Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Khartoum: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
TG522
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khartoum – Cairo – London
MSN:
26
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Khartoum to London with an intermediate stop at Cairo, carrying a crew of five and 25 passengers on behalf of the 36th Squadron. After takeoff from Khartoum Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ground that the engine number two failed and received the permission to return for a safe landing. The captain made a turn to the left to join the approach path when the airplane rolled left and right and eventually banked left. In such conditions, the captain decided to shut down the engine number one he thought that was malfunctioning. While trying to maintain a stable attitude, he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed. On impact, the undercarriage and all four engines were sheared off and the aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. While all 25 passengers were injured, all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the failure of the engine number two. Technical analysis on engine number one did not reveal any issues so the decision of the pilot to shut it down was unfounded.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 at RAF Jurby

Date & Time: May 26, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VM322
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Coates - Jurby
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The tire on the right main gear burst on touchdown at RAF Jurby. The airplane went out of control and came to rest. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Tire burst on landing.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules at Ashiya AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1959 at 1729 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0468
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Iwo Jima - Ashiya
MSN:
3175
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft failed to land at Ashiya AFB and overshot. At the end of the runway, it stalled and crashed on several barracks. A crew member was killed while eight other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. On ground, nine people were killed while several others were injured. The exact circumstances of the mishap remains unclear.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 near Llandudno: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VV955
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bovingdon – Ballykelly
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Bovingdon to RAF Ballykelly on behalf of the coastal communications commando. While in cruising altitude, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination and was instructed to divert to RAF Valley. Shortly later, while flying in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Tal y Fan. The aircraft was demolished and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing SB-17G Flying Fortress in Salvador

Date & Time: May 7, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
5404
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8745
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A failure with the undercarriage forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing while on approach to Salvador. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 at RAF Colerne

Date & Time: May 5, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX189
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at RAF Colerne, the undercarriage were sheared off. The aircraft skidded on its belly and came to rest. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16 Albatross off Porto Alegre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1959 at 0330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
6536
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
G-39
YOM:
1950
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The seaplane crashed into the Rio Guaíba while approaching Porto Alegre by night. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-3 Neptune near China Lake AFB

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
122984
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a routine flight when the left engine caught fire in flight. Shortly later, it detached from the wing and the crew decided to divert to China Lake AFB for an emergency landing. On approach, the pilot-in-command crash landed the airplane in a desert area. While there were no casualties, the airplane was written off.
Probable cause:
Fire on left engine which detached in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL off Lisbon: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
6150
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
19773
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed into the Tagus River. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove in Río Cuarto

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-68
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04039
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances and damaged beyond repair. All occupants were injured.