Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Cairo: 52 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1956 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGOD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Saigon – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Paris
MSN:
43835
YOM:
1953
Location:
Cairo
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Saigon to Paris, France and had left Karachi for Cairo on 19 February at 1715 hours Greenwich Mean Time with 9 crew and 55 passengers aboard. The flight was routine until 0230 hours (20 February) when the aircraft reported to Cairo Air Traffic Control that it had passed Suez (60 miles east of Cairo) at 0224 at a flight level of 8 500 feet, flying VFR and was descending. At 0240 it reported the Cairo aerodrome in sight and being 15 miles out, was granted an authorization for a VFR approach and at the same time was given the QFE and QNH, 29.42 and 29.73 respectively. Contact was established with Cairo approach and the aircraft requested and received landing instructions oh 118.5 megacycles and was asked to call down wind. This message was acknowledged and was the last heard from the flight. Several attempts to contact the aircraft on all available frequencies were made but were unsuccessful. At 0450 hours the wreckage was sighted 18 miles southeast of the aerodrome. Only 6 crew members and 6 passengers survived.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the failure of the pilot-in-command to monitor the co-pilot during a direct approach procedure and the reliance of the latter on his instruments exclusively to fix his position relative to the runway at an altitude below the minimum safe altitude. The factor of crew member fatigue can- not be ruled out
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 off Kuwait: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1955 at 1138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VM309
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bahrain - Shaibah
Location:
Kuwait City
All Kuwait
Country:
Kuwait
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising off the Kuwait coast, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. All six occupants were killed and only few debris were found.
Crew:
G/C H. J. Irens, pilot,
Sgt Radley, signaler.
Passengers:
G/C. A. M. Aberdein,
W/C M. Dean,
S/L R. H. Stevenson,
F/L Cranley.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Bahrain

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VX557
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
YOM:
1950
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bahrain Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that remained down. The pilot obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing when all undercarriage collapsed upon touchdown. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Sharjah: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1953 at 0237 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AAD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Karachi – Sharjah – Bahrain – Jeddah
MSN:
9143
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sharjah
Sharjah (الشارقةّ)
Country:
United Arab Emirates
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Sharjah Airport, while climbing, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a desert area located near the runway end. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were rescued. All passengers were Pakistan pilgrims flying from Karachi to Jeddah. At the time of the accident, the copilot was seating in the left hand seat and the captain in the right hand seat.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of control of the aircraft by the first officer shortly after taking off on a dark night when instrument flying was necessary. This loss of control was due to the inability of the first officer to fly on instruments. The responsibility for the accident is attributed to the captain for failing to supervise the piloting of the aircraft by the first officer.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 off Bahrain: 40 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1950 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBDM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saigon – Karachi – Bahrain – Paris
MSN:
42990
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Captain / Total flying hours:
10550
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2100
Aircraft flight hours:
8705
Circumstances:
The approach to Bahrain was completed by night. On final approach, the aircraft christened 'Ciel de Gascogne' hit the water surface and crashed into the Persian Gulf, few hundred yards from the runway 29 threshold. First rescuers arrived on site about four hours later. Three crew members and ten passengers were rescued while 40 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Robert Plamont, pilot, †
Mr. Cartier, copilot,
Mr. Thibaud, radio officer,
Lucien Duval, radio officer, †
Mr Franco, mechanic,
Mr. Gourhaut, steward,
Roland Rimbol, steward, †
Mrs. Hervé, stewardess.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot in command to adopt the timed approach procedure to the prevailing conditions. Having descended to 300 feet, the pilot in command did not take the appropriate measures to maintain this altitude until such time as the runway lights became visible. At the time of the accident, the airport of Bahrain was not equipped radio landing aids and suitable runway approach lights, which was considered as a contributory factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 off Bahrain: 46 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1950 at 0116 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBDE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saigon – Karachi – Bahrain – Paris
MSN:
42937
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Captain / Total flying hours:
19500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2750
Aircraft flight hours:
8128
Circumstances:
The approach to Bahrain was completed by night and limited visibility (1,370 meters). About 5,200 meters short of runway 29 threshold, the aircraft christened 'Ciel de Picardie' hit the water surface and sank by 12 feet in the Persian Gulf. First rescuers arrived on site about eight hours later. Two crew members, the captain and the radio officer, and four passengers, were rescued while 46 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. Sladek, pilot,
Raoul Saury, copilot, †
Yvan Moulis, radio navigator, †
M. Collard, radio officer,
Jacques Michel, mechanic, †
Nicole Combaret, stewardess, †
Roger Bertru, steward, †
Roland Bequet, steward. †
Probable cause:
The pilot in command did not keep an accurate check of his altitude and rate of descent during the timed approach procedure, thus allowing his aircraft to fly into the surface of the sea. The possibility that the pilot-in-command was feeling the effects of fatigue cannot be ruled out. At the time of the accident, the airport of Bahrain was not equipped radio landing aids and suitable runway approach lights, which was considered as a contributory factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short S.25 Sandringham V off Bahrain: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1947 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sandringham
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHZB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Karachi – Bahrain – London
MSN:
SH-38C
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The approach to Bahrain was completed by night and the crew landed in the Marine Base at an indicated speed of 85 to 90 knots. Upon landing, the seaplane had a tendency to nose down so the captain counteracted with the control column and increased power simultaneously. The aircraft bounced, left water for about one to two seconds and then veered sharply to the left. Out of control, it plunged into water and came to rest. Three crew members and seven passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration and poor landing technique on part of the crew, causing the aircraft to land hard.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando off Bahrain: 34 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1944 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107360
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Habbaniyya – Bahrain – Karachi
MSN:
27047
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bahrain
All Bahrain
Country:
Bahrain
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a fuel stop in Bahrain on a flight from Habbaniyya to Karachi. After take off, while climbing to a height of some 800 feet, the aircraft banked left and dove into the sea. All 34 occupants were killed.
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