Congo Plane Crash

[gjln]

Does anyone have some info about this?
Kind regards

[epreye]

From the BBC Website:

A plane has crashed in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 19 people, officials say.

Two people survived the crash, the police chief in Bandundu province told AP news agency.

A UN spokesman told Reuters the plane had crashed into a house near Bandundu town's airstrip.

DR Congo, the size of western Europe and with few roads after decades of civil war, has one of the world's worst air safety records.

UN spokesman Madnodje Mounoubai said a number of people on board and on the ground had been killed.

The police said that 19 bodies had been pulled from the crash site.

According to AP, the plane was operated by the local air carrier Filair and was en route to Bandundu from the centre of the country.

It was then due to continue to the capital, Kinshasa.

[gallo]

Apparently a Filair aircraft. They operate 1 LET-410 and 1 AN-24RV.
Good week for aviation.:bored:

[PaperTiger]

Crash: Filair L410 at Bandundu on Aug 25th 2010, impacted building (http://avherald.com/h?article=43015f1b&opt=0)

[mATT84DC]

does anyone know the name of pilots? a friend of my is working with Filair and I cannot contact him...

[TamairTarmac]

The pilot was reported to be the owner of Filair.
I hope this was not your friend--

T

[mATT84DC]

no..I didn t know Mr. Philemotte..anyway I m very sorry for him..
my friend is a a FO and I cannot find any info about the co-pilot of that unlucky flight... if you hear something about that, pls let me know
thanks

[flaphandlemover]

Question?

How many Pax does a L410 carry?

19 sounds actually quite high for a L410. I might be wrong though:confused:

[GarageYears]

The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin engined short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer LET, mostly used for passenger transport. The L-410 first flew in 1969, and with more than 1100 produced, is the most popular 19-seat plane in historyYou know Google does a great job of finding stuff like this....

Here's the full Wikipedia link for starters:
Let L-410 Turbolet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_L-410_Turbolet)

- GY :ugh:

[oo-abc]

According to a Belgian newspaper the name of the pilot is Daniel Philemotte

[Mobotu]

The co-pilot was British - Wilson

The other co-pilot Alfred - French is on vacation since 1 month

The Hostess was Lucy the sister in law of the Captain

17 of the 18 pax lost their lives in the crash

I hate to be the bearer of bad news....

[dams]

Flew for Filair in the past.
Danny was a great guy.
It's really sad...
Hope they'll find what happened...

[Istorik]

Accident place (slideshow):
Crash avion Fil Air (http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiookapi/sets/72157624817833870/show/)

[Smeds]

Not sure what I am doing here but am trying to find out anything about the crash in Congo last week for family of Chris. What do you think happened. I dont know?

[mini]

Mobotu,

Thanks for your post.

[p miller]

I have the truth about what happened I am trying to contact any family member Chris was a very good friend of mine he emailed me the night before the accident. please email me thanks

[Scorpio2810]

FAO P Miller. I'm a friend of Chris's older brother. As you'll appreciate the family are very upset at the moment but when I last spoke to him they had little information, how would they contact you if they wanted to speak to you?

[jcjeant]

Hi,

This is some news about this crash ....
And if true .. it's astonishing ! (why the raport of the sole survivor will not be true ?? )
Google Vertaling (http://translate.google.be/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeuneafrique.com%2FArticle%2FAR TJAJA2596p008-009.xml0%2Fenquete-rd-congo-belgique-rdcles-vraies-raisons-du-crash-de-bandundu.html&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8)

Original:
Les vraies raisons du crash de Bandundu RD Congo, Socit : Jeuneafrique.com (http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAJA2596p008-009.xml0/enquete-rd-congo-belgique-rdcles-vraies-raisons-du-crash-de-bandundu.html)

[CargoMatatu]

Any chance of an English translation?

[Lon More]

Post 18; click on "Google Vertaling" Bizarre if true

[iakobos]

In short:
Contrary to an earlier assertion mentioning fuel starvation, the cause of the crash is said here to be panic in the cabin just prior to landing, after a (living) crocodile freed himself from a large sportsbag in the cabin.
The hostess would have fled towards the cockpit, and so did all/most of the passengers, resulting in a loss of control.

[costamaia]

"Any chance of an English translation?"

Les vraies raisons du crash de Bandundu RD Congo, Socit : Jeuneafrique.com (http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAJA2596p008-009.xml0/enquete-rd-congo-belgique-rdcles-vraies-raisons-du-crash-de-bandundu.html)

"From the enquiry report and the statement of the sole survivor, the crash was caused by the evasion of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.
The accident involving an A/C of the congolese company Filair, that crashed Aug 25, 1600 feet short of the Bandundu regional airport killing 19 PAX and crew, was not caused, as officialy stated, by a fuel problem, but to panic on board. According to an enquiry report that carries the mention "by request of the CPTA" (Comité Professionel des Transporteurs Aériens) and the statement of the sole survivor -seriously wounded- to wich J.A. has had access, the A/C, a czech Let-410 turboprop (whose belgian pilot and copilot did not survive) carried inside the cabin a... living crocodile.
One of the PAX had dissimulated the animal, that he hoped to sell, in a large sports bag, of wich the animal escaped during the descent to Bandundu. The cabin assistant, terrified, rushed to the cockpit, immediately followed by the PAX. Unbalanced, the A/C spinned, in spite of the desperate efforts by the pilot, to recover. If one believes the report, some of the witnesses on the scene became raiders, taking even the clothes from the victim's bodies. Tragicomic detail: the crocodile survived the crash, only to be killed by machette. One video shows it emerging from the remains of the Let140..."

AMAZING isn't it? :ugh:
JCM

[Ex Cargo Clown]

I know this is a serious accident with multiple fatalities, but I'm sure everyone is thinking the same.

Who the hell takes a live crocodile into the cabin of an aircraft?

[Lamyna Flo]

Who the hell takes a live crocodile into the cabin of an aircraft?

If true, another contender for the "You Know You're In Africa When..." thread.

[The Ancient Geek]

"You Know You're In Africa When..."


Possibly, but until I see an official report I will be a tad more suspicious of creative journalism. Elvis seen in supermarket etc ...........

[MetoPower]

Who the hell takes a live crocodile into the cabin of an aircraft?

Quite usual in some part of RDC... seen and done it few times (as well as other very unpleasant creatures). Problem is that you (Pilot) find out usually while airborne or after landing. :}
You can not rely on your ground staff + corruption at a very high level + you can not as crew physically check every individual luggage + in the local's minds they do nothing wrong... :uhoh:

Mind on other ex and current "posh" outfits, they carry falcons pre-booked seats in first class... crap on very expensive seats ..... ok they are wearing their blind folding helmets. :)

[Ops_Room_Junkie]

been looking around and see reports now that A/C requested to land on 'reserve' runway strip alongside normal runway. Passengers noticed this and panicked and all moved to one side of aircraft.

1. Seems unlikely but is it anymore unlikely than the crocodile story?

2. Not a flier myself, but used to do w+b, would 8+ passengers moving sides of the aircraft (in flight) really cause it to lose control? I took a pleasure flight on a DC3 years ago and we all (as were were advised to do) kept moving from side to side to 'observe the views' - all seemed stable then? perhaps though this was when the A/C was on final approach (and should have been belted in) and would have a much bigger impact at lower speed???

Can someone help me out on if this is plausable/likely?

[The Ancient Geek]

Carrying sick and injured wildlife is all part of the job around the game reserves, usually big cats in the C206/208 and on one occasion a half ton baby elephant in a twotter. But the only passenger should be a vetinary assistant with an extra syringe of sedative in case the freight looks like waking up.

Wildlife in passenger bagage is less common but is does happen occasionally.

[Sunfish]

LET 401 Turbolet allegedly put out of trim by panicking passengers rushing forward. Is this possible?l


A small airliner crashed into a house, killing a British pilot and 19 others after a crocodile smuggled into the aircraft in a sports bag escaped and started a panic.


Published: 5:53PM BST 21 Oct 2010

The plane came down despite no apparent mechanical problems during an internal flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It has now emerged that the crash was caused by the concealed reptile escaping and causing a stampede in the cabin, throwing the aircraft off-balance.

A lone survivor apparently relayed the bizarre tale to investigators.

The crocodile survived the crash, only to be dispatched with a blow from a machete.

Danny Philemotte, the Dutch pilot and 62-year-old owner of the plane's operator, Filair, struggled in vain with the controls, with Chris Wilson, his 39-year-old First Officer from Shurdington, near Cheltenham, Glocs.

.....................

According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.

One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.

A report of the incident said: "The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers."

The plane was then sent off-balance "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot", said the report.

The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.


Aircraft crashes after crocodile on board escapes and sparks panic - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8078612/Aircraft-crashes-after-crocodile-on-board-escapes-and-sparks-panic.html)

[ecureilx]

SASKATOON9999: not sure where you are coming from, but I doubt the pilot wants to risk his life in the first by hoping to glide to his destination ..

As a rule, in the 19 seat arrangment of the LET 410's the air hostess sits at the tail end, where the luggage gets loaded (and a tail stand is a common thing on Let 410s, to stop the plane sitting on it's tail on ground)

I believe the Let is tail heavy in a way, and pax moving to front would have definitely moved the CofG

[Ancient Mariner]

I pax'ed frequently on SEA's LET 410s in the Philippines. Every pax' weight and carry on was checked on a scale and they were particular about seating. Just an indication.
Per

[ecureilx]

Ancient Mariner: Did you forget to mention that the flights to certain destinations in Philippines go 'minus' the air hostess ??::} :E

The safety demo is done before departure and the air hostess steps-OFF the plane and closes the door .. No kidding ..

And every pax is made to step on the large scale (oops .. 'large size' people were trying to avoid the embarassment of everybody seeing your weight but - sorry - everybody does it .. .. big, small or medium size people .. all get weighed .. )

[jackx123]

And a croc caused the crash ....... :eek:

[south coast]

I flew for the UN (MONUC) in the Congo for 3.5 years and that was 'regulated' compared to private operators and we had UN staff turning up to a King Air with live goats and chickens and when told they could not bring live animals on board, they would go round the corner, slaughter the animal, wrap it up in sacks and put it in as cargo.

Life in DRC is nothing like what one knows in the First World, and anything and pretty much everything goes!

Nothing would surprise me and this story doesn't either.

Of course it is sad for the family's of all concerned.

[Will Hung]

Wasn't there another thread on this started by the somewhat scared, Captains' Wife ?

Or am I confused ?

[akaSylvia]

I've posted about it but to be honest, it doesn't seem likely. The original witness statement mentioned the stampede but no crocodile (that doesn't seem like something you'd forget). The JA article says you can see the croc emerging from the plane on YouTube but no one has found the video they are referring to. One of the commenters says he was an eye witness and there was no sign of a crocodile on the scene.

I think JA have got a false lead and the Telegraph were too quick to repeat their report, to be honest.

[lomapaseo]

Any confirmation of what the FDR says relative to aircraft trim capability?

I would start there first and then pick what might have been the initating event after that.

[RatherBeFlying]

The first comment in the Jeune Afrique article:

Michel Pauly Beloy - 20/10/2010 à 12h:10

C'est faux. Le jour du crache, je suis arriver sur le lieu 10 minutes après et j'ai participé a conduire les morts à la morgue ainsi que le rescarpé EKANDO à la salle d'urgence.Il y avait des crocodiles (les petits(. Ce n'est un crocodile qui a crée le crach. Je me mets quiconque au defi. Je suis Elu Député Provincial du Bandundu. .It's false. The day of the crash, I arrived on the scene 10 minutes after and participated in taking the dead to the morgue as well as the [rescarpe EKANDO = injured survivor?] to the emergency room. There were crocodiles (small ones). It wasn't a crocodile that caused the crash. I challenge that. I am elected Provincial Deputy of Bandudu.

[MountainBear]

It's false. The day of the crash, I arrived on the scene 10 minutes after and participated in taking the dead to the morgue as well as the [rescarpe EKANDO = injured survivor?] to the emergency room. There were crocodiles (small ones). It wasn't a crocodile that caused the crash. I challenge that. I am elected Provincial Deputy of Bandudu.I find this comment is credible because this was my reaction sitting thousands of miles away. Anyone who believes the newspaper tripe either (a) doesn't know anything about the Sudan or (b) knows nothing about crocodiles.

First of all, a crocodile that fits into a large gym bag is going to be no bigger than six feet in length including a tail. It's basically harmless at that size; it certainly isn't deadly. It doesn't surprise me that there was a crocodile on the flight but as the good deputy said it would have been a small one.

Second of all if this tiny little croc made the passengers panic then :mad:. I can believe that perhaps someone in the plane went after the croc as the poor animal curried in panic towards the front of the plane. But so many people went after it that it destabilized the plane? I challenge that.

Anything under the sun is possible. But there is going to have to be more evidence than the testimony of one survivor to make me believe it.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

todays daily mail newspaper stated a pax had bought a crododile on the flight in a large bag, it got out on finals and the pax surged to the front causing a weight and balance issue :\

[Alsacienne]

rescarpe EKANDO

should read rescapé ... s/he who escaped. Ekando is probably that person's name.

[tonytech2]

Can't speak for crocodiles but how about land crabs? In mid fifties while working for Lockheed Air Service at KIDL as a line mechanic working midnight shift, we got call to meet a Trans Caribbean DC-6B. Report of problems in cabin. On arrival when door opened we noticed the pax bolted out of aircraft. There were only about a dozen or so, very light load for Trans Carib. Stewardesses also in a hurry to get out along with front end crew.
Seems one daft pax had come aboard in San Juan with two shopping bags which he stowed in the open overhead hat racks as we called them then.
Inflight, when about midway to New York the occupants of the bags, some very large land crabs, clawed their way out and started spilling out of the hat racks on to the seats below. Some panic ensued evidently but with a light load no problems with CG. The F/E killed a few but we found many more, including one large one coming down center aisle with apple core in one claw.
One can only wonder what would have happened with a full load (about 100 in Trans Caribs high density seating). Land crabs spilling onto seated pax would have fomented a stampede for sure and might have produced an unexplained crash into the Atlantic.

[Frangible]

RathereBeFlying has it true for my money. Story falls into journalistic category of "too good to check". I would have thought it would stall rather than spin if it had been C of G in the matter, and anyway, was there really a survivor? There will be no official report, btw.
Plane-wise, DRC recalls one of The Death Ship, by B Traven, terrific 1930s thriller about crocked ships sent out with desperate crews for the purpose solely of sinking and insurance being claimed.

[EGCC4284]

I would have thought it would stall rather than spin if it had been C of G in the matter

How do you work that one out??

[finfly1]

Those photos of folks swarming all over the crash scene are quite a contrast to the photos taken at the scene of the Turkish plane which landed short of Amsterdam.

[WestWind1950]

here's another newsarticle (http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/crocodile-on-a-plane-kills-19/story-e6frfq80-1225942045322#ixzz1377br6Cf)

the title makes it seem like the croc killed everyone, not the crash.... journalists! :mad:

personally, I think even a small croc would make me panic! :eek:

[JEM60]

In Gambia, I once stood in a pit of 30 adult crocodiles, even stood astride a 12 footer.! I always regard it as the most stupid thing I ever did. Nobody believed me, until they saw the video that my wife shot!. Guy in charge said it was O.K to come down, so I did. More sensible now. Crocs on a plane! Scary!!Strange things happen in Africa.

[mary meagher]

.....a solo pilot had to exhibit self control while flying a competition glider in Italy a few years back, when a snake that had spent the night in the glider warmed up enough to slither over his legs.....

The ensuing radio transmissions went somewhat as follows: "There's a snake in my glider! what should I do? " He was advised to: (1) fly higher so it gets cold and goes back to sleep or passes out from lack of oxygen;
(2) look in its eyes to see if the pupils are round or eliptical, if round, it is not a poisonous snake, so no worries, you can finish the task (3) land as soon as possible! He chose option 3.

Preflight inspections the following day were carried out with unusual care.

[RatherBeFlying]

Excepting the case where they arrived in insecure baggage, snakes that show up in machinery are generally on the trail of rodents or bird nests.

Rodent urine is corrosive and there is also the possibility of hantavirus in some regions.

They also use fiber insulation or seat stuffing for nesting and chew insulation off wires:eek:

I've heard that Greeks and the Pueblo indians generally welcomed snakes around the house for rodent control.

One of my son's snakes sometimes disappeared between the walls for several weeks at a time. When I dismantled my upper kitchen I discovered a rodent apartment complex behind the valence above the wall cabinets. She liked to catch her own food:E

[lomapaseo]

The ensuing radio transmissions went somewhat as follows: "There's a snake in my glider! what should I do? " He was advised to: (1) fly higher so it gets cold and goes back to sleep or passes out from lack of oxygen;
(2) look in its eyes to see if the pupils are round or eliptical, if round, it is not a poisonous snake, so no worries, you can finish the task (3) land as soon as possible! He chose option 3.



according to Riki-Tikki-Tavi if you look into a snakes eyes you're a goner anyway..

I've tried this at the zoo but the snakes always avert their gaze.

[tailstrikecharles]

Next thing you know, we wont even be able to carry crocodiles on board anymore!

Sounds like a terror tactic to me.

@lomapaseo
I've tried this at the zoo but the snakes always avert their gaze.
Try to keep the trenchcoat closed :D

[AerocatS2A]

I would have thought it would stall rather than spin if it had been C of G in the matter...
Do you understand that spinning is generally what comes immediately after stalling if the stall is not recovered?

At any rate, 19 people all moving to one end of an aeroplane of that size would not be good when flying at low speeds.

[Teddy Robinson]

means loss of elevator authority / increased longditudinal stability / pitch down possibly even the stalling of the tail surface itself.

[rp122]

I once went 'crocodile fishing' at a croc farm in Florida. For a few bucks they'd let you dangle sausages on the end of a long strain on the end of a pole.
Trust me, any croc larger than say three feet long is pretty much going to rip that pole out of your hands. We had all sizes of crocs there, and you soon learnt just how vicious and powerful even the 'little' ones were.

[MountainBear]

I once went 'crocodile fishing' at a croc farm in Florida. For a few bucks they'd let you dangle sausages on the end of a long strain on the end of a pole. Trust me, any croc larger than say three feet long is pretty much going to rip that pole out of your hands. We had all sizes of crocs there, and you soon learnt just how vicious and powerful even the 'little' ones were.And so the press and there allies once again attempt to twist events to sensationalize them.

Of course crocs are vicious when you are feeding them. :ugh: Learning about animal behavior by studying feeding time at the zoo will give you a skewed view of all animals.

A small crocodile's natural instinct when faced with a human being is to flee. Period. Of course, an airliner is by no means a natural environment for a croc and in that situation it's behavior is unpredictable. But I still find it totally unbelievable that this small animal, even in a panic, caused 19 mature people to flip out and run screaming down the aisle. The people in Africa are not such wimps.

I am now waiting for The Sun to get a hold of this story and have a picture of a crocodile, a temple, and Indiana Jones with a headline blaring, "Pilot of African Plane Sacrificed Helpless Passengers to Avatar of Shiva". 99% of PPRUNE members would accept it as the gospel truth. :=

[lomapaseo]

I am now waiting for The Sun to get a hold of this story and have a picture of a crocodile, a temple, and Indiana Jones with a headline blaring, "Pilot of African Plane Sacrificed Helpless Passengers to Avatar of Shiva". 99% of PPRuNe members would accept it as the gospel truth. :=

With a creative imagination like that you don't even need to read the papers :)

[mary meagher]

RP122, in Florida, that would be an Alligator Farm. Not crocs.

All the same, swimming with Alligators is not recommended.

[Teddy Robinson]

sadly for those killed. this "discussion" or part of it, should belong in JB now .. your call.. this is nothing to do with the facts or reasoned theories anymore.
People died here ... show some respect.

[bushpig]

Just a point of interest. A three foot alligator or croc is very hard to hold even when you hold them the right way. I have held both. There is a way to hold/handle them and you try to keep them calm by being fairly relaxed but firm yourself but if they start to roll/wriggle, basically don't let go and kind of go with the movement a bit but hang on. Six foot, forget it! An Australian "salty" may run or move away from you if surprised but I wouldn't call it a scared animal. It will turn very quickly. If it were tied snout and feet you may get one into a large sort of bag but if it livened up life would get interesting. You can smell them, they have a slightly rank brackish "watery" sort of smell but among all the other odors often in aircraft in remote area operations you may not notice it.

[MountainBear]

One poster claims he knows all about crocs running loose on a plane because he once fed one a hot dog at the zoo. Now the latest is the Steve Irwin wannabe who knows all about crocs running loose on a plane because he once wrestled one in the Wingecarribee swamp.

Our descent into farce is complete.


this is nothing to do with the facts or reasoned theories anymore.

Did it ever?

[south coast]

MountainBear said,

'But I still find it totally unbelievable that this small animal, even in a panic, caused 19 mature people to flip out and run screaming down the aisle. The people in Africa are not such wimps.'

Half the people on board the plane probably believed the reason why it is in the air was down to magic, I think your statement couldn't be further from the truth for Africa!

[MrNosy2]

I just don't believe this crocodile story - it's just too good a story to be true! But all the media have picked it up now so it will just become one of the DR Cong myths.

I'd like to see something with better provenance (like some sort of official paper work) before I'll believe this.

[Neptunus Rex]

All this twaddle about knowing crocs' behaviour.

But I still find it totally unbelievable that this small animal, even in a panic, caused 19 mature people to flip out and run screaming down the aisle.You would get the same reaction from the appearance of an even smaller animal. Try setting a mouse loose amongst six adult women in a confined space.

No, No Mr Fawlty - ees my hhhamster!http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/mousecheese2.gif

[ecureilx]

Neptunus Rex: ever seen women react for cockroaches ? :E Not in a plane, but in a different situation - in this part of the world, while in a aircon coach bus, a woman at the last row screamed cockroach, and within a few seconds all the women were in the front, and about to break through the windshield, and would have done so if the brave driver didn't maintain his cool and stop the bus on the shoulder, and it only took a few seconds for the women to empty the bus ... No Kidding.

[ettore]

I feel very sad for the friends and relatives of thoses who lost their lives in this accident - and who incidentally could read this thread - that a Pprune discussion comes down to this level of rubbish. :ugh:

If you pretend to be "professional", at least behave.

[mary meagher]

What can be learned from this accident is how serious the consequence of panic. Aviators have to learn to be calm in the face of distraction and danger. We are trained to cope with in an orderly fashion the lightning strike, the hornets in the cockpit, the hail, the microburst and sudden loss of oil pressure in the starboard engine.

And then we invite the unwashed public to climb blithely into the rear of the aircraft, and ask them to follow our rules. No guns, no knives, no crocodiles. Please fasten your seatbelt and remain seated until the captain has turned off the sign. It is asking a lot of travelers not to panic when badly frightened, whatever the cause. This is where cabin crew prove so important. Tea, coffee and blankets, that's just window dressing for the real job, which is keeping the pax informed, reassured, and well behaved.

The consequence of a sudden rush to one end or the other of a C of G sensitive aircraft is clearly something that must now be addressed in advance, the cabin crew (or pilots if no cabin crew available) must make it clear to all on board in no uncertain terms.

[ecureilx]

mary meagher: matter of fact, elsewhere I mentioned that while I was flown in a similar Let 410 aircraft, there was no air hostess/steward: by law, we were shown the safety demo when the aircraft was on the ground and the crew who did the demo STEPPED OUT and closed the door .. no kidding ..

[maxpwr]

The L410 is for sure not C/G sensitive. The cabin is not very long compared to other aircraft, but wider. 1+2 Seating.

The Croc story seems like a smoke screen.

The plane did not catch any fire, maybe due to lack of fuel...there is also a story that there were more people on board than seats...i.e. 23 people total.

[DownIn3Green]

MAX...that's the Congo for you...gotta love it...not for the faint hearted, but I'd go back in a second if offered a position...

[Capt - Chaos]

Dont be so sure to dismiss the croc story....A long time ago I had a snake get loose from some dip**** passenger secretly carrying it in his backpack and the chaos it created in the cabin was nothing short of AMAZING.... that was a small snake, I cant imagine what the pax would do with a live croc on board....no matter how big or small it was

[ecureilx]

maxpwr: can you clarify why the Let 410s, atleast those I saw in the this region, need a tail stand when on ground ?? And the tail stand is taken off only when the plane is about to depart ..

[mATT84DC]

Let IS sensitive to the change of CG, I can "feel" the hostes coming to the cockpit everytime before she arrives.and I have to manage the trim several time to trim the plane, same when she goes back..I can imagine the result if more then one persone SUDDENTLY run frome the rearest seats (where the croc was supposed to be) toward the cockpit in LANDING CONFIGURATION..

ps: i talk about a 55 kg hostes....

the wrekage is still in Bandundu, not far from the treshold, positioned with the tail toward the runway (like if he did a steep 180° before to crash)

[Meathead Pilot]

ps: i talk about a 55 kg hostes....

:}You guys operate the Let with a hostie in congo???

[mATT84DC]

Yes Sir! when we don t transport..croccos..:p

[SmilingKnifed]

The closest we got to a hostie was a heavy-set Ugandan engineer! (Whom I wouldn't have swapped for even Kelly Brook as a hostie).

I'll echo Matt though, the LET is very trim sensitive (having flown it in the para-drop role, often with the No1 feathered) it's quite alarming for at times for an aeroplane of that size.

Unfortunately accidents like this will forever be associated with flying in the Congo and my sympathies go out to the families of those lost. I still have days when I'd swap my airline job to go back for more of the laughs I had with the Air-Tec guys and girls. :ok: