Investigation Summary
The accident occurred in an environment of extreme operational negligence. The Boeing 727, a 45 year old airframe, was being operated by a crew whose licenses were reportedly not up to date. During the arrival at Kisangani, the region was experiencing heavy rain and thunderstorms. Despite the lack of an official instrument approach procedure at the airport, the crew attempted a visual approach in conditions that did not permit visual contact with the runway. The air traffic control environment was equally compromised: the tower was staffed by only six people, some of whom were over the legal age and lacked proper licensing. Furthermore, the phonic records of the communications between the tower and the aircraft were destroyed before the official commission of inquiry could begin its work, hindering the reconstruction of the final minutes of the flight. The aircraft eventually impacted the ground 1,000 meters short of runway 31 and veered to the right of the centerline.
Final Conclusions
The crash was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). Primary contributing factors included the flight crew's misjudgment of weather conditions and their decision to continue a visual approach without runway contact. Systemic failures within the DRC's aviation oversight were also cited, specifically the employment of unqualified personnel in both the cockpit and the control tower, and the failure of the airport authority to maintain adequate security and emergency plans.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
VOR/DME
A commercial VOR/DME procedure was available at the airport, though no official government instrument approach was published.
Air Traffic Control
The tower was staffed by unlicensed personnel who provided false weather data and failed to maintain required records.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 45 years old at the time of the accident and had accumulated over 52,000 flight hours.
- 02The passenger manifest was inaccurate, with five victims found who were not listed on the official manifest.
- 03Air traffic controllers at Kisangani provided erroneous weather data to the flight crew prior to the crash.
- 04Voice recordings between the tower and the aircraft were destroyed before investigators could access them.
- 05The aircraft had previously operated under Swaziland and São Tomé and Príncipe registrations before being registered in the DRC in 2010.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Operational Oversight Review
The investigation highlighted the need for stricter verification of crew and controller licensing within the DRC aviation sector.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Destruction of Evidence
Reference ↗Phonic records of the communications between the control tower and the flight crew were erased or destroyed before the commission of inquiry could begin its investigation.