Mbuji-Mayi airport (DR Congo): the fatal accident that was predicted

[Passenger]

In August 2015, the Korongo Airlines 737 had its tail dangerously damaged during take off from Mbuji-Mayi.

Two weeks ago, Congo Airways suspended its A320 operations to/from Mbuji-Mayi because of severe damage to the runway:
http://www.radiookapi.net/2015/12/09/ac ... mbuji-mayi

And then, this afternoon, at least five people on the ground were killed when a Service Air A310 coming from Lubumbashi totally missed its landing on that crazy runway, ending up 500m past the runway.



Source:
http://www.radiookapi.net/2015/12/24/ac ... mbuji-mayi



photo Twitter
https://twitter.com/TopCongo

[sn26567]

The tally is now seven dead!

The incompetence of the RVA of DR Congo has already be sanctioned: blacklist of the European Union. But unfortunately that doesn't prevent people to be killed every year in that poor country.

[sn26567]

Report in The Aviation Herald with more pictures:

http://avherald.com/h?article=49150489&opt=0

A Services Air Airbus A310-300, registration 9Q-CVH performing a cargo flight from Lubumbashi to Mbuji-Mayi (DR Congo) with 4 crew, landed on Mbuji-Mayi's runway 17 but overran the end of the runway by about 500 meters and ploughed through a residential area destroying a number of buildings. 7 people on the ground were killed, the crew sustained no injuries, the damage to the aircraft is being assessed but visually appears minor.

Witnesses reported the crew had already attempted and aborted two approaches, on the third approach the aircraft touched down about half way down the runway and was unable to stop before the end of the runway and came to a stop on soft ground about 500 meters past the runway end.

[Passenger]

Eight victims meanwhile: seven women and one child.

The statements from the authorities are as predictable as the accident itself: "...Selon des sources aéroportuaires, l’accident n’est pas dû au mauvais état de la piste mais plutôt à une forte pluie qui s’abattait sur la ville de Mbuji-Mayi..."

(airport authorities say that bad weather caused the accident, not the state of the runway)

http://www.radiookapi.net/2015/12/24/ac ... mbuji-mayi

[sean1982]

If the aircraft did land only halfway down the runway, then the state of the runway didnt really cause the accident, did it? If you land halfway down the runway at BRU in wet weather you can also end up on the ring

[Passenger]

The only source that the crew totally mismanaged the landing are "witnesses reports". If witnesses could see where exactly the aircraft landed, isn't it strange then that the crew didn't?

"...Witnesses reported the crew had already attempted and aborted two approaches, on the third approach the aircraft touched down about half way down the runway and was unable to stop before the end of the runway and came to a stop on soft ground about 500 meters/1650 feet past the runway end..." (Aviation Herald)

[sean1982]

It wouldnt be the first time. A 3rd approach to the same airfield usually goes together with a low fuel situation and a big pressure "to get there". It's a well known factor in CRM and a lot of airlines actually forbid a third approach to the same airfield in there sop's.

[Conti764]

What is the matter with this runway that it is so dangerous?

[Passenger]

What is the matter with this runway that it is so dangerous?

Korongo Airlines' press release after the damage to its 737:

"...Due to the damage to our plane caused on August 19th 2015 by loose tarmac slabs on the runway of Mbuji-Mayi and following preliminary reports from our Maintenance & Engineering team we are forced to extend the cancellation of our flights until September 4th 2015 inclusive..." (copy/pasted from The Aviation Herald).

After that Korongo incident, and a few weeks before Congo Airways started, the DR Congo aviation authority had forbitten Ethopian Airlines to open a route from Adis Abeba to Mbuji-Mayi because the runway was "too unsafe for such operations". Details are somewhere in a Korongo topic here.

[Conti764]

Unbelievable... I know having ops in Africa is a challenge and adventure on its own, but it's such a shame not more is done with a country that has - probably - the richest soil of any country on earth...

[Magiktrix]

If the aircraft did land only halfway down the runway, then the state of the runway didnt really cause the accident, did it? If you land halfway down the runway at BRU in wet weather you can also end up on the ring

Its not the cause but a very important factor.
You cannot compare a new tarmac like the 25's or Mbuji-Mayi where tarmac fly away.
The problem is, its almost impossible to calculate your real landing distance in such conditions.
And the rain make things worst. Every hole is full of water.
I'm pretty sure you know the feeling of the antiskid doing is job on the 737.
The only problem is that each time the antiskid release the pressure the landing distance increase.

[Passenger]

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAGIQEMyPQA