Bukavu Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bukavu Central African Republic
Monday, September 1, 2008 15:10 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On September 1, 2008 about 1510 UTC, ZS-OLD, Beech 1900C, operated by Air Serv International, collided with high terrain during approach to Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The pilot, copilot, and 15 passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. There was fire. The last departure point was Kisangani, DRC. The investigation is being conducted by the Ministry of Transport of the DRC. The US Accredited Representative is Dennis Jones, NTSB, Washington, D.C.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2008
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City Bukavu
Event State --
Event Country CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 021300S
Event Location Longitude 0284255E
Event Location Airport Bukavu
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FZMA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 9550
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 17
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 17
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source State Department
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 21 2008 8:50AM
User who most recently changed record jond
Basic weather conditions --
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number DCA08RA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name --
Aircraft Model --
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? --
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CEM Air
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lanseira
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country SF
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Warrington
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Kisangani
Departure State --
Departure Country CF
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FZMA
Destination City Bukavu
Destination State --
Destination Country CF
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 21 2008 8:47AM
User who most recently changed record jond
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --