Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross at Wheelus AFB

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-039
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
G-114
YOM:
1952
Location:
Wheelus AFB (Mitiga)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, stalled and crashed 400 meters from the airfield. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Cairo: 52 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1956 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGOD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Saigon – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Paris
MSN:
43835
YOM:
1953
Location:
Cairo
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Saigon to Paris, France and had left Karachi for Cairo on 19 February at 1715 hours Greenwich Mean Time with 9 crew and 55 passengers aboard. The flight was routine until 0230 hours (20 February) when the aircraft reported to Cairo Air Traffic Control that it had passed Suez (60 miles east of Cairo) at 0224 at a flight level of 8 500 feet, flying VFR and was descending. At 0240 it reported the Cairo aerodrome in sight and being 15 miles out, was granted an authorization for a VFR approach and at the same time was given the QFE and QNH, 29.42 and 29.73 respectively. Contact was established with Cairo approach and the aircraft requested and received landing instructions oh 118.5 megacycles and was asked to call down wind. This message was acknowledged and was the last heard from the flight. Several attempts to contact the aircraft on all available frequencies were made but were unsuccessful. At 0450 hours the wreckage was sighted 18 miles southeast of the aerodrome. Only 6 crew members and 6 passengers survived.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the failure of the pilot-in-command to monitor the co-pilot during a direct approach procedure and the reliance of the latter on his instruments exclusively to fix his position relative to the runway at an altitude below the minimum safe altitude. The factor of crew member fatigue can- not be ruled out
Final Report:

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Blida: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
70
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
70
Location:
Blida
Blida
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Collided in unknown circumstances with another French Air Force Nord 2501 Noratlas registered 48 and also carrying a crew of three. Both aircraft crashed near Blida and were destroyed, killing all six crew members.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Blida: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
48
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
48
Location:
Blida
Blida
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Collided in unknown circumstances with another French Air Force Nord 2501 Noratlas registered 70 and also carrying a crew of three. Both aircraft crashed near Blida and were destroyed, killing all six crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A Constellation in Algiers

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAZG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Algiers – Paris
MSN:
2626
YOM:
1950
Location:
Algiers
Algiers
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. The captain immediately abandoned the takeoff procedure and completed an emergency braking maneuver. The aircraft came to rest in flames on the runway, and while all occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54M Skymaster near Ketama: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
44-9094
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tripoli – Kenitra
MSN:
27320
YOM:
1945
Location:
Ketama (Issaguen)
Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 8 km southeast of Ketama. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Canadair C-4M Argonaut in Tripoli: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1955 at 0023 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALHL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Rome – Tripoli – Kano – Lagos
MSN:
158
YOM:
1949
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
On approach to Tripoli Airport by night and poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. Three times, the captain decided to abandon the approach procedure for a go around maneuver. During a fourth attempt, he descended below the glide when the aircraft hit trees and crashed 1,200 yards short of runway 11. Two crew members and 13 passengers were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. All other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an error of judgement on the part of the captain who having made three unsuccessful attempts to line-up and land on runway 11 on his fourth attempt allowed his desire to keep the runway lights in view to affect his judgement, in that during a visual approach to the runway he failed to make adequate reference to his flight instruments. In the restricted visibility the runway lights gave him insufficient guidance as to attitude, height and angle of approach and unknowingly he permitted the aircraft to descend below its correct approach path.
Final Report:

Crash of a Latécoère 631 near Banyo: 16 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 631
Operator:
France Hydro
Registration:
F-BDRE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lake Léré - Douala
MSN:
08
YOM:
28
Location:
Banyo
Adamaoua
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Aircraft flight hours:
2000
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Lake Léré to Douala, carrying eight passengers, a crew of eight and a load of cotton bales. While cruising in a tropical storm, the aircraft encountered thunderstorm activity and severe turbulences when a wing failed. Out of control, the airplane went into a dive and crashed 60 km north of Banyo. The airplane was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed. This was the last mission for this aircraft and its crew who must fly back to Biscarosse (France) to conduct tests and maintenance. This was also the last Latécoère 631 in service.
Probable cause:
Structural failure of a wing in flight caused by turbulences that exceeded its design.
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