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Belgium
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Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near Gander: 27 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1946 at 0242 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Shannon – Gander – New York
MSN:
42986
YOM:
1946
Location:
Gander
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Shannon, the crew started the descent to Gander Airport by night and in poor weather conditions. Most probably in a way to establish a visual contact with the ground, the captain reduced his altitude and passed below the minimum safe altitude when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located 35 km from the airport. A crew member and 16 passengers were rescued while 27 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued the approach at an insufficient altitude and thus failed to follow the published approach procedures.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Brussels: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1946 at 0117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
4549
YOM:
1942
Location:
Brussels
Flemish Brabant
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed on the roof of a hangar. A crew member was killed while six other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Aerodynamic stall after rotation due to insufficient speed. The reason of the loss of speed could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Kinvara

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10070
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kinvara
Connacht
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from the US to Brussels to deliver the aircraft to SABENA. While descending to Shannon Airport for a fuel stop, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Kinvara, hit two stone walls and came to rest on a small road. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Kouandé

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CAK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Lagos – Cotonou – Brussels
MSN:
2340
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kouandé
Atakira
Country:
Benin
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Cotonou, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Kouandé, west of Cotonou, and was destroyed by fire. All occupants were able to evacuate and were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Lisala

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5852
YOM:
1938
Location:
Lisala
Équateur
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered unknown problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. All occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Costermansville

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGU
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5510
YOM:
1936
Location:
Bukavu
Sud-Kivu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Costermansville (now Bukavu), Belgian Congo. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Bangui

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6036
YOM:
1938
Location:
Bangui
Ombella-M'Poko
Country:
Central African Republic
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The three-engine aircraft came to rest some 80 miles from Bangui. While there were no casualties, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – London
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Location:
Arques
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Brussels on a mail flight to London on behalf of the RAF 271st Squadron. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak. The mechanic bailed out and survived while both pilots were killed when the aircraft crashed in an open field.
Crew:
P/O John Robertson McLaren, pilot, †
Victor Moreau, pilot, †
Armand Peeters, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-227B in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2094
YOM:
1938
Location:
Arques
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Brussels to the British Isles. While overflying the region of Merville, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located near Arques and was destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot and the navigator were killed while both other crew members and both passengers became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Chartier, pilot, †
Capt John M.H. Hoare, navigator, †
P/O Benson Freeman,
Pier Vrebos, engineer.
Source: http://luchtvaartgeschiedenis.be/
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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