Egypt | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After take off from Bilbeis, the captain decided to make a low pass over the Officer's Mess. While flying at a height of eight feet, the aircraft hit the tent with its left wing tip that broke away. The aircraft overturned and crashed in a huge explosion. All 13 occupants were killed while there was no casualties on ground.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Abu Qir: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1942 at 0620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

T9050

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Abu Qir - Abu Qir

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane left Abu Qir seaplane base at 0545LT on a maritime patrol flight. After 35 minutes into the flight, the engine number one failed. The captain decided to stall the aircraft that broke its back while hitting the water surface. Three crew members were killed while all nine others were rescued. The aircraft was lost.
Crew (230th Squadron):
F/O R. J. Murphy, pilot,
P/O R. C. Scott, pilot,
F/O T. W. Sanderson, pilot,
P/O A. H. Matthews, navigator,
F/Sgt J. Harkins, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt K. J. Carlsson, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt J. Adam, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt J. Groleau, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. Lindsay, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt D. Hall, flight engineer,
LAC D. McLean, fitter,
LAC N. Kelly, rigger.
Source by Alan Storr:
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RC09125_007--1-.pdf

Probable cause:

The aircraft was forced to return from patrol owing to failure of the port outer engine. There was no indication from any member of the crew including the fitter that any other engine appeared to be giving trouble. When the Captain thought the port engine was failing he should have immediately checked his engine instrument readings. Although he approach appears to have been normal, the Captain did in fact make an error as he did not allow for the facts that there was a flat calm or that he was making an approach off a flare path. Finally the pilot made the fatal mistake of attempting to look at the water. Such an act especially on a glassy sea is nearly always disastrous. The accident appears to have been brought about by the fact that the pilot attempted to land when a landing was unnecessary, and he made an error in his landing in that he appears to have used insufficient engine to flatten his approach. He also attempted to carry out a landing on a glassy sea at night by looking at the water. The Group Commander in his remarks stated ; “ I consider this accident was primarily due to the fact that there had been a fatal accident in the Squadron a few days previously due to an engine catching fire in the air and the resulting smoke filled the cockpit, making it impossible for the pilot to make a safe landing. In this case, the pilot after flying for 35 minutes on thee engines, states that he suddenly noticed a bright glow and small burst of flame on another engine and decided to land immediately, in so doing he stalled the aircraft which broke its back on hitting the water. I consider the pilot, FO Murphy, made a wrong decision in deciding to land and was guilty of an error of judgement in making the actual landing. AVM Slatter 201 Group” .

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar I in Bilbeis

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

AX687

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bilbeis - Bilbeis

MSN:

18-2017

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While circling around Bilbeis Airport on a training exercise, the crew was forced to attempt a belly emergency landing following a dual engine failure. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both occupants were unhurt.

Probable cause:

It appears the crew inadvertently feathered both props during flight.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I off Abu Qir: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1942 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

W3927

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Abu Qir - Abu Qir

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine seaplane left the bay of Abu Qir by night for a maritime patrol flight. Shortly after take off, during the initial climb, the engine number one caught fire. The captain attempted to return for an emergency landing but due to smoke spread in the cockpit, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. Eight crew members were killed while six others were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt A. F. Howell, pilot, †
F/O S. R. H. Dunfield, pilot,
P/O A. G. G. Richmond, pilot,
Cpl F. Milne, flight engineer, †
F/Lt R. F. Crockett, observer, †
F/Sgt R. D. Adamson, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt B. W. Jenkins, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt J. McSherry, wireless operator and air gunner, †
P/O R. J. Lunn, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt A. M. Goldsmith, wireless operator and air gunner,
AC1 W. Thomas, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. F. A. WHITEHEAD, air gunner,
LAC K. Barrow, air gunner, †
LAC Cowles, instructor.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Alexandria: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5814

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight within Egypt when it was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft eventually crashed in an inhabited area. While all seven crew members were rescued, all ten passengers were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Sgt J. James, pilot,
Sgt Lawson, pilot,
Sgt H. Daniels, wireless operator,
Sgt Bowles,
LAC J. C. Manning,
LAC P. N. Howarth 1.
Passengers:
Lt General W. H. E. Gott,
Gnr J. Cleary,
Gnr T. McDonald,
Spr F. Price,
Sigmn J. T. Cox,
Trp J. J. Lamb,
Pte W. Wilson,
Pte R. T. Charlesworth,
Pte A. R. Saggers,
Cpl G. D. Dodd.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Egypt

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5835

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew (216th Squadron) was performing a flight within Egypt when it was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing in the Egyptian Desert. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Egypt

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5824

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

While overflying the Egyptian Desert, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a German fighter. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in the desert. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties. Crew from the 216th Squadron.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of De Havilland DH.86A Express in Siwa

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

Operator:

Registration:

AX762

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Siwa

MSN:

2333

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On landing at Siwa, while on an ambulance flight from Heliopolis, the right main gear failed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.

Probable cause:

Right main gear failure on touchdown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress near Shallufa AFB

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

AN521

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2053

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

One of the engine caught fire in flight. All eight crew members bailed out and abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near Shallufa AFB. All crew members parachuted to safety.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

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