Iraq | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Basra Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to sand storm. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a field located few km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed, among them Abdel Salam Mohammad Arif, President of the Republic of Iraq. He was flying with two Ministers and two Chiefs of Staff.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Sulaymānīyah: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1963

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Sulaymānīyah

As-Sulaymāniyyah (السليمانية)

Country:

Iraq

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Sulaymānīyah Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft encountered downdraft, lost height and crashed. Both pilots were killed while the passenger was injured.
Crew:
Cpt Eugene H. Patton,
Pfc Carl H. Bell.

Ground accident of a Percival P.66 Pembroke C.1 in Baghdad

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Percival P.66 Pembroke

Operator:

Registration:

WV699

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

0002

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Habbaniya, the crew completed the approach and landing at Baghdad Airport and vacated the runway to join the apron. While on a taxiway, the undercarriage were mistakenly retracted by a crew member and the airplane sank on its belly. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Error on part of a crew member who mistakenly retracted the undercarriage during taxi.

Crash of a Vickers 644 Viking 1B in Baghdad

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

YI-ABQ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

231

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

As an unexpected situation occurred during the takeoff run, the pilot-in-command decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine aircraft overran and came to rest in flames into a ravine. All 19 occupants were quickly evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Al Seeba

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

EP-ADA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Abadan – Kuwait City

MSN:

MW231

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

About eight minutes after takeoff from Abadan Airport, while on a short flight to Kuwait City, the crew was flying at an altitude of 500 feet when power was lost on engine number three and four. The propeller on engine four was feathered and the crew contacted ATC for to return to Abadan for a safe landing. As the airplane lost height, the captain eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing in a desert area located in Al Seeba, at the border between Iraq and Iran. The aircraft belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. All 13 occupants were evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

Mismanagement of the fuel pumps on part of the flying crew after departure from Abadan Airport. There was less than 100 gallons of fuel on the right tank at the time of the accident, which was not sufficient and thus considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 near Al-Mansuriya

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1955

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

YI-ABJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

MSN:

04072

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

An engine caught fire in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft crash landed near Al-Mansuriya and was destroyed. All occupants evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

An engine caught fire in flight.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide at H3 Oil Station

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1954

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Arab Contracting & Trading Company

Registration:

OD-ABH

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

H3 Oil Station - Beirut

MSN:

6469

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the engine startup, the left engine caught fire. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be destroyed by fire. The aircraft was preparing for a flight from H3 Oil Station (Southwest) located about 450 km west of Baghdad to Beirut, Lebanon.

Probable cause:

The left engine caught fire during startup.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Habbaniya AFB

Date & Time: May 3, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN543

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16399/33147

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Habbaniya AFB, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.