Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B on Mt Taurus: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
VK-500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Amman – Beirut – Athens – London
MSN:
260
YOM:
1949
Location:
Mt Taurus
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Amman to London with intermediate stops at Beirut and Athens, carrying four high ranking officers of the Jordanian Air Force (Arab Legion Air Force) on behalf of the Jordanian Government, and two crew members. While overflying Turkey, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located in the Taurus Mountain Range, about 30 km southwest of Karaman. As the airplane failed to arrive in Athens, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted in an isolated area six months later. All six occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Mexico City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Mexican Government
Registration:
XC-ABW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City – Acapulco
MSN:
19217
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mexico City-Benito Juarez
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed into the lake Texcoco. A crew member and three passengers were killed, among them the Mexican architect Carlos Lazo Barreiro. All 14 other occupants were injured. The flight was completed on behalf of the Ministry of Communications and Public Works (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas - SCOP).
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after liftoff.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in Gonesse

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1955
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBOF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
007
Location:
Gonesse
Val-d'Oise
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a field located in Gonesse few minutes after its takeoff from Le Bourget Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Formosa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1955 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
LQ-XWW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04094
YOM:
1947
Location:
Formosa
Formosa
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft on a personnel transfer flight was taking off at approximately 1550LT from Formosa-El Picú Airport with 4 passengers and 3 crew on board. It was observed to run for about 800 meters along the runway, rising only slightly a few meters before the end of the run. It then hit a runway end marker, the wire fence surrounding the aerodrome and a telephone pole, touching the ground twice. After demolishing another wire fence, it came to rest against a small hill and caught fire. Six of the occupants were killed instantly while the copilot Cpt Alberto Manuel González was seriously injured. He died some months later from burns sustained. The airplane was owned and operated by the Dirección Nacional de Aviación Civil (DINACIA).
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the inability of the aircraft to reach its takeoff speed after a run of 800 meters on the runway, because of:
- Insufficient driving power for operation, resulting from:
- Reduction in power in one or both engines from premature ignition and detonation, originating in the use of spark plugs inappropriate to the engine type,
- Probable reduction in the rpm rate of the engines during the takeoff run; following unnoticed slipping of the propeller controls,
- Overloading of the aircraft in relation to maximum authorized takeoff weight,
- The circumstances in which the operation was carried out indicate that the weather conditions in relation to the characteristics of the runway were a contributing cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off Hua Hin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
B-811
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
18947
YOM:
1943
Location:
Hua Hin
Prachuap Khiri Khan (ประจวบคีรีขันธ์)
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a sea supply mission on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command attempted a turn to the left when the left wing hit the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea few km off Hua Hin. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong evaluation on part of the flying crew who misjudged the distance with water surface during a low-level supply mission.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Zyrianka

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1953 at 1410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-H1014
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Magadan – Seymchan – Zyrianka – Ozhogino – Batagay
MSN:
184 303 08
YOM:
30
Location:
Zyrianka
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1659
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Zyrianka Airport, while climbing to a height of about 20 meters, the left engine encountered problems and the crew tried to feather the propeller, without success. In such conditions, the pilot-in-command decided to attempt an emergency landing. At a speed of 140 km/h, the airplane hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located 600 meters past the runway end. The airplane was damaged beyond repair while all 16 occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
When the undercarriage were raised after liftoff, the left engine suffered technical issues and the crew was forced to feather the propeller, without success. The propeller was then windmilling, causing drag. In such conditions, the aircraft lost height and the pilot elected to make an emergency landing. It was reported that the board mechanic was unable to response immediately to the engine issue because he was focused on instruments check and especially the speed indicator, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Cottbus: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Kasernierte Volkspolizei (KVP)
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Cottbus-Drewitz
Brandenburg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cottbus-Drewitz Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames, killing all 11 occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Jilin Province: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shot down and crashed in unclear circumstances in the Jilin province, China. Two occupants were killed while two others were injured. There were involved in the transfer of a secret agent.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Nizhniye Kresty

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1952 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-H1011
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pevek – Nizhniye Kresty – Magadan
MSN:
234 413 07
YOM:
1952
Location:
Chersky
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Pevek to Magadan with an intermediate stop in Nizhniye Kresty on behalf of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD – Ministerstvo Vnutrennick Del). The takeoff from Nizhniye Kresty Airport was attempted by night and on a runway covered with light snow. After rotation, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left and the left wing just passed over a parked AN-2. The aircraft then turn to the right and crashed on a mound. All four crew members were evacuated safely and the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled during initial climb due to an insufficient takeoff speed that was the result of a wrong departure configuration on part of the flying crew. The reaction of the pilot-in-command at stall was incorrect, which was considered as a contributory factor.
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