Region
Europe

Crash of a Lockheed MC-130H Hercules near Gramsh: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 2005 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
87-0127
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tirana - Tirana
MSN:
5118
YOM:
1987
Location:
Gramsh
Elbasan
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Group based at RAF Mildenhall, the four engine aircraft departed Tirana-Rinas Airport in the evening for a night training mission with the Albanian Army. While flying at low height, about 300 feet above the ground by night and using night-vision goggles, the crew elected to gain height while approaching a ridge. Unable to climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in hilly and snow covered terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident investigation board determined that the crew's loss of situational awareness placed the aircraft in too low a climb with respect to the surrounding mountainous terrain. Responding to the situation, the crew did not use all available power and stalled the aircraft during a turning climb. This resulted in a loss of aircraft control and almost immediate crash.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130 Hercules in Kukës

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1999
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
XV298
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4264
YOM:
1968
Location:
Kukës
Kukës
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the night of 11 June 1999, RAF Hercules XV298 was tasked to collect personnel and equipment from Kukes airstrip, Albania. The aircraft flew from Italy and landed on the unlit airstrip using normal Night Vision Goggle (NVG) procedures. The crew had been briefed that there would be sufficient runway remaining from the pickup point to the end of the airstrip. The crew were unable to see the end of the airstrip as artificial lighting in the near distance interfered with their night vision goggles. After loading personnel and equipment it began its takeoff run along the remaining available runway, but soon hit a fence and several other ground obstacles. XV298 slowed then veered to the right, suffering severe damage to its right wing before stopping. Fuel leakage from the damaged wing ignited and the subsequent fire destroyed much of the aircraft.
Probable cause:
The Board quickly discounted aircraft performance or serviceability as factors in the accident, concluding that the take-off distance was insufficient for the aircraft to get airborne safely . This was partly due to anomalies in the operating instructions for tactical landing zone operations which were contained in three separate documents - one used by the aircrew, one for personnel training, and the other used by the airstrip marking party. Consequently each party had different expectations as to what procedure would be followed, which in turn led to the airstrip markings having been laid out differently to those briefed to the aircrew . Further, the Board established that the airstrip data used to plan the sortie was significantly different from the actual airstrip dimensions ; and also concluded that reduced night vision goggle performance contributed to the accident. The Board of Inquiry concluded that the accident was caused because the take-off distance was insufficient for the aircraft to get airborne safely.

Crash of a Breda Ba.44 in Pogradec

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1941 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Breda Ba.44
Operator:
Registration:
I-EURO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tirana - Tirana
MSN:
4304
YOM:
1934
Location:
Pogradec
Korçë
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tirana Airport to proceed with an inspection of various airfields recently left by the Greek Army. En route, it was attacked by enemy fire and the crew made an emergency landing in a prairie. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Koritsa

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1390
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8673
YOM:
1938
Location:
Koritsa
Korçë
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by ground fire and crash landed near Koritsa. All three crew members became PoW.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Breda Ba.44 near Tirana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1941 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Breda Ba.44
Operator:
Registration:
MM60426
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4303
YOM:
1934
Location:
Tirana
Tirana
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances some 15 minutes after takeoff from Tirana Airport. All three crew members were killed. First registered I-ORSA by Ala Littoria then MM60426 by Regia Aeronautica.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Këlcyrë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8536
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Këlcyrë
Gjirokastër
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While engaged in an operation over Valona (Vlorë), at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the bomber was shot down by the pilot of a CR.42 and later crashed near Këlcyrë. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Luke Sylvester Delaney, pilot,
Sgt Vynor Pollard, observer,
Sgt Thomas Alexander McCord, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Vlorë

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1487
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8770
YOM:
1939
Location:
Vlorë
Vlorë
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Vlorë. All three crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Robert Douglas Bobby Campbell, pilot,
Sgt J. H. Beharrel, observer,
Sgt R. Appleyard, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near Vlorë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1540
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8823
YOM:
1939
Location:
Vlorë
Vlorë
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Vlorë, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Sidney Lewis Bennett,
Sgt William Henry Tunstall,
Sgt Leslie Ronald France.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Vlorë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Vlorë
Vlorë
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed in Vlorë. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Vlorë: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
K7104
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Elefsina - Elefsina
MSN:
8057
YOM:
1937
Location:
Vlorë
Vlorë
Country:
Albania
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed into the sea off Vlorë. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Harry Duncan Card, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Pease, observer,
Sgt Graham Edgar Bygrave, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.
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