Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While performing a liaison flight, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located in Eschau, about 10 km south of Strasbourg. Both crew members were killed. Severe icing conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident.
Crew:
Cpt Jean Ratel,
Adj René Thibault.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 on Mt Jirishanca: 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

FAP403

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Pucallpa – Lima

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the southeast slope of Mt Jirishanca (,6,094 meters high) located about 200 km north of Lima-Callao Airport. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found on December 4, 1954. All 24 occupants (21 civilians and three crew members) were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Convair T-29A-CO in Tucson: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Convair T-29

Operator:

Registration:

50-0189

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

219

YOM:

1951

Location:

Tucson

Arizona

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Tucson Airport, while climbing by night, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and received the permission to return for an emergency landing. While completing a last turn at low height, the aircraft hit power cables and crashed near the runway threshold. Four occupants were killed while 11 others were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Casa 352 near Ronda: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1954 at 1654 LT

Type of aircraft:

Casa 352

Operator:

Registration:

T.2-247

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Jerez de la Frontera – Málaga

MSN:

138

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located about 10 km south of Ronda, killing all 11 occupants.

Crash of a Lockheed R7V-1 Super Constellation into the Atlantic Ocean: 42 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1954 at 0100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

128441

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Patuxent – Lajes – Port Lyautey

MSN:

4108

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Patuxent River NAS to Port Lyautey, Morocco, with an intermediate stop at Lajes, carrying 21 crew members and 21 passengers, among them civilians and children. At 2330LT, the crew informed ATC about his position 400 miles east of Baltimore (Maryland), this was the last radio transmission. About an hour and a half later, while cruising at an altitude of 17,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean without any distress call on part of the crew. SAR operations were conducted on a large area but were suspended six days later due to poor weather conditions. No trace of the aircraft nor the 42 occupants was found. It was reported by the board that the aircraft was also carrying 111 life vests, 46 exposure suits, 660 paper cups and 5 life rafts. All elements supposed to float. However, no trace of them was ever found.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Board that R7V-1 registered 128441 did meet with a sudden and violent force, that rendered the aircraft no longer airworthy, and was thereby beyond the scope of human endeavor to control. The force that rendered the aircraft uncontrollable is unknown. The possibility of structural failure during transit of frontal weather cannot be discounted in this accident, but the possibility appears remote.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XII near RAF Crosby

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

PH722

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Ireland to RAF Crosby, Cumbria. While overflying the Irish Sea, the crew encountered poor weather conditions but decided to continue. While approaching the Carlisle area, the twin engine aircraft went through a low pressure zone with heavy rain falls, turbulences and thunderstorm activity when the aircraft was struck by lightning. All instruments became unusable and the crew elected to locate RAF Crosby without success. Eventually, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The airplane belly landed and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Loss of all instruments after being hit by lightning in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Limone Piemonte: 21 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1954 at 1750 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16044

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rome – Lyon – Manston

MSN:

20510

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Rome-Ciampino Airport in the afternoon on a flight to Manston, Kent, with an intermediate stop at Lyon-Bron Airport. While cruising at an altitude of 8,500 feet over the Italian Alps, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane hit the slope of a mountain at 1750LT. As it failed to arrive in Lyon, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found a week later only in an isolated area located about 12 km west of Limone Piemonte, east of the Argentera Mountain Range. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 21 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and according to procedures. For unknown reason, the altitude mentioned on the flight plan was 8,200 feet, which is insufficient to pass over the Alps. A gap of 13 degrees was also noted on the heading (flight path), maybe due to the fact that the crew mistook the Poretta and Bastia beacons, close to each other. Also, it was noted that a wind was blowing at 45 knots from the southwest, which probably contributed to deviate the aircraft from the prescribed flight path.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Vágar Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

PP155

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Vágar

Country:

Faroe Islands

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Four crewmen of the 230th Squadron lost their lives when the seaplane crashed while attempting to alight in Tveraa Fjord in the Faroe Island to pick up a critically ill British seaman and convey him to hospital in Scotland. It is believed that the flying boat was struck by a squall just as it touched the water, causing it to capsize and sink almost immediately.
Crew:
F/Lt J. R. Hill, †
F/O A. A. Howardson, †
Sgt A. S. Cronk, †
F/S E. Davies, †
S/L E. C. Bennett,
F/Lt J. S. M. Jones 1.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar in Daegu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Registration:

51-2552

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10510

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Daegu Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in a field located 2,7 km east of the airfield. At least one crew member was killed in the crash.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.