Narrative:
An aircraft operated by Air Kasai was destroyed when it crashed and burned 3 km from Kamako, Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are said to have been seven persons on board the aircraft. The pilot and passenger survived the accident.
The Antonov An-2 operated on a mixed cargo/passenger flight from Tshikapa to Kamako, Nsumbula, Diboko and back to Tshikapa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After take-off from Kamako, climbing to 3500 feet, the pilot noticed a flock of birds. Some minutes later, he noticed that the engine was beginning to lose power. Thinking that he had flown through a group of birds, he decided to return to Kamako Airstrip.
The elevation of the land in this area varies between 2000 and 2500 feet of altitude.
Without engine power, he began to lose altitude on the right downwind leg of the approach. Being unable to reach the Kamako, the pilot steered into a valley between two hills. During the attempted forced landing the aircraft hit a tree canopy and fell to the ground, bursting into flames. The pilot and the passenger next to him escaped with minor injuries.
Conclusion
Given all parameters, the only way the PIC thought of how to save the aircraft was to try to glide towards the valley between the hills. As the aircraft approached the ground, the canopy stopped its course and the aircraft fell and made sudden contact with the ground.
The cabin was deformed and the passengers on board could not open the emergency door.
» RDC: Cinq morts dans le crash dun avion à Kamako (Tshikapa) (actualite.cd, 27 July 2018)
» Au moins cinq morts dans le crash d'un Antonov en RDC (voaafrique.com, 27 July 2018)
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 27 July 2018 |
| Type: |  Antonov An-2R |
| Operator: | Air Kasai |
| Registration: | 9S-GFS |
| MSN: | 1G201-29 |
| First flight: | 1983 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4371 |
| Cycles: | 2585 |
| Engines: | 1 Shvetsov ASh-62IR |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 5 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 3 km (1.9 mls) E of Kamako Airstrip ( Congo (Democratic Republic))
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Kamako Airstrip, Congo (Democratic Republic) |
| Nsumbula Airstrip, Congo (Democratic Republic) |
An aircraft operated by Air Kasai was destroyed when it crashed and burned 3 km from Kamako, Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are said to have been seven persons on board the aircraft. The pilot and passenger survived the accident.
The Antonov An-2 operated on a mixed cargo/passenger flight from Tshikapa to Kamako, Nsumbula, Diboko and back to Tshikapa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After take-off from Kamako, climbing to 3500 feet, the pilot noticed a flock of birds. Some minutes later, he noticed that the engine was beginning to lose power. Thinking that he had flown through a group of birds, he decided to return to Kamako Airstrip.
The elevation of the land in this area varies between 2000 and 2500 feet of altitude.
Without engine power, he began to lose altitude on the right downwind leg of the approach. Being unable to reach the Kamako, the pilot steered into a valley between two hills. During the attempted forced landing the aircraft hit a tree canopy and fell to the ground, bursting into flames. The pilot and the passenger next to him escaped with minor injuries.
Probable Cause:
Conclusion
Given all parameters, the only way the PIC thought of how to save the aircraft was to try to glide towards the valley between the hills. As the aircraft approached the ground, the canopy stopped its course and the aircraft fell and made sudden contact with the ground.
The cabin was deformed and the passengers on board could not open the emergency door.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Emergency landing
Sources:
» Kasaï : crash dun avion près de Kamako (radiookapi.net, 27 July 2018)» RDC: Cinq morts dans le crash dun avion à Kamako (Tshikapa) (actualite.cd, 27 July 2018)
» Au moins cinq morts dans le crash d'un Antonov en RDC (voaafrique.com, 27 July 2018)
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 Kamako Airstrip to Nsumbula Airstrip as the crow flies is 41 km (26 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Kamako Airstrip to Nsumbula Airstrip as the crow flies is 41 km (26 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
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.
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