Region
Europe

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Lisbon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1965 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lisbon - Lisbon
Location:
Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport at 1030LT for a local training flight. Fifteen minutes later, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near the airport, killing both pilots.
Crew:
Maj José Luis da Silva Fernandes,
Maj Joaquim das Neves Oliveira.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-53 off Lisbon: 61 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1961 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
PH-DCL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rome – Madrid – Lisbon – Santa Maria – Caracas
MSN:
45615
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
VA897
Location:
Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
61
Captain / Total flying hours:
12886
Captain / Total hours on type:
189.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12913
Copilot / Total hours on type:
78
Aircraft flight hours:
209
Circumstances:
VIASA Flight 897 operated on the route Rome - Madrid (MAD) - Lisbon (LIS) - Santa Maria (SMA) - Caracas (CCS) when it landed at Lisbon at 00:06 UTC. Following a crew change and inspection by KLM maintenance personnel the flight was cleared for a runway 23 departure. The DC-8 took off at 01:15, heading the Capiraca (LS) NDB. At 01:18:37 the aircraft advised that the cloud base was at 3700 ft and changed to the Lisbon area control frequency. It reported again at 01:19 :25 to Lisbon Control that it was "over LS at 19 climbing through FL 60". This message ended with two quickly spoken sentences. This was the last radio contact with the flight. The DC-8 entered a spiral dive to the left during the last message, banking to the left to 90° within about 20 seconds and striking the water after another 15 seconds . During the last 15 seconds, the bank was over-corrected to the right. It struck the sea with a pitch angle of approximately 25° nose down, while it was probably banking 30° to the right.
Probable cause:
Notwithstanding a very thorough, time-consuming investigation, in which many authorities and experts co-operated, it was not possible to establish a probable cause of the accident. The Netherlands, as state of registry commented: Though there are no direct indications in this respect, the Board regards it as possible that the accident was due to the pilot or pilots being misled by instrument failure, in particular of the artificial horizon, or to the pilot having been distracted, so that a serious deviation from the normal flight path was not discovered in time.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-5-DO Skymaster off Lisbon: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
2401
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rome – Lisbon – Sal – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
36025
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lisbon
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. All eight crew members were killed in the crash. They were returning to Brazil, carrying the bodies of Brazilian soldiers killed during the Second World War.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Bucelas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Registration:
4624
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Montijo - Lisbon
MSN:
15-1162
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bucelas
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While completing an approach by night, the airplane crashed in unclear circumstances in Bucelas, about 12 km north of the Lisbon Airport. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-5 off Montijo AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Registration:
2507
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Montijo - Montijo
Location:
Montijo AFB
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While performing a local training flight out from Montijo AFB, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Tagus. The wreckage was found off Rato Island and all four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL off Lisbon: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6150
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
19773
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lisbon
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed into the Tagus River. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross off Lajes

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
7103
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
G-241
YOM:
1952
Location:
Lajes
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing the evacuation of a patient (ill seaman) who should be transferred from a ship to the Island. The accident occurred by night and in unknown circumstances. While there were no casualties, the seaplane was lost.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris I in Lisbon

Date & Time: May 25, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris
Operator:
Registration:
01/F-BGVO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lisbon - Lisbon
MSN:
01
YOM:
1958
Location:
Lisbon
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a demonstration flight at Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport. On final approach, the aircraft was too low and struck the ground few hundred yards short of runway threshold and crashed. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97F-55-BO Stratotanker in Lajes

Date & Time: May 10, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
51-0254
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16321
YOM:
1651
Location:
Lajes
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lajes Airport, one of the engine failed. The takeoff procedure was interrupted and an emergency braking procedure was attempted. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames. All seven crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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