Aircraft Impacted Ground Short of Runway 12 at Kamako Airfield (9Q-CFT)

Incident Details

On a flight from Tshikapa, the pilot initiated an approach to Kamako Airfield in relatively good conditions. During the final approach, the wind component suddenly changed. The aircraft lost altitude and struck the ground 16 meters short of runway 12. The undercarriage was partially torn off upon impact. The aircraft slid and came to rest 37 meters past the runway threshold. The six occupants—one pilot and five passengers—escaped uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the loss of control on short final resulted from a combination of human error and weather factors. The pilot was surprised by the abrupt change in weather conditions and initiated a go-around by increasing engine power. However, low-level windshear caused the aircraft to lose height and impact the ground, as its speed was insufficient. The increase in power was too low to maintain the approach profile. Torsion of the propeller blades confirmed that the engine was at full power for a go-around at the time of impact. The absence of a windsock at Kamako Airfield was considered a contributing factor, as it would have helped the pilot recognize the wind component and make a timely decision to land or go-around.