Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Merowe

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN438
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16120/32868
YOM:
1945
Location:
Merowe
Northern (الشمالية)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, a hydraulic leak occurred on the right engine that failed. The crew decided to divert to the abandoned airfield of Merowe. The airplane crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all 20 occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Hydraulic leak on the right engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Fort-Lamy

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Société des Transports Aériens Camerounais - STAC
Registration:
F-BEIV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19870
YOM:
1944
Location:
N'Djamena
N'Djamena Capital City
Country:
Chad
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1951
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VP-KEB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6891
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kasese
Western
Country:
Uganda
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the aircraft skidded, went out of runway and came to rest on an embankment. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK on Mt Ingeli: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-AVJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Elizabeth – Durban
MSN:
12016
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Ingeli
KwaZulu-Natal
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
While cruising in clouds, the airplane crashed on Mt Ingeli (2,500 meters high) located about 17 km southeast of Kokstad. The aircraft christened 'Paardeberg' was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed. It is believed that the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Loka: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VW813
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
374
YOM:
3
Location:
Loka
Central Equatoria (الاستوائية الوسطى)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered heavy turbulences. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a prairie located near Loka. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed. Crew from the 78th Squadron.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was probably caused by a structural failure that occurred on a wing as the aircraft was flying in heavy turbulences.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson near Saras

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VS504
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Location:
Saras
Northern (الشمالية)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to perform an emergency belly landing 27 km south of Saras. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 off Tripoli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
RF306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea out from RAF Luqa. While flying at a very low height over the sea off the Libyan coast, the pilot realized the situation and decided to increase his altitude. While pulling on the control column, the base of the empennage hit the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea few miles off Tripoli. A crew member was killed while five others were rescued. The aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E in Old Kaduna

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
VR-NAX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kaduna – Ibadan
MSN:
12784
YOM:
1946
Location:
Old Kaduna
Kaduna
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Ibadan, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to Kaduna. On final approach, both engines stopped and the pilot-in-command attempted a belly landing 3 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while all occupants were evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-455 in Gao: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1951 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Gao – Léopoldville
MSN:
6327
YOM:
1942
Location:
Gao
Gao
Country:
Mali
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 25, while climbing to a height of 10 meters, the airplane turn sharply to the left and climbed to a height of 30 meters when it turn again to the left. It then lost altitude and hit the ground with its left wing tip, crashing into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine failed shortly after rotation due to hydraulic failure. Meanwhile, hydraulic fluid spurted on the cockpit windshield, temporarily reducing the visibility of the pilots who lost control of the aircraft.
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