Bucharest | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Less than 30 minutes after its departure from Chernivtsi Airport, while cruising over the region of Suceava, north part of Romania, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions. The twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, dove into the ground and crashed in a hilly and wooded area located near the village of Gӑinești, some 35 km southwest of Suceava. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed, among them the Romanian composer and aviator Ionel Fernic.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Board that the accident was caused by lightning which struck the aircraft in flight. Strong turbulences should be a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra near Tatoi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1936 at 1535 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

SP-AYB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Warsaw – Bucharest – Athens

MSN:

1046

YOM:

1936

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Circumstances:

On the leg from Bucharest to Athens, the crew encountered poor weather since over Thessaloniki, Greece. On approach to Tatoi Airport, while flying at an altitude of some 1,000 metres in foggy conditions, the aircraft hit a tree with one of its wing and crashed near Malakasa, some 10 km north of the airport. The Captain Joseph Sittelle was killed while six other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The cause of the crash was attributed to a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).

Crash of a Fokker F7b/3m near Bălăciţa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1931 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F7

Operator:

Registration:

F-ALGT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Paris – Prague – Vienna – Budapest – Belgrade – Bucharest – Istanbul

MSN:

YOM:

1931

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Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget at 0400LT on a flight to Istanbul with intermediate stops in Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. En route from Belgrade to Bucharest, the pilot informed ground about poor weather conditions. Shortly later, while flying in stormy weather, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Bălăciţa, Romania. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. It was later confirmed by local authorities that the airplane was destroyed upon impact but that all six occupants were strip by locals and that the wreckage was set on fire.
This aircraft with MSN 18 crashed a first time on 24 July 1931 near Mokren, Bulgaria, and was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was rebuilt and crashed again today. Rebuilt a second time with other wings and MSN 24, it crashed a third time in Vienna on 23 November 1935.
Crew:
Mr. Gloditch, pilot,
Georges Daniel, radio operator.
Passengers:
Mr. Martinot,
Mr. Gruener,
Mr. Sternberg,
Mr. Doo.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by strong turbulences and stormy weather.

Crash of a Fokker F7b/3m in Mokren: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1931 at 1830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F7

Operator:

Registration:

F-ALGT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Istanbul – Bucharest – Budapest – Paris

MSN:

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Istanbul at 1600LT bound for Bucharest. While cruising over the region of Mokren, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and atmospheric turbulences. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located in Kurudjevo, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Both crew members were French and among the passengers were three British and two Americans.
The wreckage was recovered to rebuilt the same aircraft with the same MSN. This second aircraft also registered F-ALGT crashed in Romania on 15 September 1931. Rebuilt a second time with other wings and MSN 24, it crashed a third time in Vienna on 23 November 1935.
Crew:
Louis Bonnetête, pilot,
Mr. This, radio operator.
Passengers:
Rutgers Barclay,
Pauline Kest,
Mr. Crush,
Mr. Repton +1.