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Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Tamanrasset

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1978 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N189UM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oran - Tamanrasset
MSN:
6262
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
43910
Circumstances:
Landed hard at Tamanrasset-Aguenar Airport and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Hard landing for unknown reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Junkers JU.52 near Zaghouan: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4.S.5
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Oran – Bizerte
MSN:
1015
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While flying by night at an altitude of 3,600 feet, the three engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located about 10 km north of Zaghouan while on a flight from Oran to Bizerte. All 15 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Even, pilot,
Michel Hauss, pilot,
Mr. Bertin, flight engineer,
Mr. Lelionnais, radio operator.
Passengers:
Maurice Rouyer,
Raymond Le Saulnier,
Bernard Le Mancq,
Pierre Le Boulicaut,
Robert Gaudel,
Joseph Diler,
Ygnacio De Labaca,
René Automarchi,
Guy André 2.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 467 Wellington XIV off Oran: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PF996
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
973
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea five NM north of Falcon Cape, northwest off Oran while performing a maritime patrol flight. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
François Faure, pilot,
Jean Boulicaut,
René Bresson 5.

Crash of a North American B-25D-10 Mitchell near Colomb-Béchar: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1947 at 1215 LT
Registration:
41-30330
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Oran - Colomb-Béchar
MSN:
87-8495
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
2050
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1500
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Tailly 2' left Oran at 1015LT in marginal weather conditions. Enroute, due to sandstorm, the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground. Twice, the crew informed ground that his ETA in Colomb-Béchar was delayed about fifteen minutes. While descending at a too low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground near a railroad and crashed in a huge explosion about 56 km north of Colomb-Béchar. All thirteen occupants were killed, among them the French General Philippe Leclerc. Thirteen bodies were recovered and evacuated to France, but only twelve of them were identified. A thirteenth occupant, wearing a French Army uniform with the grade of Lieutenant was recovered but unidentified.
Crew:
Lt François-René Delluc, pilot,
Lt André-René Pilleboue, navigator,
Adj Jean Guillou, mechanic,
Sgt Eugène Lamotte, radio operator.
Passengers:
Gen Philippe Leclerc,
Col Théodore Fieschi,
Col Charles Clémentin,
Col Louis du Garreau de la Méchenie,
Col Paul Fouchet,
Cpt Georges Frichement,
Cdt Michel Meyrrand,
S/Lt Robert Miron de L'Espinay.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter I off Cabo de Palos: 42 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1947 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-BCJN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Marseille – Oran – Casablanca
MSN:
12788
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Circumstances:
While flying along the Spanish coast, the radio operator informed ground by radio: 'one engine stopped, are forced to ditch the aircraft'. Shortly later, the aircraft crashed into the sea some 25 km southeast off Cabo de Palos. The first rescuers arrived on site 24 hours later and were able to evacuate two survivors, the mechanic and a passenger. All 42 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Galindo, pilot,
Mr. Remy, mechanic,
Mr. Chase, mechanic,
Mr. Chanel, radio navigator,
Anne-Marie Rouannet, stewardess.
Probable cause:
As the aircraft quickly sank by a significant depth, a recovery was not possible and only few debris were found. Due to lack of evidence, and based on the testimony of both survivors, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura V in the Mediterranean Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FP633
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oran - Oran
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by mistake by a RAF Beaufighter and crashed into the sea. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (500th Squadron):
F/O Wayne Sheldon Shea,
F/O Vernon Clifford Pockson,
P/O Frederick Joseph Schmidt,
W/O Henry Ernest Parsloe,
Sgt John Philip Taylor.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Algiers: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1943 at 1000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-7811
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Algiers – Oran
MSN:
4310
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after departure from Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport, while cruising over the Mediterranean Sea, the right engine caught fire. The captain ordered the crew to bail out but the aircraft lost height rapidly and crashed into the sea some 35 km west of Algiers. The crew of a French fishing boat was able to rescue three crew members while seven others were killed. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew killed were:
1st Lt Ernest W. Dvorak,
Pvt Gomer Jones,
1st Lt Jerome B. Jordan Jr.,
1st Lt Michael J. Lagio,
2nd Lt Rachel H. Sheridan,
1st Lt John R. Southerlin,
S/Sgt George Vilen.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine fire.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13A off Oran

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AFCZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alicante - Oran
MSN:
3
YOM:
1923
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching the Algerian coast, the crew encountered engine problems and attempted to ditch the aircraft few km offshore. The airplane landed on rough sea and was badly damaged. Both crew and both passengers were rescued by the crew of the French ship named 'Capitaine-Faure' while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Marceau Méresse, pilot,
Jean Le Duff, radio.
Passengers:
Mr. Plamont,
Mr. Doerfinger.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Breguet 14A.2 in Rabat: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ALRA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Casablanca - Oran
MSN:
7334.18
YOM:
1920
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed near Rabat, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-134 off Oran

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AHAL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alicante – Oran
MSN:
34
YOM:
1925
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Oran, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. While both crew were uninjured, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Robert Collet, pilot,
Paul Morvan, radio.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.