Investigation Summary
The aircraft, registered 9Q-COS (MSN 8807, manufactured in 1979), was involved in a complex leasing arrangement; while operated by Malift Air and owned by El Sam Airlift, it was also widely reported as being leased from Africa One. Both Malift and Africa One were on the EU blacklist at the time. The flight was a commercial cargo service that also carried passengers not listed on the official manifest. Approximately three minutes after takeoff at 10:40 WAT, the number two (right) engine failed. Witnesses and the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that propeller blades separated from the engine hub. The aircraft began to pitch and roll, losing altitude rapidly. The pilot's attempts to maintain a climb were unsuccessful. The wing struck a palm tree, shearing it off, before the aircraft plowed through several residences on Rue Mayulu in the Kingasani district. A massive post-crash fire consumed the wreckage and several homes. While early reports suggested no survivors, a flight mechanic (M. Dede Ngamba) was confirmed to have survived. Some reports mentioned a surviving flight attendant, though formal aviation databases typically record only one survivor.
Final Conclusions
The accident was attributed to a mechanical failure of the right Ivchenko AI-24 engine. Specifically, the separation of propeller blades caused a total loss of thrust and aerodynamic control on the right side. Contributing factors included the poor maintenance standards prevalent in the DRC at the time and the deterioration of engine components due to prolonged operation in tropical environments. The high ground fatality count was a direct result of the aircraft's flight path over a densely populated residential area immediately adjacent to the airport.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Ivchenko AI-24 Engine
The right engine suffered a catastrophic failure shortly after takeoff.
Propeller Assembly
Propeller blades reportedly separated from the engine hub, causing immediate loss of thrust and severe vibration.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was manufactured in 1979 (MSN 8807).
- 02Both Africa One and Malift Air were on the EU list of banned air carriers.
- 03The flight manifest officially listed 16 passengers, but additional people boarded before takeoff.
- 04The crash resulted in the dismissal of the DRC Transport Minister, Remy Henri Kuseyo Gatanga.
- 05At least 28 people on the ground were killed in the Kingasani district.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Dismissal of Transport Minister
President Joseph Kabila dismissed the Transport Minister for 'culpable negligence' in failing to reform the aviation sector.
Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry
A formal commission was convened on October 19, 2007, to investigate the systemic safety failures in Congolese aviation.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Conflicting Fatality Counts
Reference ↗Official reports vary between 49 and 52 total fatalities, with discrepancies regarding the number of passengers on board versus those on the ground.