Crash of an Avro 685 York I into the Mediterranean Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
OD-ADB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Beirut – Rome – London
MSN:
1307
YOM:
1946
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Beirut to London with in an intermediate stop at Ciampino Airport in Rome. While cruising over the Mediterranean Sea, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the five crew members was found.
Probable cause:
In the absence of concrete evidence, investigations were unable to determine a possible cause of the accident.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Dhahran

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
OD-ACJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beirut – Dhahran
MSN:
1306
YOM:
1946
Location:
Dhahran
ash-Sharqīyah (الشرقية‎)
Country:
Saudi Arabia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft crash landed at Dhahran Airport. All five crew members were uninjured but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando of Beirut: 27 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1957 at 0155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
OD-ACK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Beirut – Kuwait City
MSN:
30249
YOM:
1944
Location:
Beirut
Beirut Governorate
Country:
Lebanon
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Beirut Airport, the crew informed ATC about a fire on board and elected to return. More than thirty minutes later, while at altitude of 2,000 meters, the aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea some 18 km off Beirut. Some debris were found in the morning and all 27 occupants were killed. The airplane was also carrying a load of gold.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B on Mt Taurus: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
VK-500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Amman – Beirut – Athens – London
MSN:
260
YOM:
1949
Location:
Mt Taurus
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Amman to London with intermediate stops at Beirut and Athens, carrying four high ranking officers of the Jordanian Air Force (Arab Legion Air Force) on behalf of the Jordanian Government, and two crew members. While overflying Turkey, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located in the Taurus Mountain Range, about 30 km southwest of Karaman. As the airplane failed to arrive in Athens, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted in an isolated area six months later. All six occupants have been killed.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide at H3 Oil Station

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Arab Contracting & Trading Company
Registration:
OD-ABH
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
H3 Oil Station - Beirut
MSN:
6469
YOM:
1939
Location:
H3 Oil Station
Al-Anbar (الأنبار)
Country:
Iraq
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the engine startup, the left engine caught fire. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be destroyed by fire. The aircraft was preparing for a flight from H3 Oil Station (Southwest) located about 450 km west of Baghdad to Beirut, Lebanon.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire during startup.

Crash of a Fiat G.212 in Kuwait City

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1954 at 0448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fiat G.212
Operator:
Arabian Desert Airlines
Registration:
G-ANOE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beirut - Kuwait City
MSN:
10
YOM:
1948
Location:
Kuwait City
All Kuwait
Country:
Kuwait
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed by night, the pilot did not realize his altitude was insufficient when the three engine airplane hit a sand dune located few dozen yards short of runway. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft crash landed on its belly and came to rest. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Beirut

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1954 at 0856 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEFS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris – Brindisi – Nicosia – Basra – Hanoi
MSN:
12416
YOM:
1944
Location:
Beirut
Beirut Governorate
Country:
Lebanon
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft, belonging to the Compagnie Autrex-Lopez-Loreta-Lebreton, was on a delivery flight from Paris to Hanoi. It departed from Paris on 22 January 1954 at 0650Z and arrived at Brindisi the same day at 1305Z. The following day the aircraft left Brindisi at 0720Z and landed at Nicosia at 1330Z. From Nicosia the aircraft intended to fly to Basra, but a failure in the HF radio equipment caused a change in the schedule, and it was decided to fly to Beirut where specialists and the spare parts necessary for the repair were available. On final approach by night, the aircraft was too low when, at a speed of 105 knots, it struck a mound of earth located 85 feet short of runway 36, damaging the right mains gear. The aircraft subsequently landed on the runway when the undercarriage collapsed. There were no injuries but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a pilot error due to lack of knowledge of the terrain. The existence of the mound was only an aggravating circumstance. The failure of the right landing gear may be explained by the excessive landing weight of the aircraft. The main cause of the accident was probably an unduly short landing which, in view of the length of the runway and the perfect condition of the aircraft, was unwarranted and must, therefore, be ascribed mainly to error on the part of the pilot, due largely to his lack of familiarity with the terrain. The pilot had never landed at the Beirut International Airport. The faulty altimeter setting was possibly an additional reason for the defective approach. Also, restricted visibility prevented the pilot from seeing the mound and taking appropriate action to avoid a crash. The presence of the mound at 26.60 meters from the runway entrance was a contributing factor. Since this mound was 78 cm high, the variation in level was 3%.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Rome: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1954 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C294
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manila – Bangkok – Karachi – Beirut – Rome – Zurich – Hamburg – London
MSN:
42902
YOM:
1947
Location:
Rome-Ciampino
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rome-Ciampino Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. While descending through clouds at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the crew informed ground about fire on right engine. It is believed that both right engines were on fire at this time. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when, at a height of 650 feet, the airplane plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located about six km east of Ciampino Airfield. The four engine aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 16 occupants have been killed. A crater was seen at the point of impact and debris were scattered on a wide area.
Probable cause:
Technical issues or fire on both right engines was not confirmed by investigations. However, some unforeseen fact to which the aircraft was subjected, as a result of which, being no longer under control, it went into a steep dive, probably on account of wing drop in the clouds, and crashed to the ground after an uncompleted pull-out. The Committee, although unable to affirm that wing drop could have been caused by atmospheric conditions, wishes to point out that there was pronounced turbulence in the area.

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Beirut

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1954 at 0352 LT
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
OD-ABU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beirut – Kuwait City
MSN:
14
YOM:
1945
Location:
Beirut
Beirut Governorate
Country:
Lebanon
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 18, at a speed of 90 knots, the pilot-in-command encountered control difficulties while the aircraft veered to the left side of the runway. He took a corrective action but the airplane started to swerve. In such conditions, he decided to abandon the takeoff run and started an emergency braking procedure, closed the throttle and applied brakes simultaneously. The aircraft then veered off runway to the left at a speed around 50 to 60 knots and while contacting soft ground, lost its left main gear while both left engines struck the ground and came to rest in flames. All nine occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to a loss of power followed by a sudden picking up of no. 1 engine, added to the inherent tendency of the aircraft to veer to the left. The flight engineer noticed this loss of power but did not warn the pilot before checking the instruments at his own station. Having noticed that his instruments read normally, and finding, on turning back to the pilot's panel, that the engine had picked up, he did not consider it necessary to report the loss of power to the pilot-in-command. The pilot-in-command must have presumed the swerving of the aircraft to be normal and have corrected the motion of the aircraft on that basis. Owing to the complexity of the flight engineer's duties on take-off and to the fact that he had to stand, thus being subject to inertia and centrifugal forces, he was hampered and delayed in his motions. The aircraft was destroyed as a result of the fact that, in running over sandy ground its left wheel sank into a soft spot causing the left attachment fitting of the left landing gear to break. In collapsing, the landing-gear caused no. 1 and, no. 2 engines to come into contact with the ground. The fuel cocks and the cut-off valves were not closed. Fire broke out on the left wing, and destroyed the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A Constellation off Fethiye: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1953 at 0328 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAZS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Paris – Rome – Beirut – Tehran
MSN:
2628
YOM:
1950
Flight number:
AF152
Location:
Fethiye
Aegean Region (Ege Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
5201
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5574
Aircraft flight hours:
10058
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 17,500 feet between Rhodes Island and Cyprus, the crew noted slight vibrations but was unable to localize them. Four minutes later, a loud bang was noted, an explosion occurred, a brutal depressurization occurred and the aircraft lost 1,000 feet. The captain, who was sleeping, joined immediately his seat, disengaged the automatic pilot system and started an emergency descent with a rate of 300-500 feet per minute. In the mean time, the copilot informed ATC he elected to divert to Nicosia Airport. The crew realized that the engine number three fell off and decided to shut down the engine number four and feathered its propeller. Eventually, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft on a calm sea about two NM off the Fethiye lighthouse. Ten minutes after landing, the empennage broke off and sank. Some passengers swum to the shore and the aircraft eventually sank two hours later. Three crew members were injured, 35 occupants were unhurt and four passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
In reference to all details collected by investigators, it is believed that the physical loss of the engine number three was caused by the loss of a propeller blade in flight. The cause of this failure could not be determined with certainty.
Final Report:
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