Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Thule AFB

Date & Time: May 15, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
52-1088
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thule - Westover
MSN:
43997
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Thule AFB while on a flight to Westover AFB. All seven crew members were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK near Barnesville: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
44-108869
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Baltimore – Columbus
MSN:
12538
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Baltimore to Columbus on behalf of the Ohio National Guard. Enroute, an engine failed and all ten passengers bailed out. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located about 15 miles east-southeast of Barnesville. A passenger whose parachute failed to open was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker into the Atlantic Ocean: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-0110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
16892
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Enroute from the US to Europe, while in cruising altitude, the crew sent a brief mayday message, reporting an engine explosion. Shortly later, the airplane went into a dive and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean some 145 km southwest of Reykjavik. All nine crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion in flight.

Crash of a SNCAC NC.701 Martinet at Dijon-Longvic AFB

Date & Time: May 3, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-UGDE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
88
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Dijon-Longvic AFB (BA 102). The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all four crew members were unhurt.
Crew:
Lt Lales,
Lt Jeannin,
Lt Saubot,
Sgt Weiss.

Ground accident of an Avro 652 Anson XI at RAF Fairoaks

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH717
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered an undercarriage failure while taxiing at RAF Fairoaks. There were no casualties but the aircraft was not repaired.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed while taxiing.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Vicq: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1955 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF426
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
569
YOM:
1952
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Parked at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, the aircraft was stolen by Manik Agnani, a 22 years old mechanic from the RAF who did not held any pilot licence. Hew flew over the London area for more than three hours and then changed his route and flew to the south, over The Channel and then to France. Shortly past midnight, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in flames onto a house located in Vicq, about 9 km northeast of Valenciennes. The pilot was killed and four people in the house as well, two old people and two young girls aged 9 and 10.

Crash of a Percival P.66 Pembroke C.1 off Aden

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1955 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WV712
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hargeisa – Aden
MSN:
016
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a flight from Hargeisa to Aden, carrying a crew of two and three passengers, Mr. Oliver Claude Allyson, Bishop of Sudan and two pilots of a RAF Avro Anson that suffered a landing accident a day before in Hargeisa. While approaching the Yemen coast, the right engine failed. The crew feathered the propeller and continued when shortly later, the left engine lost power and failed as well. Again, the propeller was feathered and as the captain realized he would be unable to reach the airport of Aden-Khormaksar, he reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft few km off shore. After contacting the water, all five occupants jumped in shark infested waters and were unable to use the dinghies that failed to inflate properly. All were quickly rescued by fishermen and the aircraft sank. It was recovered few days later.
Probable cause:
The crew reported there were sufficient fuel in both tanks at the time of the accident. The exact cause of the dual engine failure was not established.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near Mito

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-8165
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
663
YOM:
1954
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in the region of Mito, maybe following an engine failure. The pilot John W. Culpepper was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-26-FA Flying Boxcar in Ghisonaccia

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
51-2648
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10637
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a mismanagement of fuel on part of the crew, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing at Ghisonaccia Airport. The aircraft crashed on landing and was destroyed while all four crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-26-FA Flying Boxcar near Moulins

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
51-2645
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10634
YOM:
1951
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failure in flight forced the crew to bail out and to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field about 15 km southeast of Moulins. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.