Beech 1900 accident near Bukavu, Cd, September 1, 2008
On September 1, 2008 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Beech 1900, registered ZSOLD, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Bukavu (Bukavu airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 17 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2008 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Bukavu, Congo (Democratic Republic) · Bukavu · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 17 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Beech 1900 C · all 1900s on the register
- Registration
- ZSOLD · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
Pilot
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Serv International
The flight
- Departed from: Kisangani
- Destination: FZMA Bukavu
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 15 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.