Incident Overview
On March 22, an aircraft that had recently undergone repairs following a landing incident on March 12 was preparing for a return flight to Kinshasa from Djolu Airport. The aircraft was carrying three crew members: two pilots and one mechanic.
Sequence of Events
After releasing the brakes during the takeoff roll on a dirt runway, the aircraft veered off the runway, contacted trees, and crashed in a wooded area. The impact caused the aircraft to burst into flames.
Damage and Injuries
All three crew members successfully evacuated the burned wreckage. The mechanic was injured, while the two pilots were not reported injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be loss of control during the takeoff roll due to the poor condition of the runway.