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Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Cairo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the four engine airplane crashed onto UNO facilities located at the Cairo-Almaza Airfield. All five occupants were killed while there were no injuries on the ground.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-62 in Cairo

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1972 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ARN
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
00801
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 36 at Cairo-Almaza Airport, the four engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 59 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was determined that the crew was scheduled to land at Cairo International Airport runway 34 but following a poor flight preparation and several mistakes on approach, the crew descended to Almaza Airport instead of the international airport. At the time of the accident, the first portion of 650 meters of runway 34 at International Airport were closed to traffic due to repair. Thinking they were landing on the right airport, the crew landed at Almaza runway 36 700 meters past its threshold. In such conditions, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance of runway 36 (1,890 meters), which is a relative short for such aircraft type.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Egypt: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
900
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Al-Bahariya - Cairo
MSN:
04090
YOM:
1947
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed the oasis of Al-Bahariya on a flight to Cairo, carrying a crew of two and seven passengers, among them one child. En route, weather conditions worsened and the pilot apparently lost his orientation. In such conditions, the crew decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a desert area located approximately 100 km northeast of Al-Bahariya. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all nine occupants survived the accident. Rescue teams were unable to localize the airplane and all nine occupants died of thirst few days later. The wreckage was eventually found by camels more than three years later, on June 1st 1978.
Probable cause:
It is believed the crew lost his orientation following the in-flight failure of several instruments.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Cairo: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1965 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo – Aden
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Almaza Airport in Cairo, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames near the airport. A crew member survived while all 30 other occupants were killed, 22 Egyptian soldiers and nine Russian crew members.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the consequence of a crew error, possibly related to the flaps position.

Crash of a Bristol 175 Britannia 102 in Khartoum

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ANBC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Cairo – Khartoum
MSN:
12904
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Cairo to Khartoum at an altitude of 20,500 feet, a loss of hydraulic pressure occurred. The crew continued the flight and started the descent to Khartoum. While completing the approach checklist, the crew was unable to lower the landing gear, even with the emergency systems. The captain decided to complete a belly landing on the sandy area alongside the runway. The airplane slid for hundreds yards before coming to rest. All 27 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the support member for the starboard main gear uplock caused the gear to fall in flight, damaging hydraulic system lines.

Crash of a Vickers 634 Viking 1B off Heraklion: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMNK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Birmingham – Nice – Brindisi – Heraklion – Cairo – Jedda – Aden
MSN:
210
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Birmingham to Aden with intermediate stops at Nice, Brindisi, Heraklion, Cairo and Jedda. The departure from Heraklion Airport was completed by night from runway 27. Following a takeoff roll of 1,800 meters, the twin engine aircraft lifted off and continued the initial climb to a height of 100 feet when the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. The airplane bank left and crashed into the sea, killing all three crew members.
Probable cause:
The cause of the engine failure was not established but the most likely reason appears to be a defective fuel or ignition system. The reason why it was not possible for the aircraft to maintain safe flight after the failure of the engine remains unknown.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B in Tarasovichi: 34 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1960 at 1558 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75705
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairo – Moscow
MSN:
189 0017 02
YOM:
29
Flight number:
SU036
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Aircraft flight hours:
407
Aircraft flight cycles:
117
Circumstances:
While flying over the region of Kiev, the crew contacted ATC about a fire on engine number 4 and requested the permission to divert to Borispol Airport. Due to the position of the aircraft, ATC vectored the crew to Zhulyani Airport. Shortly later, while on descent, the engine number four detached and the fire spread to the right wing. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in flames in a near vertical attitude in a wooded area located in Tarasovichi, about 41 km north of Zhulyani Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 34 occupants were killed, among them 4 Yemen, 5 Algerians, one Ugandan and one Afghan. The five Algerians were Mustapha Ferroukhi, ambassador of FLN in Peking travelling with his wife and three children. The Ugandan citizen was John Muhima Kalekezi, president of the Uganda National Congress who was travelling to Moscow for a meeting with Nikita Khrushchev.
Probable cause:
A leak on a fuel injector caused the fuel to flow in the engine nacelle and to ignite while in contact with high temperature equipment. The fire spread to the combustion chamber, causing the engine to catch fire, to fail and eventually to detach.

Crash of a Canadair C-54GM North Star in Athens

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1959 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
17525
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo - Athens
MSN:
101
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Ellinikon Airport in Athens, a tire burst. The airplane skidded on runway for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All 26 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Following a tire burst, a fuel line was cut and fluid ignited after it contacted high temperature equipment.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Khartoum: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
TG522
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum – Cairo – London
MSN:
26
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Khartoum to London with an intermediate stop at Cairo, carrying a crew of five and 25 passengers on behalf of the 36th Squadron. After takeoff from Khartoum Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ground that the engine number two failed and received the permission to return for a safe landing. The captain made a turn to the left to join the approach path when the airplane rolled left and right and eventually banked left. In such conditions, the captain decided to shut down the engine number one he thought that was malfunctioning. While trying to maintain a stable attitude, he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed. On impact, the undercarriage and all four engines were sheared off and the aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. While all 25 passengers were injured, all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the failure of the engine number two. Technical analysis on engine number one did not reveal any issues so the decision of the pilot to shut it down was unfounded.

Crash of a Vickers 628 Viking 1B in Port Said: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AGN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Athens – Cairo
MSN:
196
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While approaching Cairo Intl Airport following an uneventful flight from Athens, the crew was instructed by ATC to divert to Port-Said due to poor weather conditions at destination. The crew continued to Port-Said and on approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the Manzala Lake located few km from the airfield. All four crew members and four passengers were killed while 18 other occupants were injured.