Two Fatal Turboprop Crashes Occur Within 3 Days

Compagnie Africaine d’Aviation (CAA) Fokker 50

There has been two turboprop crashes within 3 days of each other.

The first crash occurred on March 4th 2013.  The plane involved in the sadly fatal crash was a Fokker 50 [registration 9Q-CBD] of Compagnie Africaine d’Aviation (CAA). There were 10 occupants on-board, 6 crew members 3 passengers and one loadmaster.  All three passengers survived the crash but the crew members and loadmaster sadly did not. The Fokker 50 was flying from Lodja to Goma and it seemed to have crashed in a residential area of Goma but luckily it was able to avoid buildings.

It would appear that the crew was trying to land in a bad thunderstorm with heavy rain and strong crosswind as it It sadly came down short of the runway. We should also note that all airlines that are based in the Democratic Republic of Congo are banned from flying in the European Union due to safety concerns.

The second crash occurred on March 6th 2013.  The plane involved was a Beechcraft B200 King Air [registration OB-1992-P (od registration no?)] of Aero Transporte SA ATSA. The flight was a chartered by Minera Aurifera Retamas SA (MARSA) to bring seven miners to one of the mines owned by the company. There were 9 occupants on-board, 2 crew members and 7 passengers.  Sadly they all died.

Two of the passengers where employees of MARSA.  The 5 other passengers where contractors the plane was flying from Lima to Pias, however the B200 crashed just after take-off on the wooded hillside.  It would seem like the plane got caught in power lines due to bad weather.

It is always sad to report fatal accidents, certainly when they happen in Africa where there are far too many airplane crashes.  It is also sad that most probably both crashes could have been avoided since it seems like both of these turboprop crashes where caused by poor weather (and inadequately trained crews?).

The Fokker 50 first flew in 1985 and can carry up to 62 passengers.  It has a range of 1 080 nautical miles and is powered by either two Rolls-Royce Darts or two Pratt & Whitney PW124’s.

The Beechcraft B200 King Air first flew in 1972 and can carry up to 13 passengers.  It has a range of 1757 nautical miles and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A41.