Country
South Africa

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Alexandria

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Pan African Air Charter
Registration:
ZS-AYB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Geneva – Luqa – Cairo
MSN:
19584
YOM:
1944
Location:
Alexandria
Alexandria
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Approaching Luqa Airport in Malta, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to continue to Cairo directly. On approach to the Egyptian coast, fuel reserve were too low and the captain decided to divert to Alexandria. On final, the aircraft stalled (likely due to a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion) and crashed into the Alexandria harbor, near the suburb of Ras-el-Tin. All 30 occupants were rescued (few of them were slightly injured) while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Monte Argentario: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1948 at 1752 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Pan African Air Charter
Registration:
ZS-BYX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Athens – Nice
MSN:
12587
YOM:
1944
Location:
Monte Argentario
Tuscany
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While flying over the Ligurian Sea en route from Athens to Nice, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to divert to Rome-Ciampino. The aircraft overflew the Orbetello lagoon and then went through low clouds when it hit the slope of a mountain located near Monte Argentario. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed. The airplane was performing a charter flight on behalf of the British operator Scott Gordon Aviator.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain. Poor visibility caused by low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Masindi

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Pan African Air Charter
Registration:
ZS-AUK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Masindi
Western
Country:
Uganda
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed near Masindi and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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