Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D in San Sebastian

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-AOA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Madrid – San Sebastian
MSN:
14120
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
EC-AOA departed Barajas Airport, Madrid, on the morning of 26 October on a scheduled passenger transport flight to San Sebastian-Fuenterrabia Airport. Brake failure occurred on landing and the aircraft left the field and fell into a slough in the estuary of the Bidassoa River, approximately 20 metres from the airport limits. As a result of the accident, a passenger suffered a fractured arm, and two other passengers were slightly injured. The remaining 14 passengers and the crew were uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The total discharge of the air system bottles, owing to the internal leak in the landing gear selector, prevented brake functioning.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21 in Madrid: 37 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1957 at 1904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-ADI
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santiago de Compostela – Madrid
MSN:
12757
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
AO111
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Captain / Total flying hours:
5478
Copilot / Total flying hours:
427
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger transport flight from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid, carrying 32 passengers and 5 crew. As requested, the flight passed downwind to align itself for landing on the assigned runway 23 during which maneuver the control tower gave it the green light for landing. The aircraft went by at an altitude of about 300 metres, banking slightly to the left in order to see the light signal more easily. At 1904 hours it saw the green light, compensated for its left bank and, banking to the right, started a right spin which continued to the ground. The aircraft hit the ground with the front part of the fuselage, the right wing and the right engine propeller and caught fire. Although the airport fire fighting services reached the aircraft 6 minutes after the accident and promptly went into action, it was impossible to extinguish fire completely for more an hour. Its effects, however, were reduced to such an extent that the crew and passengers could have been saved had they not all died as a consequence of the violent impact.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to personnel errors.
1) The failure of radiotelephony compelled the pilot to concentrate on the green light during the approach manoeuvre,
2) The pilot's attention was so distracted that he operated close to the speed limit. Although such a distraction is infrequent, statistics show that it may occur after 5 000, 7 000 and even after 13 000 flying hours.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21 near Somosierra: 23 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1953 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-AEG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bilbao – Madrid
MSN:
12797
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While descending to Madrid-Barajas Airport inbound from Bilbao, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds, rains showers and turbulences. Twice, the airplane suffered downdrafts and the second time, it lost 800 meters in few seconds and eventually hit the slope of the peak Lobo-Cebollera located east of Somosierra. A crew member was able to find help and rescuers arrived quite quickly on site. Ten people, including 4 crew members, were injured while 23 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft suffered downdraft and lost altitude before colliding with a mountain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK near Mimizan

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
LN-NAE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Madrid – Bordeaux – Norrköping
MSN:
12372
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Madrid to Norrköping with an intermediate stop in Bordeaux, carrying a crew of six and 22 members of a Swedish football team. While descending to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in poor weather conditions, a technical failure occurred on one engine. The captain realized that it was not possible to reach the airport of Bordeaux so he reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing on a beach located three km north of Mimizan. The airplane belly landed on the sand beach, slid for dozen yards and came to rest partially submerged. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL on the Guggi Glacier: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1952 at 1540 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-100593
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid - Fürstenfeldbruck
MSN:
19056
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Madrid-Barajas to the airbase of Fürstenfeldbruck located west of Munich. At 1455LT, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the radio operator informed ground about his position three km south of Dijon. Apparently due to navigation errors, the airplane then continued to the east over the Swiss Alps when it hit the slope of a mountain surrounding the Guggi Glacier. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, Swiss authorities were contacted at the end of the day by the USAF quarters in Frankfurt-Main AB that an airplane was missing. SAR operations were conducted by locals and the wreckage was found a day later at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Gus John Mehess, pilot,
Lt Col Robert L. Spear, copilot,
Maj Samuel D. McFadden, instructor pilot,
Sgt Earl D. Clay, radio operator,
Cpl Boyd F. Crook, flight engineer,
Lt Col Orville H. Riggs, observer,
Maj Ralph C. Adams, observer.
Passenger:
Erwin L. Steinert, radio operator.
Source & photo:
http://www.bezg.ch/img/publikation/12_1/01_12_BEZG_cornioley.pdf
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar in Madrid: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T.4-10
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Madrid – León
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Madrid-Barajas Airport, en route to León, an engine exploded. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing both crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Gandesa: 27 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1948 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EC-ABK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid – Barcelona
MSN:
4256
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra de Pàndols-Cavalls, about 5 km southeast of Gandesa. All 27 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Madrid

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
EC-ACG
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19553
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident in Barajas Airport. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-15-DO Skymaster near Pedro Bernardo: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N44567
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Havana – Hamilton – Ponta Delgada – Lisbon – Madrid
MSN:
18386
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While flying in poor weather conditions about 100 km west of Madrid, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra de Gredos, near the village of Pedro Bernardo. The aircraft christened 'Ruta de Colón' was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-405 in Madrid

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1946 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-ABO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lisbon – Madrid – Barcelona
MSN:
4832
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Madrid-Barajas Airport, while climbing to a height of 50 meters, one of the engine exploded. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Alameda de Osuna, some 3 km southeast of the airfield. After touchdown, the aircraft skidded for several yards and came to rest in flames. Four passengers were slightly injured while the copilot was seriously wounded. All other occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine caught fire during initial climb.