Crash of a Douglas A-26 Invader off Gibraltar: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rabat – Istres
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean Sea off Gibraltar while performing a flight from Rabat to Istres.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E in Los Barrios: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
F-BENG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bordeaux – Gibraltar – Casablanca
MSN:
12812
YOM:
1947
Location:
Algeciras
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Gibraltar, while climbing to an altitude of 2,500 to 3,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in Los Barrios, northwest of Algeciras. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Bordeaux to Casablanca with an intermediate stop in Gibraltar. The aircraft was carrying a load of four tons of various goods.
Probable cause:
The published procedure for a departure from runway 27 at Gibraltar Airport states that crews have to make a turn to the left after takeoff in order to avoid the mountains near Algeciras. For unknown reason, the crew continued a straight in climb out after lift off, causing the aircraft to hit the mountain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DL in Oviedo

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGHK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gibraltar – London
MSN:
9406
YOM:
1943
Location:
Oviedo
Principality of Asturias
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute from Gibraltar to London, the crew encountered an engine failure. The captain contacted ATC and decided to divert to Oviedo Airport. After touchdown with one engine inoperative, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All occupants escaped unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Gibraltar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
FH280
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Gibraltar Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. The captain was able to ditch the aircraft and six occupants were rescued while a passenger died. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax B.III off Gibraltar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax III
Operator:
Registration:
PN387
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar – London
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Gibraltar, controls jammed. Eight crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the sea some 6 miles off the Trinity Lighthouse. These eight crewmen plus another one were found alive while four others were killed.
Probable cause:
Controls jammed on takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15162
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar - St Mawgan
MSN:
19628
YOM:
1944
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew left Gibraltar bound for RAF Newquay-St Mawgan, Cornwall. En route, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions and likely crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. No trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was ever found.

Crash of an Avro 685 York in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW119
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Northolt - Gibraltar
MSN:
MW119
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, during the last segment, the captain decided to go around. The aircraft hit the runway surface, went out of control and came to rest into the sea. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while there was no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota III into the Atlantic Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
FD903
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lyneham – Gibraltar
MSN:
9625
YOM:
1943
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Lyneham at 2230LT on a transit flight to Gibraltar but failed to arrive. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found and it is believed it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean or the Bay of Biscay.
Crew (512th Squadron):
W/Cdr Patrick E. Hadow,
F/O R. L. Hammill,
LAC Charles W. Summers,
W/O Cyril Frederick Dean Steel.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Atlantic Ocean: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
DW106
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock – Gibraltar
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
19
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The seaplane left RAF Pembroke Dock at 2345LT on December 18 on a routine flight to Gibraltar with 19 crew members on board (two complete crews and reinforcements to the squadron as passengers). While cruising by night some 30 miles off the Saint-Vincent Cape located on the southwest coast of Portugal, the crew was able to send a distress IFF signal that was received by the crew of a second Short Sunderland which was following DW106. Despite intense SAR operations, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (270th Squadron):
F/O Vernon Maurice Sparkes,
F/Sgt Charles Albert Mark Barber,
F/Lt John Eric Wood,
F/Sgt Frederic Raymond Brown,
F/O Edward James Jay,
F/Sgt Francis Mcphee,
F/O Reginald Robert Terance Crump,
F/Sgt Eric Piggott Botting,
P/O Neil Procter Chapman,
F/O Norman Edmond Hanna,
Sgt Stanley Kidd,
F/O Raymond John Elderfield,
Sgt William Henry Cryer,
Sgt William Peter Houston,
Sgt Henry Leonard Thompson,
Sgt Maurice Robert Hunt,
Sgt Edmund Albert Hooker,
Sgt Samuel Hughes,
F/Sgt Leslie Robinson.
Source:
http://www.landinportugal.org/air_pages/a01_copy(133).htm

Crash of a Douglas C-47 Dakota III off RAF Portreath: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FL515
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Portreath – Gibraltar
MSN:
10098
YOM:
1943
Location:
Portreath AFB
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from RAF Portreath, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed into the sea one mile off shore. The aircraft sank and all 12 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that cargo shifted after take off, but this was not confirmed.
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