Gambia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following an uneventful flight from Las Palmas, the crew started the descent to Banjul-Yundum Airport. The visibility was limited due to the night and poor weather conditions with low clouds and heavy rain falls from a tropical storm. On final approach, the aircraft crashed 4,300 metres short of runway 32. The wreckage was found 800 metres to the right of the extended centerline. A passenger was seriously injured while nine other occupants, among them German tourists, were killed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Bathurst: 24 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1946 at 0410 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHEW

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Montevideo – Buenos Aires

MSN:

1300

YOM:

1946

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft arrived in Bathurst at 0243LT from Lisbon and the crew was changed. The departure was performed at 0408LT in fair weather conditions. Two minutes later, while in initial climb, the aircraft failed to gain height and hit few trees with its left wing. It then banked left and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 3 km from the airport. The aircraft christened 'Star Leader' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control during initial climb was probably due to a mishandling of the controls on behalf of the pilot in command. It was confirmed by investigations that it was the captain's first York flight on a scheduled service, and it was also the first takeoff he made in a York loaded to more than 69,000 lb.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Bathurst

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Avro 691 Lancastrian

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGWJ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Montevideo – Buenos Aires

MSN:

1282

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon touchdown, the aircraft lost its undercarriage, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Star Glow' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Bathurst: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1943 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

JM710

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bathurst - Bathurst

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a night training sortie out of Bathurst, Gambia. On approach, while completing a last turn to the left, the seaplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion into the sea. All nine crewmen were killed.
Crew (208th Squadron):
F/O J. G. Finney, pilot,
F/O S. B. Cuthbert, copilot,
F/Sgt R. G. Craig, flight engineer,
Sgt R. D. Britton, navigator,
Sgt G. Weston, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt B. S. Evans, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt E. C. Hobbins, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt H. Revell, fitter and air gunner,
F/Sgt R. B. Billows, air gunner.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident is obscure. The aircraft crashed whilst turning on its circuit prior to landing. A possible cause was that the Pilot with not much night flying experience returned to RAF Bathurst whilst the weather conditions were not ideal, and the aircraft stalled in its turn. It was thought that the pilot was about to make his run up the flare path to set the gyro, as is normal practice, and stalled in the turn.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-120 in Bathurst: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

NC14279

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1312

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Bathurst Airport, the airplane crashed few km short of runway. All three crew members were killed. The aircraft was to be delivered to the Royal Air Force in Gambia and was still registered to the US Department of the Treasury at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Junkers JU.90V2 in Bathurst: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1938 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.90

Operator:

Registration:

D-AIVI

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Bathurst – Dakar – Las Palmas – Marseille – Francfort

MSN:

4914

YOM:

1937

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Shortly after take off from Bathurst Airport, while in initial climb, both left engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft named 'Preussen' stalled, collided with a palm and crashed, bursting into flames. Three passengers were seriously injured and 12 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Robert Untucht, pilot,
Joachim Blankenburg, pilot.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Dornier DO.18E off Bathurst: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1938 at 0338 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.18

Operator:

Registration:

D-AROZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Natal – Bathurst

MSN:

255

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

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The float plane named 'Pampero' crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean few minutes prior to its arrival in Bathurst, Gambia. No trace was ever found.
Crew:
FF1 Hans Erich Lochner,
FF2 Albin Hartmann,
Bw Werner Schwanke,
Bf Gerhard Rabe,
Dr. Ernst Dierbach.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111/V2b in Bathurst: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

D-ALIX

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Las Palmas - Bathurst

MSN:

715

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane named 'Rostock' was on a cargo flight from Germany to South America via Las Palmas and Bathurst. On final approach to Bathurst in foggy conditions, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Viereck, pilot,
Hans Herrmann, copilot,
Mr. Pickner, radio operator,
Mr. Rebentrost, mechanic.