Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 29 November 1964
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-4
Owner/operator: Air Congo
Registration Number: OO-DEP
Location: Lopoldville-N’Djili Airport (FIH) –
ÿ Congo (Democratic Republic)
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 14
Component Affected: Right ElevatorRight Elevator
Category: Accident
A DC-4 aircraft experienced a severe loss of control during takeoff, resulting in a dramatic and uncontrolled descent into the runway. A fuel drum impacted the aircraft, causing significant damage to the nose and elevator, leading to a rapid dive and subsequent crash.A DC-4 aircraft experienced a severe loss of control during takeoff, resulting in a dramatic and uncontrolled descent into the runway. A fuel drum impacted the aircraft, causing significant damage to the nose and elevator, leading to a rapid dive and subsequent crash.
Description
The DC-4 was 900 m into takeoff when the pilot had to take action to avoid an empty fuel drum on the runway. The plane veered left, but the nose wheel hit the drum. The nose lifted off and the DC-4 was about to rotate when the fuel drum bounced against the right stabilizer, causing part of the stabilizer to be torn away. The aircraft became airborne and lost control, diving into the clearway at an angle of about 30 degrees, bouncing up and crashing 50 m farther. Leopoldville is now called Kinshasa. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was brought about by impact with a fuel drum which caused partial destruction of the right elevator, thus rendering the aircraft uncontrollable in flight.”
Primary Cause
Impact with a fuel drum caused partial destruction of the right elevator, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable in flight.Impact with a fuel drum caused partial destruction of the right elevator, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable in flight.Share on:
