CAA F50 at Goma on Mar 4th 2013, impacted buildings

Last Update: May 1, 2013 / 16:49:58 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Mar 4, 2013

Classification
Crash

Airline
CAA Compagnie Africaine Aviation

Departure
Lodja, Democratic Republic of Congo

Destination
Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Aircraft Registration
9Q-CBD

Aircraft Type
Fokker 50

ICAO Type Designator
F50

A CAA Compagnie Africaine Aviation Fokker 50, registration 9Q-CBD performing a flight from Lodja to Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo) with 5 passengers, 5 crew and freight, impacted buildings in a residential area at Lake Kivu short of the runway while on approach to Goma's runway 36 in bad weather at about 17:44L (15:44Z). Most of the occupants are feared dead, 2 survivors have been recovered from the aircraft wreckage, 5 bodies have been recovered, a 6th person has been pronounced dead. One person on the ground was hit by debris and was taken to a hospital with injuries. The aircraft has been destroyed.

In the evening of Mar 4th local authorities reported the aircraft, that had originated in Kananga via Lodja, missed the runway while on approach and impacted buildings. The number of occupants is not yet known, however, 3 survivors and 5 bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. A number of fatalities were feared on the ground, too, it turned out however that nobody on the ground was affected. On Mar 5th authorities reported 6 crew and 4 passengers on board of the aircraft, 3 survivors have been taken to hospitals and are responsive, 6 bodies have been recovered, 1 person still missing, a person on the ground was hit by debris and received injuries, too.

Late Mar 4th the airline's station manager at Lodja said, 4 passengers and 5 crew were on board of the aircraft when it departed for Goma.

Late Mar 4th DR Congo's Minister of Transport reported 9 people were on board of the aircraft, 5 crew, 3 passengers and one conveyer. The 3 passengers have been rescued alive, the 5 crew have been killed, the conveyer is still missing. The aircraft crashed shortly before touchdown probably because of heavy rain and storm. The aircraft came to rest in an open area after hitting buildings. There were no victims on the ground. An investigation has been opened.

On Mar 5th 2013 DR Congo's Minister of Transport reported, that 9Q-CBD, manufactured in 1957, had departed Lodja at 14:14Z and was estimated to land in Goma at 15:46Z. At 15:44Z the aircraft was on final approach to runway 36 when it encountered a thunderstorm with crosswind, visibility probably rapidly reduced. The aircraft collided with the building of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), disintegrated and fell onto open ground. 5 bodies have been recovered, a sixth person is pronounced dead, there were 3 survivors. An investigation commission has been formed.

On May 1st 2013 Netherland's DSB reported in their quaterly bulletin that they have joined the investigation carried out by DRC's authorities representing the state of design and manufacture. The aircraft carried 5 passengers and 5 crew, when it crashed into an residential area while on approach to Goma. 5 occupants are confirmed dead, two occupants survived with serious injuries.

CAA Compagnie Africaine Aviation operated 4 Fokker 50s, 9Q-CBD made its maiden flight in 1992 (not in 1957 as reported by the Minister of Transport in the press conference, the tail number had been re-assigned a number of times).

Analysis of Photos by North Kivu Provincial Government versus satellite images suggest the aircraft came to rest at about S1.6893 E29.2406 about 0.57nm short of the runway threshold (the address/location of CENI building so far could not be determined with certainty).

No weather data for Goma are available at all.

Goma features a runway 18/36 of 2000 meters/6500 feet length. The airport features a VOR and a NDB.