Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster near Bangui: 46 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1950 at 1937 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BELB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam
MSN:
3084
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
Four minutes after its takeoff from Bangui Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located about 16 km south of Bangui. Three crew members and seven passengers were seriously injured while 46 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to perform the takeoff procedure by night without knowing properly the departure procedures and the topography in the vicinity of the aerodrome. It was reported that the Chief of the Aerodrome informed the pilot prior to departure about the presence of hills in the surroundings. For unknown reason, the pilot continued the initial climb at an insufficient altitude and initiated the first turn prematurely, causing the aircraft to hit the ground. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- lack of familiarity on behalf of the flying crew,
- poor visibility caused by night,
- incomplete flight chart for the Bangui area.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta in Al Kibrit AFB

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VW805
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Al Kibrit - Al Kibrit
MSN:
366
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Al Kibrit AFB, about 30 km north of Suez. On final approach completed with one engine operative only, the crew decided to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed with its undercarriage retracted few hundred yards from the runway threshold. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three crew members were injured.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 near Glen Loch

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VS501
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing a training flight, the crew encountered an engine failure. The pilot in command attempted an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed 12 miles north of Glen Loch. While both occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove I near Kontagora

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VR-NEW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04101
YOM:
1948
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Kontagora. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Casablanca: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1950 at 0740 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Casablanca - Algiers - Perpignan
MSN:
20245
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Casablanca-Nouasseur Airport at 0730LT bound for Perpignan with an intermediate stop in Algiers. Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered technical problems and informed ground he was returning to Casablanca. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames 500 meters short of runway threshold. All three crew members and one passenger were killed while three other passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A Constellation in Wadi El Natrun: 55 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1950 at 0203 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6004C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bombay – Cairo – Rome – Geneva – Paris – Shannon – Gander – New York
MSN:
2636
YOM:
1950
Flight number:
TW903
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
55
Captain / Total flying hours:
10664
Captain / Total hours on type:
864.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6355
Copilot / Total hours on type:
363
Aircraft flight hours:
1100
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Star of Maryland' left Cairo-Faruk Airport at 0135LT and was cleared to climb to 14,000 feet. While flying to the northwest at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the engine number three caught fire. The propeller was feathered but the crew was unable to extinguish the fire. the Cairo control tower received a routine position report at 23:55Z "off Cairo 2335 25 miles out of Cairo at 2343 estimated time of arrival Rome 0530" which was acknowledged but the flight did not reply with the customary "Roger". No other message was received from the flight despite frequent attempts to contact it by several stations. At or about the time of the receipt of the above message a number of persons on the desert to the northwest of Cairo saw the aircraft afire in flight. The aircraft turned back as if intending to land at Cairo, but the fire rapidly increased, causing the burning engine to fall free. The crew attempted a night emergency landing in a desert area located about 100 km northwest of Cairo. The aircraft crashed and disintegrated on impact. All 55 occupants were killed, among them tourists, engineers and US diplomats.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the rear row master rod bearing causing an uncontrolled fire which precipitated a crash landing.
The following findings were reported:
- The rear row master rod bearing of No. 3 engine failed during the climb to cruising altitude,
- This bearing failure precipitated a fire in the No. 3 power plant, the No. 3 propeller was feathered,
- The aircraft was turned back toward Cairo and the burning engine shortly fell free,
- Fire continued in the right wing and an attempted night landing on the desert resulted in destruction of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21 in the Tanezrouft Desert: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1950 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BENF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Paris – Algiers – Aoulef – Bidon V – Gao – Bamako
MSN:
12738
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Aoulef Airfield at 0245LT bound for Bidon V. During the next 15 to 30 minutes, the crew maintained few radio contacts with the ground and eventually, the contact was lost around 0300LT. SAR operations were conducted and the crew of a GLAM Douglas DC-4 found the wreckage about 30 hours later, around 1815LT some 50 km west of the trail leading from Reggan to Bidon V. The debris were scattered on more than 2 km about 106 km southwest of Aoulef and all 26 occupants have been killed. Most of the passengers were locals from Bamako flying back home for vacations after studying in France. It is believed that an explosion occurred in the left wing in flight, most probably in the fuel tank, causing the left wing to detach. In such conditions, the aircraft was uncontrollable. The exact cause of the detonation remains unknown.
Crew:
Cpt Le Monigou 3.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by an explosion in the wing compartment containing the main starboard fuel tank. This explosion tore off part of the upper wing surface which started a vibration of the wing structure which then caused multiple failures in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 19/2 in Haeny

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AKDU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1423
YOM:
1947
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing an agricultural flight on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. En route, an engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a field in Haeny, northeastv of Bulawayo. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Bocoio: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
CR-LBK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nova Lisboa – Lobito
MSN:
13769
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While starting its descent to Lobito, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Bulobulo Mountain Range, about 19 km south of Bocoio. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL in Casablanca: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1950 at 0130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFGL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Bordeaux – Casablanca – Dakar
MSN:
13824
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Casablanca-Cazes Airport, while climbing by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed 7 km from the airport. Seven passengers were rescued while 22 others occupants were killed.