Trans Service Airlift Lockheed L-188 crash
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The Trans Service Airlift Lockheed L-188 crash occurred on December 18, 1995 when a Lockheed L-188C Electra owned by Trans Service Airlift crashed shortly after takeoff from Jamba Airport (JMB), Angola, killing 141 of the passengers and crew.
Trans Service Airlift (TSA), was a private company headquartered at Ndjili Airport, Kinshasa. The Electra, MSN 1080, was one of two of a number of aging craft operated by TSA. It was built in 1959, flown by Eastern Air Lines 1959-1968, acquired by Lineas Aereas Paraguayas (now LAPSA Air Paraguay) 1968 and sold to TSA in 1994.
On the date of the accident the aircraft was a special charter for UNITA. Following the 1993 trade embargo on UNITA there were frequent "sanction busting" flights out of Zaire. These rarely carried weapons, usual cargos were personnel, fuels, food, and medical supplies. Weapons were supplied over ground routes. TSA was one of the companies cited in connection with these operations. The Angolan Government later claimed the aircraft was carrying weapons.
The aircraft, with 139 passengers and five crew, was loaded forty people beyond specifications without taking cargo into account. Some reports note a movement of the cargo as causing the crash. It crashed very soon after take-off, in the initial climb phase of flight. One member of the crew and two passengers survived the initial crash.
