Oran-Es Senia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Radar and radio contacts were lost while the aircraft was flying over the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Oran to Toulouse. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned six days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. It is believed that the aircraft crashed into the sea south of Balearic Islands.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-55-DL Invader in Algeria: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34411/F-UIJD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Oran - Oran

MSN:

27690

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

The crew left Oran-Es Senia Airport on a night patrol flight over the Morice Line located in the east part of Algeria. While cruising by night in formation with a second Douglas A-26 registered 44-35765 (F-UIJH), both airplanes collided and crashed, killing all eight occupants on both aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-45-DT Invader in Algeria: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-35765/F-UIJH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Oran - Oran

MSN:

29044

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

The crew left Oran-Es Senia Airport on a night patrol flight over the Morice Line located in the east part of Algeria. While cruising by night in formation with a second Douglas A-26 registered 44-34411 (F-UIJD), both airplanes collided and crashed, killing all eight occupants on both aircraft.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-6 Neptune in Oran: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

22.F.4

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oran - Oran

MSN:

6026

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Shortly after takeoff from Oran-Es Senia Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed 3 km from the airfield. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK into the Balearic Sea: 39 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1951 at 1228 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Société de Transports Aériens Alpes Provence - STAAP

Registration:

F-BEIZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Toulouse – Perpignan – Oran

MSN:

15985/32733

YOM:

1945

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The pilot prepared an IFR flight plan for a direct flight from Perpignan to Oran, at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the duration to be 3 hours and 15 minutes. Algiers was listed as the alternate. At 1045LT the crew requested take-off instructions from Perpignan control tower and following engine run-up, a normal take-off was made at 1045LT. After taking-off the aircraft was seen climbing away, somewhat off the SSE heading (this is the conventional procedure, consisting in flying round Cape Creus in order to avoid the Alberes mountains before heading for Oran. At 1056LT the aircraft made radiotelegraphy contact with Perpignan navigational D/F and reported true track: 202 degrees, good visibility, altitude: 8,000 feet and a magnetic bearing (QDR) was requested. At 1058LT the D/F station transmitted a QDR of 1620 and reported in its log strong interference caused by static. At 1131LT the aircraft contacted Aix area control centre and reported Barcelona abeam. At 1200LT the aircraft contacted Algiers area control centre and reported ETA at Oran 1415LT, altitude 8,000 feet, flying sometimes below and sometimes in clouds (QBH-QBF) and reported static interference and requested a true bearing from Algiers (QTE). Algiers replied at 1158LT QTE = 3320. At 1216LT the aircraft reported position at 1208LT hours was 40°N 25°E, ETA Oran 1410LT. At 1226LT, the last message was received from the aircraft, bearing on Algiers 3170, altitude 8,000 feet, flying in cloud and requested clearance to descend to 6,000 feet. About two minutes later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into sea, about 60 km north of Cap de la Nau and about 50 km northwest of the Ibiza Island. Few debris and dead bodies were found four days later. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and sank, and all 39 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Meteorological conditions encountered on the day of the accident were in accordance with the forecast transmitted to the crew during the stopover in Perpignan. They were considered acceptable to a smart commander but were likely to be risky for a crew whose experience was considered to be low, which was the case at the present time. In the absence of evidence, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed that the accident was caused by the failure of the airframe following a loss of control in difficult weather conditions into which the pilot had flown the aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Oran: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

56.S.37

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oran - Oran

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Shortly after takeoff from Oran-Es Senia Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed for unknown reason. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (56S Squadron):
1QM Marcel Fustec,
2Mot Lyonel François.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan off Perpignan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1948

Type of aircraft:

AAC.1 Toucan

Operator:

Société de Transports Aériens - STA

Registration:

F-BBYC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oran – Perpignan – Lyon

MSN:

223

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The three engine aircraft departed Oran-Es Senia Airport at 1530LT on a cargo flight to Lyon via Perpignan, carrying a load of vegetables. En route, the airplane crashed in the Gulf of Lion about 90 km east of Perpignan for unknown reason. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Screka, pilot,
Mr. Pelletier, radio operator,
Mr. Prado, mechanic.
Passenger:
Mr. Saada.

Crash of a Dewoitine D.338 near Corsavy: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1938 at 2000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dewoitine D.338

Operator:

Registration:

F-AQBB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Dakar – Casablanca – Oran – Toulouse – Paris

MSN:

YOM:

1937

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Circumstances:

While cruising over the Pyrénées Mountains, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility caused by heavy snow falls. At an altitude of 2,100 metres, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of the Cinq Croix Peak, exploded and came to rest the 'Ravin de la Prison', near the Las Indis Mines, some 35 km southwest of Perpignan. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Henri Guy, pilot,
André Leymarios, radio navigator,
Etienne Duthuron, engineer.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Sabca S.73 in Oran: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1937 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Sabca S.73

Operator:

Registration:

OO-AGR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Elisabethville – Gao – Aguelhok – Reggane – Colomb-Béchar – Oran – Brussels

MSN:

YOM:

1936

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Colomb-Béchar at 1510LT on the leg to Oran. On approach to Oran-Es Senia Airport, while flying at a height of some 2,500 feet below the clouds, the three engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed some 10 km short of runway. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Marcel Liedts, pilot,
Auguste Closset, copilot,
Roger Maerschalk, radio operator,
René Verfaillie, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Mrs. Gueldoof,
Mr. Bossaert,
Mr. Thommes,
Mr. & Mrs. Dieudonné,
Mr. Pirsoul,
Mr. Gullmin +1.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as good and the airplane was flying below the clouds when control was lost. Any technical anomalies with the engines was ruled out.