On October 30, 2003, a PZL-Mielec AN-28 (registration ER-AJG) operated by Tepavia Trans was involved in an aviation accident near Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the crash remains unconfirmed due to restricted site access, though the flight was suspected of transporting illegal arms. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft crashed 800 meters before reaching the runway, with the crash site subsequently placed under guard by Congolese Army soldiers.
What happened
An aviation accident occurred when the aircraft impacted the terrain approximately 800 meters before the threshold of the runway. Following the impact, the site was secured by soldiers from the Congolese Army. This military presence prevented United Nations observers from accessing the wreckage to conduct an independent investigation.
Findings
There are suspicions regarding the nature of the flight's mission at the time of the accident. Investigators have noted allegations that the aircraft was engaged in an unauthorized transport operation, potentially carrying weapons and various types of war materiel. The presence of military personnel at the crash location has complicated the ability to verify the cargo or the specific circumstances leading to the impact.
Probable cause
The cause of the crash remains unconfirmed due to restricted site access, though the flight was suspected of transporting illegal arms.