18 fatalities

Crash of a military transport aircraft in Pointe-Noire

Pointe-Noire, CongoLanding (descent or approach)

On September 19, 1949, a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VI operated by French Air Force - Armée de l'Air was involved in an aviation accident near Pointe-Noire, Congo during landing or approach. 18 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during a sharp left turn executed to correct a right-of-centerline deviation on final approach in low visibility conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A military transport aircraft crashed into flames while on final approach to Pointe-Noire due to loss of control during a sharp turn, resulting in the deaths of all 18 occupants.

What happened

The incident occurred after the aircraft completed an uneventful fuel stop in Accra and proceeded toward Pointe-Noire. Upon arrival at the destination, the crew encountered poor weather conditions characterized by low visibility and a cloud ceiling of approximately 100 meters. During the final approach phase, the aircraft drifted significantly to the right of the runway centerline. In an attempt to correct this deviation, the pilot in command executed a sharp turn to the left. This maneuver resulted in a loss of control, causing the aircraft to crash and catch fire. The airframe was destroyed upon impact.

Findings

The accident resulted in fatal injuries for all 18 people on board. The occupants included military personnel from the GT I/25 Tunisie transport group, as well as civilians, women, and children. While the source notes that a previous rough landing at Dakar-Yoff had required tail gear repairs, the specific cause of the loss of control during the final approach in Pointe-Noire is attributed to the sharp corrective turn made under poor visibility conditions.

Probable cause

Loss of control during a sharp left turn executed to correct a right-of-centerline deviation on final approach in low visibility conditions.