Ground fire of a Convair B-36B-15-CF Peacemaker at Fairchild AFB

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-92069
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fairchild - Fairchild
MSN:
66
YOM:
1946
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful training mission, the crew was returning to Fairchild AFB. After touchdown, the pilot completed the braking procedure and vacated the runway via a taxiway when one of the main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft came to a halt in flames and while all occupants were able to evacuate safely, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. It was reported that one of the undercarriage collapsed and punctured a fuel tank. The fire could not be extinguished in time.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed during taxi.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Pembroke Dock

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NJ180
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Hit a buoy while landing off Pembroke Dock. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with a buoy upon landing.

Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton MR.2 off Gozo Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL794
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew left Luqa Airfield for a training mission consisting of an aerial attack against the submarine HMS Tudor. While completing a turn at low height, the pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea about seven km southwest of Gozo Island, Malta. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Hamble

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH808
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hamble - Hamble
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Hamble. Apparently following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed long. As the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and came to rest on a railway. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas JD-1 Invader in Ashiya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
77175
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ashiya - Ashiya
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Ashiya AFB. During an ILS approach by night, the airplane hit a ridge located few km from the airfield and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-603
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Bogotá
MSN:
33273
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Bogotá-Techo Airport when an engine caught fire in flight. Pilots attempted an emergency landing in a field near the airport. The airplane belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
An engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 into Angle Bay

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RN290
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie when an engine caught fire in flight. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing in Angle Bay but the airplane touchdown hard, causing a float to be sheared off. The aircraft came to a halt in flames. While all six crew members were able to evacuate the cabin and were uninjured, the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Dassault MD.312M Flamant near Sainte-Maxime: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
10.S.14
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Fréjus - Fréjus
MSN:
299
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël NAS. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed on the rocky slope of a mountain located about 9 km north of Sainte-Maxime. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (10S Squadron):
Aloïs Rabain, navigator
René Tosello,
Roger Falcou 3.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Hullavington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF391
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
550
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. During a Blind Approach Beam System (BABS) approach by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. While climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed three miles from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew was unable to locate the runway due to the combination of a reduced visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions and the failure of the instruments to locate the approach beacons. During the initial climb, the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune MR.1 at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WX542
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
426-5150
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Topcliffe. On final approach, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. There were no casualties.