What happened
On an undocumented flight toward Kisangani, a single-engine airplane entered a descent into a heavily forested region located approximately 34 km from the airport. The impact with the trees caused the aircraft to burst into flames. The flight was being conducted to transport the aircraft to Kisangani for a mandatory technical inspection required by the local Authority to certify the plane for official operations under current regulations.
During the accident, there were seven people on board. The crash resulted in six fatalities and left one passenger with serious injuries. At the time of the incident, the Kisangani Airport control tower had no record or knowledge of the aircraft's flight plan or presence in the airspace.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating without the knowledge of the local air traffic control services.
- The flight was being conducted for the purpose of undergoing a regulatory technical inspection.