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Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in London-Heathrow: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1948 at 2114 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AWH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – London
MSN:
43154
YOM:
1947
Location:
London-Heathrow
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The approach to London-Heathrow Airport was completed in reduced visibility due to the night and foggy conditions. On final, the airplane impacted the ground, exploded and came to rest short of the runway threshold, bursting into flames. Two passengers survived the crash and were seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Henri Goblet, pilot,
Jean Lomba, radio operator,
Louis De Geyndt, steward.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude and was unable to distinguish the ground due to the low visibility caused by night and fog. At the time of the accident, the visibility was 200 yards.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Mitwaba: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CAR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mitwaba – Manono
MSN:
2419
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mitwaba
Katanga
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Its is believed the aircraft suffered a dual engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Costermansville

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBO
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12454
YOM:
1944
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
Aircraft flight hours:
718
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Costermansville (now Bukavu). Occupant fate remains unknown.

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.
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