On November 27, 1989, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration N9205T) operated by Tepper Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Jamba, Angola during landing or approach. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew descended too low to avoid MPLA radar detection while on final approach. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A CIA-contracted cargo aircraft carrying weapons for UNITA rebels crashed near Jamba, Angola, while attempting to avoid radar detection. All five crew members died.
Accident
A cargo aircraft operating on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) crashed while approaching Jamba, Angola. The flight had originated from Kamina and was transporting a load of weapons intended for UNITA rebels. As the aircraft neared Jamba, the crew descended to a low altitude in an attempt to evade detection by MPLA radar. During the final approach, the aircraft struck trees and subsequently crashed in flames. All five crew members aboard were killed.
The accident occurred at night under poor visibility conditions, and the runway at Jamba was unlighted. No other details about the aircraft, its registration, or the exact time of the crash were provided in the investigation source.
Probable cause
The crew descended too low to avoid MPLA radar detection while on final approach.
An X-AIR HAWK ultralight crashed in Chonburi, Thailand, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. The accident was caused by deteriorated wing fabric and…
A Challenger II Special ultralight aircraft (U-B23) landed off-runway at Pai Airport, Mae Hong Son, on September 17, 2024, due to a gust of wind. No injuries…
The Polish aviation safety authority is investigating a serious incident involving an AT-3R100 aircraft that occurred on September 2, 2024. The investigation…
A SZD-48-3 glider suffered damage when its left wing struck a ground obstacle during a low final approach at EPWK on June 20, 2025. The pilot was uninjured.
A 39-year-old skydiver died after a hard landing near Leszno on May 1, 2026. The PKBWL preliminary report indicates the fatal impact resulted from a late,…
A student pilot crashed an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider into the airfield fence during a solo training flight on June 6, 2026. The pilot was uninjured, but the…