Crash of a Pilatus PC-6 Porter on the Mont-Blanc

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
HB-FAZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
343
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
177
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from the Dôme Plateau at an altitude of 4,300 meters. The pilot and the passenger were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The airplane was caught by downdraft while taking off and crashed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Bairahawa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1960
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bairahawa – Kathmandu
MSN:
19792
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bairahawa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S Expeditor in Kotzebue: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6674C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kotzebue – Nome
MSN:
8313
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was returning to his base at Nome after having flown passengers to Kotzebue. After takeoff, a fire erupted in the cabin and the pilot elected to return for an emergency landing. While completing a sharp turn at low height, the right wing struck a telephone pole and was sheared off. Out of control, the airplane crashed and burned, killing the pilot. It was reported that cabin gas heater burst into flames after rotation.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LDH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
30350
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Due to foggy conditions, the Santos Dumont Airport was closed to trafic and the crew diverted to Galeão Airport where the passengers disembarked. When the weather conditions improved, the crew was able to complete a short ferry flight back from Galeão to Santos Dumont. After touchdown on runway 02, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged into the Guanabara Bay. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed too far down the runway.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Uralsk

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1458
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Uralsk – Aktyubinsk
MSN:
83 025 25
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SU069
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Uralsk Airport, the captain decided to activate the afterburner without informing the rest of the crew. The takeoff roll was longer than expected and he completed the rotation after a run of 750 meters. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 2-3 meters at a speed of 160 km/h, the captain prematurely ordered the retraction of the landing gear. In a certain confusion, the board mechanic shut down both engines instead of retracting the gears. The aircraft flew for about 605 meters then descended to the ground, rolled for 211 meters and struck a railway embankment and telephone pole. On impact, the airplane lost its undercarriage and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While all five crew members were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew and lack of crew resources management and coordination. The captain took the decision to activate the afterburner system without any announcement to the rest of the crew and during the takeoff roll and not prior to takeoff which is against the published procedures. This caused a certain confusion in the cockpit.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Tabriz

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N54TA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Site:
Schedule:
Bahrain – Karachi
MSN:
1342
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a mountainous area located in the region of Tabriz while on a ferry flight from Bahrain to Karachi. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B near Castrovillari: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1958 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-APJS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bahrain – Athens – Rome – London
MSN:
14001
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
2294.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a ferry flight from Athens, Greece to Ciampino Airport, Rome - it was being transferred from Bahrain to England to be checked and to undergo certain modifications. It had departed Athens at 1407Z on an IFR flight plan and later reported that it expected to fly over Caraffa at 1730 and requested clearance to fly at a lower level. This clearance was not granted since the flight level requested was below the safety minimum for that route segment. There were no further contacts with the aircraft. It crashed between 1735Z and 1808Z on the southeast slope of Mt Scifarello at a height of approximately 1,730 metres (5 675 ft). The 3 crew aboard were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a navigational error. The following were contributing causes:
- The weather conditions encountered were worse than those forecast,
- The pilot had difficulty in receiving MF bearings,
- There was no anti-icing equipment on the wing surfaces.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Rapid Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HAF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
161
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rapid Lake, QC, the single engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was returning to his base at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK on Mt Lash Golath: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1956 at 1455 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AP-ACZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Gilgit – Chaklala
MSN:
16813/33561
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0820 hours West Pakistan Standard Time from Chaklala aerodrome on a charter flight to Gilgit. After landing at 1014 hours at Gilgit, the captain advised the passengers and ground staff that he would not carry passengers on the return flight due to the very bad weather conditions en route. At 1400, AP-ACZ departed Gilgit on the return flight and at 1410 was in wireless telegraphy communication with Gilgit aerodrome. At 1421, Chaklala passed on to the aircraft the latest MET observation and the transmission was acknowledged. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft until 1454 when the following SOS was picked up by the ground stations and two other aircraft: 'SOS APACZ INDUS mouth position trapped in bad weather, Indus mouth. Chaklala aerodrome acknowledged the SOS but failed to contact the aircraft. The flight crashed on the peak of Lash Golath mountain at a height of approximately 14,000 to 15,000 feet. All three crew members, the sole occupants, were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to pilot error while he was attempting a flight beyond his ability or experience.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.12 in Corowa

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-GVB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Corowa – Yarrawonga
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Corowa Airport on a ferry flight to Yarrawonga. After getting airborne, he smelt burning rubber and believing the aircraft was on fire, turned back and landed downwind on the crossing runway. Control was lost and the aircraft violently ground-looped, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The aircraft was not insured and its loss was a financial blow to the company. During recovery efforts using a crane, the tail section broke away from the rear fuselage. The aircraft was irreparable. The pilot was unhurt.