Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-D in Chitado: 17 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6154
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luanda – Chitado
MSN:
10049
YOM:
1943
Location:
Chitado
Cunene
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The approach to Chitado Airport was completed in poor weather conditions. On final, the airplane hit a tree and crashed short of runway threshold. All 17 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed RB-69A Neptune in Shandong: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
54-4039
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
726-7099
Location:
Shandong
Shandong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The Neptune was conducting a low level penetration flight over the Chinese province of Shandong when it was shot down by an SA-2 Guideline missile. Out of control, it crashed in a prairie, killing all 14 occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-100-BW Stratofortress into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
58-0196
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Seymour Johnson - Seymour Johnson
MSN:
464264
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Pogo 22
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Seymour Johnson AFB to take part to the 'Sky Shield II' exercise over the Atlantic Ocean under flight code 'Pogo 22'. While cruising by night off the Newfoundland coast, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the ocean. SAR mission were conducted but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (4241st Strategic Wing):
Cpt Roland C. Starke Jr., pilot,
1st Lt Kenneth L. Payne, pilot,
Cpt Paul D. Fellows Jr., radar navigator,
Lt Richard C. Wiksell, navigator,
Lt Dean A. Upp, EWO
S/Sgt Helmut Christ, gunner,
A1c Francis B. Jones, maintenance specialist,
Lt Gary W. Sprague, navigator.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver AL1 at Bückeburg AFB

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1961
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
XP812
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bückeburg – Middle Wallop
MSN:
1468
YOM:
1961
Location:
Bückeburg
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Bückeburg Airbase, while climbing, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field and the aircraft crash landed near the airfield, losing its undercarriage during the mishap. All four occupants, among them General James Cassels, were uninjured while the aircraft, delivered last May 2, was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel starvation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Barrackpore: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Barrackpore Airfield, while climbing, both engines lost power simultaneously. Due to the presence of several houses around his position, the captain was able to maintain the control of the airplane until it stall and eventually crashed in a field located few km from the airport. Three crew members were seriously injured and the captain was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Iquitos: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1961
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAP317
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
104
YOM:
1951
Location:
Iquitos-Moronacocha
Loreto
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While approaching Iquitos, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on the Rio Napo but on final, the seaplane struck a tree trunk and crashed into the river. The mechanic was able to swim to the shore and was rescued while six other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.2 in El Adem: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
WD498
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Adem – Luqa
MSN:
126
YOM:
1951
Location:
El Adem
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a flight from El Adem to Luqa, Malta, carrying 34 members of the Maltese Artillery Contingent and 3 crew members of the 70th Squadron. Shortly after rotation, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and banked right. Immediately, the captain elected to regain control but the airplane struck the runway surface, rotated 90° and eventually crashed and burst into flames. A crew member and 16 passengers were killed while 20 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that the loss of control that occurred shortly after takeoff was caused by the movement of the safety catch located on the rails of the copilot's seat that dislodged. This caused the seat to slid on its rails back to the stop. As a result, the copilot involuntarily pull the control column, causing the aircraft to nose up and to stall due to an excessive angle of attack. It was determined that the copilot was flying when control was lost after rotation, which was non compliant as he did not have a licence allowing him to perform a takeoff with passengers on board.

Crash of a Shijiazhuang Yunsunji Y-5 in Qing Long Shan: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Shijiazhuang Yunsunji Y-5
Operator:
Registration:
18188
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Qing Long Shan
Guangdong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All 15 occupants were killed in the accident.

Crash of an Aero Commander RL-26D at Mackall AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
58-5512
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
680-529-199
YOM:
1958
Location:
Mackall AAF
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mackall AAF, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed three miles south of the airfield. Both occupants were killed.
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