This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (July 2009)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2009)

The Trans Service Airlift Lockheed L-188 crash occurred on 18 December 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.

[edit] See also

• List of accidents and incidents involving airliners by airline

[edit] External links

• Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network

v • d • e ← 1994 Aviation accidents and incidents in 1995 1996→ Bristow Flight 56C (January 19) — An-70 air disaster (February 10) — TAROM Flight 371 (March 31) — Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 (June 9) — Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 (August 21) — Kish Air Flight 707 (September 19) — American Airlines Flight 1572 (November 12) — Air St. Martin Beech 1900 crash (December 7) — Banat Air Flight 166 (December 13) — Trans Service Airlift Lockheed L-188 crash (December 18) — American Airlines Flight 965 (December 20) Bold blue indicates incidents resulting at least 50 deaths (current article is always in bold black) Orange indicates the deadliest incident in 1995

This article about an aviation accident is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e