Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV accident near Bukavu, Cd, February 12, 2012
On February 12, 2012 at about 11:20 am local time, a Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, registered N2SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bukavu. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed and 8 people had minor injuries.
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
- February 12, 2012 · about 11:20 am local time
- Place
- Bukavu, Congo (Democratic Republic) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed and 8 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV · all G-IVs on the register
- Registration
- N2SA · registry record · serial 1104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 12, 2012 at about 1120 UTC, a Gulfstream, G-IV, registration N2SA, operated by Trident Aviation of Wilmington, Delaware, crashed at Bukavu-Kamenbe Airport (BKY), Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The domestic private flight departed Kinshasa with an intermediate stop at Goma to enplane passengers and to refuel. During the landing at BKY, the airplane overran the runway, went down an embankment and came to rest in a ravine. Of the 12 persons on board, there were four fatalities, including the pilot, copilot and two passengers. The airplane was substantially damaged and there was no fire. As the State of manufacturer and registry of the airplane, a U.S. Accredited Representative has been appointed. The investigation is being conducted by the Government of the DRC. All inquiries should be directed to: Direction de l'Aéronautique Civile Ministère des Transports et Communications Building Ontara, boulevard du 30 juin B.P. 3304 Kinshasa/Gombe République démocratique du Congo
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
The aircraft
- Seats: 22
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Rolls-Royc TAY MK 610-8 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls-Royc TAY MK 610-8 (turbofan); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 8 |
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.