Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft left Biskra at 0643LT on a routine transport flight to Oujda. Five minutes before its own signaled ETA, the pilot took advantage of a hole in the cloud over which he had been flying for some considerable time, to get below the cloud. Upon breaking cloud, the aircraft was seen to circle in a valley. Unaccountably, the aircraft was seen to turn to port and climb into cloud away from a road and valley, which was clear, with visibility 4 to 5 miles below cloud. The mountaintop was covered by drifting cloud at the time and the aircraft was climbing steeply when it crashed. It crashed into the side of a mountain, killing 16 on board. One passenger survived.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19440603-2

Probable cause:

An Inquiry into the accident found that "the accident was a gross error of judgement by the pilot in flying blind unnecessarily when uncertain of his position, and for the navigator’s poor navigation who did not use all means at his disposal."

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Salalah

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93340

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

13241

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off following an engine failure. Occupant fate unknown.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Tingkawk Sakan

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-100943

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

19406

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reason, the aircraft belly landed and was written off. No casualties.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Cape Pallarenda

Date & Time: May 31, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

A4-45

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off, while climbing, the left engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a wooded area located in Cape Pallarenda, few km north of Townsville Airport. While all three occupants were injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Junkers JU.290A-7 near León: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.290

Operator:

Registration:

9V+LK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

187

Country:

Spain

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching León from the north, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located about 65 km north of León. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Vel'Kal: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Kresta Bay, off Vel'Kal. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando in Manipur: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-24694

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chittagong – Imphal

MSN:

26615

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances en route from Chittagong to Imphal. Three crew members were killed while the fourth was rescued. It is unclear if the aircraft crashed in India or Bangladesh. It is suspected the aircraft may have crash in the region of Misamari, State of Assam, but this is not confirmed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Franklin J. Murphy,
Murray K. Jacobs,
Lee M. Shull 1.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Natal: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61058

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26933

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After take off from Natal-Parnamirim Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, some 1,2 km past the runway end. Both pilots were killed while all three passengers were injured.

Crash of a Junkers JU.290A-7 off La Coruna: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.290

Operator:

Registration:

9V+FK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

179

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While returning to its base following a convoy mission, the four engine aircraft was shot down by the pilots of four RAF Mosquito's and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Spanish coast. All four crew members were killed, among them Oblt Karl-Heinz Schmidt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by RAF fighters.