Libya

Site:

Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)

Schedule:

Nairobi – Khartoum – Tripoli – London

MSN:

7464

YOM:

1944

Location:

Tripoli (طرابلس)

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Tripoli-Castel Benito Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and a visibility reduced to two miles. On final approach at an altitude of 700 feet, both right engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. Fifteen occupants were injured while 37 others were unarmed. Unfortunately, a crew member was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the captain to maintain a safe height by using available power on both left engines after the failure of both right engines. The reason for this failure by the captain could not be determined. The failure of both right engines was caused by a fuel starvation due to an insufficient amount of fuel in the right tank. This fuel shortage was the result of the wing tanks being allowed to become progressively unbalanced during the last stage of the flight. An attempt by the flight engineer under emergency conditions to cross feed the right engines from the left tanks failed owing to the full operation not having been completed in time.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGJD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)

Schedule:

Castel Benito – London

MSN:

1210

YOM:

1944

Location:

Tripoli (طرابلس)

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run, the aircraft was caught by a strong crosswind gust and slewed across the runway. The captain over-corrected and the aircraft ran off the runway on the opposite side and rolled over on the grass, breaking in two in the process. There were no injuries but all the passengers were suspended upside down in their seats by their seatbelts. The only reason they all got out was that, mercifully, the York didn’t catch fire despite being full of fuel for the sector it was starting.
Thanks to Andy Frish for his testimony and pictures.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster VII near Khoms: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

NX690

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Saint Mawgan – Cairo

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over Tripolitan on a flight from St Mawgan to Cairo, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed about 10 km west of Khoms. All 25 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed the aircraft was hit by lightning while flying in a thunderstorm area.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in El Adem

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGIY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

MSN:

12102

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK Dakota C.3 in El Adem: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KG598

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

El Adem - El Adem

MSN:

13329

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training flight at El Adem Airport. On final approach, according to the training program, the instructor abandoned the landing procedure and attempted a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears that the aircraft stalled at a critical stage of flight when the crew inadvertently raised the flaps instead of the landing gear while they were attempting a go around procedure. Due to the loss of lift, the aircraft stalled and crashed.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling V in Castel Benito: 29 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1945 at 2345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Registration:

PJ950

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)

Location:

Tripoli (طرابلس)

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff by night from Castel Benito, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on a sand dune located near the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while 28 other occupants were killed. All passengers were returning to England on behalf of the Air Transport Command.
Crew (158th Squadron):
F/Lt Claude Robert Wilson, pilot,
F/Lt Peter Austin Finnett, navigator,
F/O Ernest Leo Hill, pilot,
F/O Sidney Hodges, pilot,
F/Lt Frank William Kenrick, pilot,
F/O George Frederick Phillipson, flight engineer,
F/Lt Leonard Simpson, navigator.
Passengers:
Gun Victor Charles Acourt,
Gun William Beardsley,
Pvt James William Merritt Belk,
Gun Henry Benjamin Butler,
Gun George Ward Chapman,
Gun Ronald William Dobson,
Gun Donald James Elliott,
Sgt Cyril Flannery,
Gun Thomas George Gregory,
Gun Leonard Kemp,
Gun Albert McGrath,
Gun Walter Marshall,
William Moncur,
Trp Peter Owens,
Gun Alfred Eric Roberts,
Gun Andrew Ross,
Gun Frank Shepherd,
Gun John Henry Telford,
Gun Henry Turvey,
Sig John William Walter Wilson,
Gun Denzil Young.

Probable cause:

The aircraft was seen on fire shortly after rotation and it is believed that one of both left engines exploded shortly after liftoff, maybe due to a leak on a fuel line, a loose connection or a leak on a tank. Unfortunately, investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident due to the total destruction of the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota C.4 in El Adem

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN698

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Transport Aérien Militaire (TAM)

MSN:

16666/33414

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Two minutes after its night takeoff from El Adem Airport, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and burnt, 4 km northwest of the airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Tripoli: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

FC-AXM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site: