Crash of a Grumman JRF-5 Goose near Béjaïa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
8.S.8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oran - Oran
MSN:
B84
YOM:
1944
Location:
Béjaïa
Béjaïa
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew left Lartigue Airbase (Tafraoui AFB) in Oran on a maritime patrol flight along the coast, between cape Carbon and Cape Tenès, Algiers region. While flying northwest of Béjaïa, the airplane encountered strong downdrafts and crashed on a rocky terrain overlooking the sea. The copilot was killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
T/Sgt Parfait, pilot,
T/Sgt Thinon, copilot, †
T/Sgt Pichon, gunner,
T/Sgt Jean Claude Deniel, radio operator.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Kitale: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VP-KJK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nairobi – Kitale
Location:
Kitale
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kitale Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few km short of runway threshold. All three occupants were killed. It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a wing failure on final.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Mouangko: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Transports Aériens du Gabon
Registration:
F-OAVZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Libreville – Kribi – Douala
MSN:
6790
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mouangko
Littoral
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height, the twin engine aircraft hit a tree and crashed in the Sanaga River, about 40 km south of Douala. As the airplane failed to arrive at Douala Airport, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found near Mouangko five weeks later on October 26. The pilot was killed. For undetermined reason, he was flying at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Stewart & Lloyds
Registration:
ZS-AVZ
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04021
YOM:
1947
Location:
Johannesburg-Rand
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Rand Airport, Jo'burg. There were no injuries but the aircraft came to rest in a field and was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Gerdes El Abid

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Oilfields Supply & Trading Company
Registration:
G-AESR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gerdes El Abid – Benghazi
MSN:
6363
YOM:
1937
Location:
Gerdes El Abid
Marj (المرج)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Went out of control and crashed while taking off from Gerdes El Abid. The aircraft was written off while all seven occupants were rescued and evacuated. It is believed that the airplane hit soft sand while departing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Kikwit

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Air Brousse
Registration:
OO-CMS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Port-Francqui
MSN:
6902
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kikwit
Bandundu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An unexpected situation forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in Kikwit. The airplane was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Canadair C-4M Argonaut in Kano: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1956 at 1722 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALHE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lagos – Kano – Tripoli – London
MSN:
151
YOM:
1949
Location:
Kano
Kano
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed runway 25 at Kano Airport for Tripoli in moderate rain and climbed to an altitude of 250 feet. The aircraft then began to lose height rapidly and although the pilot-in- command ordered full power, the descent could not be checked. Notwithstanding the increased power he was unable to prevent it striking a tree and the aircraft crashed about 1,5 mile from the end of the runway. Three crew members and 29 passengers were killed. At time of takeoff, the reported weather conditions on runway 25 were as follows: cloud 3/8, base at 2,500 feet, wind 270° at 20 knots, visibility 1,500 yards and moderate rain.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of loss of height and airspeed caused by the aircraft en- countering, at approximately 250 feet after takeoff, an unpredictable thunderstorm cell which gave rise to a sudden reversal of wind direction, heavy rain, and possible downdraught conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Idris

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGNS
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1220
YOM:
1945
Location:
Idris
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident at Idris Airport prior to takeoff. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Lunzu

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YIM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lilongwe – Blantyre
MSN:
87
YOM:
1951
Location:
Lunzu
Southern Region
Country:
Malawi
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Blantyre, the pilot encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions and decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in Lunzu, about 6 km northeast of the Chileka Airport. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were injured.
Subscribe to Africa