant structural damage to the airframe, rendering it beyond repair. Despite the severity of the crash, there were no reported casualties among those on board or on the ground.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was meteorological. It was established that the aircraft lost height during short final approach after being caught by downdrafts. These adverse wind conditions contributed directly to the loss of altitude and the subsequent impact with the ground.

Probable cause

The aircraft lost height on short final after being caught by downdrafts.