Accident description
languages:
| Status: | |
| Date: | 12 MAY 1948 |
| Time: | 11:00 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-4-1009 |
| Operator: | Sabena |
| Registration: | OO-CBE |
| C/n / msn: | 42932 |
| First flight: | 1946 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 24 / Occupants: 25 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 31 / Occupants: 32 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Magazini (Congo (Democratic Republic)) |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport (FIH/FZAA), Congo (Democratic Republic) |
| Libenge Airport (LIE/FZFA), Congo (Democratic Republic) |
DC-4 OO-CBE penetrated a very turbulent line of clouds at an altitude of 700 feet. The aircraft lost height and crashed into a forest. The DC-4 was en route from Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) to Libenge.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot flew the aircraft into the active centre of a tornado at a low altitude and the aircraft was probably forced to the ground by a donwnward gust." Sources:
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
