Accident
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Mbandaka on behalf of the Congolese Armed Forces. It carried seven crew members and a load of fuel drums, ammunition, and bombs. After takeoff from Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, while climbing, the captain informed air traffic control about the failure of engine number 3. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing. However, the aircraft went out of control and crashed three minutes after takeoff. The impact occurred on a building owned by the Congolese Electricity Company, located near the airport. All seven occupants were killed.
Aircraft and Crew
The aircraft was a four-engine type. The copilot failed to show up for the flight, so the captain was the only pilot. He asked the flight engineer to take the copilot seat and a ground mechanic to perform the flight engineer duties.
Investigation
The official investigation determined the probable cause: failure of engine number 3 after takeoff for unknown reasons. It was also reported that the copilot did not report for duty, leaving the captain as the sole pilot. The captain instructed the flight engineer to occupy the copilot seat and a ground mechanic to handle flight engineer tasks.