Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 16 April 1969
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46 Commando
Owner/operator: WIGMO
Registration Number: 9T-PLJ ?
Location: River Congo –
ÿ Congo (Democratic Republic)
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 45 / Occupants: 45
Component Affected: Landing gearLanding gear
Category: Accident
A C46 aircraft carrying passengers and cargo crashed into the Congo River after takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) due to a landing gear malfunction. The aircraft was operated by Liechtenstein-registered company WIGMO, which maintained the aircraft for the Congolese Air Force. The plane was withdrawn from service following a structural damage incident at Bunia, DRC, in March 1966.A C46 aircraft carrying passengers and cargo crashed into the Congo River after takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) due to a landing gear malfunction. The aircraft was operated by Liechtenstein-registered company WIGMO, which maintained the aircraft for the Congolese Air Force. The plane was withdrawn from service following a structural damage incident at Bunia, DRC, in March 1966.
Description
The pilot reported a landing gear malfunction shortly after takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) on a flight to Kananga (KGA). The airplane crashed into River Congo while attempting to return. The flight was a scheduled run by one of four C46 planes operated by Liechtenstein-registered company WIGMO (Western International Ground Maintenance Organization). The CIA-backed company maintained aircraft for the Congolese Air Force and provided transport. Unconfirmed reports suggest that WIGMO bought the airplane from Transair Sweden in 1966. Registered SE-CFG the airplane had been withdrawn from use following an accident on March 6, 1966 when the C-46 suffered structural damage following a landing accident at Bunia, DRC.
Primary Cause
Landing gear malfunctionLanding gear malfunctionShare on:
