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

Date & Time: May 29, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
TG522
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Khartoum – Cairo – London
MSN:
26
YOM:
1948
Location:
Khartoum
Khartoum (الخرطوم)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
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 Lockheed L-749 Constellation near Khartoum

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1957 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
ET-T-35
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
London – Athens – Khartoum – Addis Ababa
MSN:
2608
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
ET003
Location:
Khartoum
Khartoum (الخرطوم)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Khartoum International Aerodrome at 0555 hours GMT on 10 July carrying a crew of 6 and 14 passengers and was cleared to cruise at 17 500 feet. At 0610 hours, at about 10 500 feet altitude, the number two engine fire warning light for zones 2 and 3 came on and the warning bell rang. The engine was feathered. The CO2 bottle was released and concurrently an explosion followed by a violent fire, made it necessary (at approximately 0620) to land the aircraft with gear up on a large flat cultivated area. There were no injuries to passengers or crew, but the aircraft was almost totally destroyed by fire which continued burning on the ground.
Probable cause:
This accident was due to the overheating of one of the brakes of the main landing gear during the aircraft's taxiing and take-off run. It was caused by a dragging brake and a leakage of hydraulic oil with resultant fire and tire blow out. The tire blow out resulted in damage to hydraulic oil and fuel lines within the confined area of No. 2 engine nacelle, between the rear of the engine fire wall and rear spar, and between the fuselage and left side of the landing gear wheel well doors.
Final Report:

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Cairo

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1952
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AHX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairo – Khartoum
MSN:
46
YOM:
1948
Location:
Cairo-Almaza
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
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 Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Khartoum

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VW164
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
334
YOM:
24
Location:
Khartoum
Khartoum (الخرطوم)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command encountered technical issues with the left engine that lost power. He decided to attempt an emergency braking procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged into a ravine before coming to rest against a house. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Technical issue on the left engine during takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Khartoum

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VX492
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Khartoum
Khartoum (الخرطوم)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the left engine suffered technical issues. The pilot-in-command informed ground and received the permission to return for a safe landing. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest against a sand dune. While all crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Partial failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster in Castel Benito: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJPL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nairobi – Khartoum – Tripoli – London
MSN:
7464
YOM:
1944
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The descent to Tripoli-Castel Benito Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and a visibility reduced to two miles. On final approach at an altitude of 700 feet, both right engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. Fifteen occupants were injured while 37 others were unarmed. Unfortunately, a crew member was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the captain to maintain a safe height by using available power on both left engines after the failure of both right engines. The reason for this failure by the captain could not be determined. The failure of both right engines was caused by a fuel starvation due to an insufficient amount of fuel in the right tank. This fuel shortage was the result of the wing tanks being allowed to become progressively unbalanced during the last stage of the flight. An attempt by the flight engineer under emergency conditions to cross feed the right engines from the left tanks failed owing to the full operation not having been completed in time.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Wadi Halfa

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-BWZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Paris – Wadi Halfa – Khartoum – Johannesburg
MSN:
9145
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wadi Halfa
Northern (الشمالية)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wadi Halfa, a fire erupted in the cockpit. The crew was unable to extinguish the fire so the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a desert area located few km from the airport. The aircraft written off while all 26 occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
The opinion was formed that the fire started in the left hand side of the pilot's compartment because of an electric short in the extension lamp, producing sufficient heat to ignite propeller deicing fluid, which, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the Committee was of opinion must have leaked from the tank behind the Commander's seat. On available evidence, the crew made all possible efforts to extinguish the fire, but the effectiveness of their actions was nullified by the restricted area of operations and the inaccessibility of the seat of the fire. In view of the direct evidence of a blue flame at the time of the conflagration, there would appear to have been a high percentage of methyl spirits in the deicing fluid. This is confirmed by tests made of deicing fluid taken from other aircraft serviced by the same maintenance organisation which did not conform with specification An-F-13.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Ed Dueim

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
African Air Cars
Registration:
VP-KDJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Khartoum – Malakal
Location:
Ed Dueim
White Nile (النيل الأبيض)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute to Malakal, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing near Ed Dueim for unknown reason. While both crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura V near Aljammalab: 15 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1947 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
6501
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Pretoria – Malakal – Khartoum – Cairo – London
Location:
Aljammalab
White Nile (النيل الأبيض)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Enroute to Khartoum, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Aljammalab, about 100 km southwest of Khartoum. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed. All of them were pilots flying to UK to take deliver of Spitfire for the SAAF.
Crew:
Maj Frederick Welgemoed, pilot,
Lt Hermanus Gerhardus van Rooyen, copilot,
Petrus Andries Burger, flight engineer,
Cpl Leslie Donovan Case, wireless operator.
Passengers:
Maj Andrew Christian Bosman, pilot,
Cpt Hendrik Christoffel Weideman Liebenberg, pilot,
Lt Ronald Leslie Crisp, pilot,
Lt Jacobus Stephanus Gericke, pilot,
Lt Robert Cecil Hirst, pilot,
Lt Hermanus Johannes Kritzinger, pilot,
Lt John Jurie Landman, pilot,
Lt Peter David Nelson, pilot,
Lt Peter Nicolay, pilot,
Lt Norman Peter Prinsloo, pilot.
Subscribe to Khartoum