Narrative:
The Douglas DC-4, OO-CBE, operated on a flight from Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) to Brussels, Belgium. The aircraft was descending towards Libenge, the first stop on the route, when it penetrated a very turbulent line of clouds at an altitude of 700 feet. The aircraft lost height and crashed into a forest.
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."
Loss of control
| Status: | |
| Date: | Wednesday 12 May 1948 |
| Time: | 11:00 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-4-1009 |
| Operator: | Sabena |
| Registration: | OO-CBE |
| MSN: | 42932 |
| First flight: | 1946 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 24 / Occupants: 25 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 31 / Occupants: 32 |
| Aircraft damage: | 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) |
The Douglas DC-4, OO-CBE, operated on a flight from Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) to Brussels, Belgium. The aircraft was descending towards Libenge, the first stop on the route, when it penetrated a very turbulent line of clouds at an altitude of 700 feet. The aircraft lost height and crashed into a forest.
Probable Cause:
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."
Classification:
Loss of control
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport to Libenge Airport as the crow flies is 955 km (597 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport to Libenge Airport as the crow flies is 955 km (597 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
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.
languages: 
Congo (Democratic Republic)
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Douglas DC-4
- 1242 built
- 93rd loss
- 48th fatal accident
- 10th worst accident (at the time)
- 44th worst accident (currently)
Congo (Democratic Republic)- The worst accident (at the time)
- 14th worst accident (currently)
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