What happened
On a non-scheduled domestic flight operating between Kamina and Stanleyville (now Kisangani), an Air Congo aircraft was performing its takeoff roll at approximately 19:20 local time. The flight was carrying eleven passengers and three crew members. During the takeoff run, roughly 900 meters from the start, the pilot identified an empty fuel drum positioned on the runway.
In an effort to avoid the object, the pilot applied heavy braking to the left wheels and steered the aircraft to the left. Despite this action, the nose wheel struck the drum. The impact caused the front of the aircraft to lift, and while the plane had reached sufficient speed for flight, the fuel drum bounced back into the path of the aircraft. The right stabilizer subsequently struck the drum, causing a portion of the component to be torn away.
This structural damage caused the aircraft to veer to the right due to an unbalanced stabilizer. After the crew retracted the landing gear, the plane remained airborne for about 500 meters before losing vertical control and diving into the north clearway near the end of runway 28. The aircraft struck the ground at a steep angle, bounced, and eventually skidded on its belly. During the final rotation of the wreckage, several passengers were ejected from the cabin through an open door and a torn cargo door. A fire erupted immediately after the aircraft came to a rest.
Findings
The accident resulted in 6 fatalities (comprising three crew members and three passengers) and 8 injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the subsequent fire.