Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 at RAF Castle Archdale

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EJ153
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Struck a rock while taxiing and was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 into the Mediterranean Sea: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1101
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Damascus – Cairo
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The Ilyushin was returning to Cairo on a flight from Damascus, carrying several members of the Egyptian Air Force and Air Defence Command. While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the aircraft was intercepted by a Gloster Meteor NF.13 belonging to the Israel Air Force. The Israel Secret Services have been informed about the presence on board of the Egyptian General Abed al-Hakim Amar and order was given to shot down the aircraft. The crew of the Meteor (one pilot and one navigator) attacked the Ilyushin several times and the aircraft went out of control and eventually crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, killing all on board. It was later confirmed by the Egyptian Authorities that the General Amar was not on board.
Probable cause:
Shut down by an Israeli fighter.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar near Newburg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1956 at 1518 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-8026
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sewart – Harrisburg
MSN:
10769
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Sewart AFB (Smyrna, Tennessee) to Harrisburg-Intl Airport (Olmsted AFB). After passing over Newburg, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 7 miles north of the city. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Daly Waters

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
A65-75
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amberley – Daly Waters – Darwin
MSN:
15919/32667
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 for unknown reason. There were no injuries.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver off Cubelles: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean Sea off Cubelles while on a flight to Barcelona, carrying four passengers and a pilot. As the airplane failed to land in BCN in the evening, SAR operations were conducted and a wheel was found three days later but unfortunately, no trace of the five occupants.

Crash of a Casa 352 near San Nicolás del Puerto: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T.2B-99
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Jerez de la Frontera - Getafe
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Jerez de la Frontera Airport bound for Madrid-Getafe Airbase. En route, it crashed in a mountainous area located near San Nicolás del Puerto, Andalusia. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R6D-1 into the Atlantic Ocean: 59 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1956 at 2210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
131588
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lakenheath – Lajes – McGuire
MSN:
43691
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Lakenheath to McGuire AFB with an intermediate stop at Lajes, Azores Islands. At 2055LT, while cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about his position and everything was ok. More than hour later, at 2210LT, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 590 km southwest of Land's End, Cornwall, UK. The crew was unable to send any distress call. Few debris such as life vests and the nose wheel were found. All 59 occupants have been killed. It was reported that some debris recovered showed traces of fire, leaving open several assumptions.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Venado Tuerto

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2-B-3
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1502
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The weather conditions deteriorated en route and the crew elected to make an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft came to rest in a field and was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II in Charleston: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1956 at 0721 LT
Operator:
Registration:
53-0033
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lajes – Hamilton – Charleston
MSN:
44328
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The Douglas C-124 transport plane departed Lajes AFB, Azores on a flight across the Atlantic Ocean to Bermuda-Kindley Field (NWU). The airplane remained on the ground at Bermuda for two hours. It took off again at 01:50 EST, bound for Charleston AFB, SC (CHS). Over the Azalea intersection the pilot checked and was advised that Charleston weather had deteriorated rapidly, presently 15,000 ft broken, visibility 1/4 mile with ground fog. The captain decided enter a holding pattern over Charleston to wait for the sun to burn off the fog. At approximately 06:30 visibility had slightly increased to 1/2 mile in ground fog. Five minutes later a Delta Air Lines flight landed following an ILS approach. The captain decided to carry out a GCA approach and was cleared for this at 06:35. The descent and final approach were normal until just prior to or reaching GCA minimums. At this time the aircraft got too low and clipped the tops of trees that stood about 68 feet above the ground. This caused a fast torque drop and subsequent loss of the no. 3 engine. The co-pilot then declared an emergency. The propeller of engine no.3 was feathered, the flaps were retracted, and an attempt as made to raise the landing gear. Indications were that the right main gear did not retract, and there was damage to the underside of the aircraft. Prior to the emergency the navigator had been asleep (the crew had been on duty for nearly 20 hours). Thus, he had not been monitoring the approach with radar. Also, he made no attempt to assist with dead reckoning, or in any other way to prevent the pilot from becoming lost. At 06:48, the crew became uncertain of their position. They flew for the next 33 minutes in the vicinity of Charleston AFB, at an altitude of only 800 to 1000 feet, because the aircraft would climb no higher even with max power. The aircraft was lost from GCA search radar, apparently due to the low altitude. The passenger and two crew members were killed while seven other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The primary cause of this accident was due to Operator Error in that the pilot descended below minimums in such a manner that the aircraft struck trees, and subsequently became doubtful of his position to the point of being lost due to failure to use all approach and navigational aids which further compounded his emergency. Although it is primarily the responsibility of the aircraft commander for the safe conduce of flight, it is also the duty and responsibility of the co-pilot to advise the pilot in sufficient time, prior to reaching minimums or a dangerous condition to allow him to check the rate of descent so as not to descend below minimums or hit the ground or obstructions. The pilot failed to adequately brief the flight crew for the type of approach to be made and missed approach procedures for that particular approach.