Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 into the Mediterranean Sea: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1101
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Damascus – Cairo
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The Ilyushin was returning to Cairo on a flight from Damascus, carrying several members of the Egyptian Air Force and Air Defence Command. While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the aircraft was intercepted by a Gloster Meteor NF.13 belonging to the Israel Air Force. The Israel Secret Services have been informed about the presence on board of the Egyptian General Abed al-Hakim Amar and order was given to shot down the aircraft. The crew of the Meteor (one pilot and one navigator) attacked the Ilyushin several times and the aircraft went out of control and eventually crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, killing all on board. It was later confirmed by the Egyptian Authorities that the General Amar was not on board.
Probable cause:
Shut down by an Israeli fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 634 Viking 1B in Cairo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AFO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo - Cairo
MSN:
212
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a 1,000 hours maintenance check, the twin engine airplane christened 'Tutankhamun' was involved in a 3 minutes test flight with two pilots and two technicians on board. On final approach to runway 32, the crew voluntarily shot down the left engine and feathered its propeller to conduct an asymmetric landing. It is believed the aircraft was unstable as it landed too long, in the last third of the runway. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go around and increased power on the right engine when the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. Three crew members were killed while a fourth occupant was seriously injured.

Crash of a Vickers 634 Viking 1B in Cairo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AFK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairo – Luxor
MSN:
213
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances few minutes after takeoff from Cairo-Almaza Airport, killing all six occupants.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A in Rome

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1952 at 1756 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALYZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Rome – Cairo – Johannesburg
MSN:
6012
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger service from London to Johannesburg. The flight from London Airport to Rome was without incident. During the take-off from Rome on the second stage, the aircraft's normal speed failed to build up and after becoming airborne for a few seconds, the Captain's immediate reaction was that there was a lack of engine thrust. He throttled back the engines at the same time as the aircraft came to rest near the airport boundary, and the aircraft sustained considerable damage and two passengers were slightly injured. For take-off the aircraft was taxied to Runway 16 and lined up on the centre line; all pre-take-off checks were made and the elevator, aileron and rudder trim were set at the neutral position. The Captain's estimation of runway visibility was 5 miles but with no horizon. The flaps were lowered to 15" and the windscreen wipers were both operating. The engines were opened up to full power and the isolation switches were set to "Isolate'. The RPM were checked at 10 250 on all engines; fuel flows, engine temperatures and pressures were reported to be correct. The brakes were released and the aircraft made a normal acceleration. At an IAS of 75-80 knots, the nose wheel was lifted from the runway and a slight tendency to swing to starboard was corrected. At an IAS of 112 knots, the Captain lifted the aircraft from the ground by a positive backward movement of the control column and when he considered that the aircraft had reached a safe height he called for "undercarriage up". At about the same instant the port wing dropped rather violently and the aircraft swung to port; the controls gave normal response and lateral level was regained. At this point the Captain realized that the aircraft's speed was not building up, although he made no reference to the ASI. A pronounced buffeting was felt which he associated with the onset of a stall and in spite of two corrective movements of the control column the buffeting continued. Before the First Officer had time to select undercarriage up, the aircraft came down on its main landing wheels and bounced. It was now plainly evident to the Captain that the aircraft's speed was not increasing and he was convinced that there was a considerable loss of engine thrust. He was also aware that the aircraft was rapidly approaching the end of the runway and a decision to abandon the take-off was made. The undercarriage struck a mound of earth as he was closing the throttles and the aircraft slid for some 270 yards over rough ground. The main undercarriages were wrenched off and considerable damage resulted; a large spillage of fuel occurred but fire did not break out. One passenger suffered slight shock and another sustained a cut finger.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to an error of judgment by the Captain in not appreciating the excessive nose-up attitude of the aircraft during the take-off.
Final Report:

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Cairo

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AHX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo – Khartoum
MSN:
46
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Khartoum, a technical issue occurred on the engine number one. The pilot informed ATC about his situation and position and elected to return to Cairo-Almaza Airport. Shortly later, he was forced to shut down the engine number one and to feather the propeller. The aircraft belly landed at Almaza Airport and came to rest on runway 36. All 38 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the failure of the engine number one could not be determined with certainty. However, it would appear that the pilot showed a poor knowledge of the airplane, especially on the following items:
- The fire warning system had not operated nor had the automatic extinguishers, indicating that the nacelle temperature could not have risen appreciably. The extinguisher had been manually operated.
- He should not have restarted the defective motor after a fire and with almost a full load.
- If the main undercarriage systems had failed to function, he should have operated the first and the second emergency systems.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749 Constellation on the Mont-Blanc: 48 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1950 at 1043 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CQP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bombay – Cairo – Geneva – London
MSN:
2506
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
AI109
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
48
Captain / Total hours on type:
1745.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4052
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Malabar Princess' left Cairo-Almaza Airport at 0209LT on a direct flight to Geneva, completing an international service from Bombay to London, carrying 40 passengers and a crew of 8. All passengers were Indian and Pakistani marines who were joining their boat based in the harbor of Newcastle upon Tyne. About 20 minutes before its estimated time of arrival in Geneva-Cointrin Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 15,500 feet, the crew informed ATC that he was flying over Grenoble. The radio officer at Geneva Airport misbelieved this position and asked the crew to switch on 333 kHz for a direction finding check. The crew never contacted this frequency and the aircraft disappeared shortly later. As the airplane failed to arrive at Geneva Airport, SAR operations were conducted by the French, Swiss and Italian Authorities. The wreckage was found two days later, Sunday November 5, at an altitude of 4,671 meters, on the Rocher de la Tournette, about 300 meters from the Vallot Refuge. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 48 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, a strong wind was blowing from the west and it is believed that the crew misinterpreted his position. The crew believed he was overflying Grenoble when in reality, the aircraft was approximately 111 km northeast of Grenoble, vertical to the Mont-Blanc Mountain range. In 1950, the area control center of Geneva-Cointrin was not equipped with a surveillance radar system. The only available systems were a medium-frequency direction finder and transmitters on shortwave (HF) with 4 available frequencies. At that time, Air India did not use the route Genoa - Torino - Geneva to avoid the Alps and preferred to fly the Nice - Gap - Grenoble - Geneva path marked by broadcast stations (BC) which unfortunately did not transmitted 24 hours a day. It appears that the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain mostly caused by unfavorable wind.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Caro: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1948
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on final approach to Cairo-Almaza Airport, killing three crew members and injured six others.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan near Wadi El Rayan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-BCHD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Paris – Cairo
MSN:
311
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Cairo, the crew continued to the south for unknown reason. Few minutes later, due to fuel shortage, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in the djebel Kalamoun located near Wadi El Rayan, southwest of Faiyum. The three engine aircraft crash landed in a desert area and came to rest. A passenger was killed while 23 other occupants were rescued.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster VII near Khoms: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NX690
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Saint Mawgan – Cairo
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
While flying over Tripolitan on a flight from St Mawgan to Cairo, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed about 10 km west of Khoms. All 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft was hit by lightning while flying in a thunderstorm area.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson XII in Cairo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ADJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1272
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cairo-Almaza Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. Both pilots and four passengers were killed while three others were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.