Libya | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising over Libya by night and in good weather conditions, one the right engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in the desert but while descending, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames some 150 km southeast of Tobruk. All 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to officials, a fire with very high intensity broke out on one of both right engines and quickly spread to the right wing that separated during the descent, causing the plane to crash.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK141

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

7388

YOM:

1941

Location:

Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)

Tripoli (طرابلس)

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft skidded, veered off runway and came to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapse on landing.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-25-CO Liberator in Libya: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1943 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-24301

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Soluch - Soluch

MSN:

1096

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a bombing mission over Naples, Italy, the aircraft failed to return to its base in Soluch, Libya. During the back trip, the crew radioed he lost his automatic direction finder and requested ground vector. Due to poor visibility, the crew overflew Soluch Airport and continued to the south. Two hours later, due to fuel exhaustion, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The four-engine aircraft continued for 26 km to the south before crashing in the Calanshio Sand Sea, about 710 km southeast of Soluch. USAF authorities thought that the aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea and the SAR operations were unable to find any trace of the aircraft or the crew. On November 9, 1958, a British oil exploration team located the crash site for the first time. Five bodies were found in May 1960 dozen km away from the wreckage.

Probable cause:

According to the Graves Registration Service, the aircraft flew on a 150 degree course toward Benina Airfield (Soluch Airport). The craft radioed for a directional reading from the HF/DF station at Benina and received a reading of 330 degrees from Benina. The actions of the pilot in flying 440 miles into the desert, however, indicate the navigator probably took a reciprocal reading off the back of the radio directional loop antenna from a position beyond and south of Benina but on course. The pilot flew into the desert, thinking he was still over the Mediterranean and on his way to Benina.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Sedada

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5841

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the take off roll, a tyre burst. Severe vibrations caused the undercarriage to collapse and the aircraft slid on runway before coming to rest. While all occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Tyre burst on take off.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Benghazi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

FK367

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

7422

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea when the aircraft was shot down by mistake by the pilot of a RAF Spitfire and crashed into the sea. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 in Benghazi

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.82

Operator:

Registration:

I-BENI

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Destroyed following an accident in Benghazi. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 in Benghazi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1504

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed for unknown reasons at Benghazi Airport. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Fw Martin Bär, pilot, †
Uffz Wolfgang Wetzel, observer,
Ogefr Karl Bartuneck, radio operator,
Uffz Herbert Bier, air gunner. †

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Tripoli: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1942 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7271

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Luqa - Luqa

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Luqa on an operation to Tripoli. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed east of the city. Two crew members were killed and a third became PoW.
Crew.
F/Lt Edwin Fox, pilot, †
P/O Robert Edwin Taylor, observer, †
Sgt Andrew Lorimer Pepper, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Zāwiyat Masūs: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5811

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

El Adem – Zāwiyat Masūs

MSN:

SH.4

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Approaching Zāwiyat Masūs at night, the airplane was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. A crew was killed and seven others became PoW.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Sgt Anthony Edward Carter, †
F/O Frank Edward Wilcox,
F/O J. N. G. Bateman,
Sgt J. R. Bell,
LAC L. D. F. Llewellyn,
AC1 W. Hutchison,
F/Lt E. G. L. Pelling,
LAC E. W. Walker.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.