What happened
On 23 August 2001, a DC-3/C-47/65 ARTP aircraft, registration ZS-OJJ, was operating an industrial aid flight to transport a Red Cross field team of five people. The flight originated from Goma Aerodrome in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with Lomela Aerodrome as the intended destination. Because of the ongoing conflict in the region, the airfield had not seen aircraft activity for approximately four years.
Upon arrival, the crew performed an aerial inspection of the runway and determined it was suitable for landing. However, immediately following touchdown, the aircraft's wheels sank into soft ground, causing the plane to lose momentum. The crew and ground personnel had to manually push the aircraft out of the soft patch to allow it to taxi down the runway. During the subsequent turnaround process, the right main wheel became stuck in the soil once again. Due to diminishing light, the crew elected to remain at Lomela overnight.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the aircraft's damage and the decision-making process regarding the runway conditions. To facilitate a departure the following morning, the aircraft was defueled to reduce its total weight. Despite the previous day's encounter with soft soil, the crew attempted another takeoff from the same runway.
Findings
- The aircraft's wheels sank into soft soil during the takeoff roll.
- The descent into the soft ground caused both propellers to strike the runway surface.
- The incident resulted in damage to the propellers and the hot sections of both engines, though the airframe remained structurally intact.
- There were no injuries reported among the seven people on board.
- The decision to attempt takeoff on the same runway, despite having experienced significant difficulty with the soil during the previous landing, was a primary factor in the occurrence.