Crash of a Handley Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 207 near Damascus: 54 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1965 at 2320 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JY-ACQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Beirut – Amman
MSN:
170
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
54
Captain / Total flying hours:
7453
Captain / Total hours on type:
1053.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2021
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1161
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Beirut International Airport, Lebanon, at 1955 hours GMT on a non-scheduled international flight to Amman, Jordan. The aircraft was cleared to climb to and maintain FL 135 according to the flight plan submitted. At 2014 hours the aircraft reported to Damascus Centre over Dakweh at FL 120 climbing to FL 135 and estimating Damascus beacon at 2019 hours. The aircraft having not reported over that beacon by 2020 hours, the Damascus Centre controller initiated a series of calls which were not answered by the aircraft. At 2035 hours, a telephone call indicated that an aircraft flying west to east was seen on fire and had crashed half-way between the Syrian border and Damascus. It was subsequently found that this was the subject aircraft, and that it had crashed at approximately 2016 hours on a 45° slope of a mountain at a height of 4 200 ft AMSL on a heading of 340°. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 54 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was structural failure of the fuselage in flight. The structural failure of the fuselage occurred before any fire broke out. Although witnesses stated that they saw the aircraft on fire in the air, no positive evidence of fire in flight could be found in the wreckage. If such evidence did exist, it must have been destroyed by the ground fire. There was no evidence of any explosive object or materials having been placed in the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Damascus

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YK-ADA
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3101
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Damascus Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Hamāh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YK-AEB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aleppo – Hamāh – Damascus
MSN:
43749
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While taking off from Hamāh Airport, the four engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. A passenger died while 29 other occupants were evacuated. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Kameshli

Date & Time: May 6, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ALP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo – Damascus – Aleppo – Kameshli
MSN:
14662/26107
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kameshli Airport, the aircraft was too low, struck the ground 300 meters short of runway threshold and came to rest in flames. All seven occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Aleppo: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
YK-AAE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Aleppo – Damascus
MSN:
14917/26362
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Aleppo Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. It is believed that both engines failed and that control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed 25 km from the airport, killing all 19 occupants.

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Damascus

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AHZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo – Damascus
MSN:
19
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Damascus Airport, while completing the check-list, the crew noted that the three green lights related to the undercarriage were not green. The captain requested confirmation to the controller based in the tower who confirmed that all three landing gear were down. On touchdown, the rain main gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries among the 22 occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing. It appears it was down but not locked for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet in Damascus

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-57781
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
10151
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff at Mezzeh AFB, Damascus. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Syria

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGOP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Haifa – Damascus
MSN:
6873
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Damascus, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a desert area located in the southeast of Syria. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Al Mayadin: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1947 at 0140 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N88845
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
New York – Los Angeles – Honolulu – Tokyo – Calcutta – Karachi – Istanbul – London – Gander – Shannon – New York
MSN:
2045
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
PA121
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
12768
Captain / Total hours on type:
1009.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3178
Copilot / Total hours on type:
674
Aircraft flight hours:
2645
Circumstances:
Flight 121 departed from Karachi at 1537 June 18, 1947, for a return trip to the United States. The climb to the cruising altitude of 18,500 feet was routine, and the flight was proceeding “direct” to Istanbul, the first intended point of landing, estimating its arrival there to be 0208 the next day. Five hours after take-off trouble developed in the No. 1 engine, and the No. 1 propeller was feathered. The captain, J H. Hart, decided to continue to Istanbul with the use of three engines, however, it soon became evident that at an altitude of 18,500 feet the airspeed obtainable was not sufficient to provide adequate cooling for the engines. even though climb power was applied. Power was accordingly reduced and altitude was gradually lost. At 17,500 feet the engines still overheated and the descent was continued to 10,000 feet. At 2140, approximately one hour after the failure of engine No 1, the flight advised its company radio in Karachi of the engine trouble, following which it reported its 2200 position. This report placed the aircraft at 14,000 feet, 50 miles east of Baghdad, Iraq, and 90 miles east of the Royal Air Force Field at Habbaniya, Iraq Shortly after this report Habbaniya Tower was advised by the flight that its approximate position was over Baghdad. at an altitude of 10,000 feet, and the flight requested Habbaniya Tower to inform the civilian airfields in their area that the aircraft was proceeding with the use of only three engines to Istanbul Habbaniya Tower replied, stating that no airfields would be open until dawn, and suggested that an emergency landing be made at Habbaniya Flight 121, however, affirmed Its intention to continue, and added that if it were impossible to reach Istanbul, a landing would be made at Damascus, Syria Habbaniya Tower answered, at 2225, that all airfields in the Damascus area were closed until 0400 and again suggested that the flight land at Habbaniya. The flight again stated that It would continue to Istanbul, but that it would turn back to Habbaniya if it experienced any more trouble. Contemporaneous with this communication to Habbaniya Tower the flight sent a message, received in Karachi, and relayed to Damascus, requesting that Damascus Radio be alerted to stand by, and that the airport be opened. At 2308, June 18, Damascus Radio was on the air, and the field was opened as had been re quested. At approximately 2300 the flight reported its position to be 75 miles north west of Habbaniya at 10,000 feet Fifteen to thirty minutes later the purser seated in the passenger cabin noticed that the "fasten seat belt-no smoking” sign had come on, and he Immediately started to awaken the passengers so that they might fasten themselves in their seats. Suddenly. the entire cabin became illuminated from a fire which had started in Zone 1 of the No 2 engine nacelle. A report of this fire was received at 2330. by the Habbaniya direction finding station. at which time the flight was reporting a position of 34 38 degrees north and 41 05 degrees east, a point 170 statute miles northwest of Habbaniya, and 290 miles northeast of Damascus Immediately after the fire started in engine No. 2 a rapid descent was made for the purpose of crash landing the aircraft, and six to seven minutes later on the landing approach the No. 2 engine fell from the aircraft The wing in the area of the No 2 engine, however, continued to burn intensely. Less than a minute after the No 2 engine fell from the aircraft a wheels-up landing was made on relatively smooth, hard-packed desert sand. The left wing tip made the first contact with the ground, then the No 1 propeller and then the left wing at the No 2 engine position. The impact tore the left wing from the fuselage near its root, and caused the aircraft to ground loop violently to the left. During the course of the ground loop the aircraft turned around its longitudinal axis 180 degrees, skidded backwards for a distance of 210 feet, then came to rest in flames 400 feet from the first point of impact, and headed opposite to its course of landing.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a fire which resulted from an attempt to feather the No. 2 propeller after the failure of the No. 2 engine thrust bearing.
Final Report: