Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Mombasa

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
United Air Services - Tanzania
Registration:
VR-TAR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam – Mombasa
MSN:
5169
YOM:
1947
Location:
Mombasa
Coast
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Belly landed in Mombasa and slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Ed Dueim

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
African Air Cars
Registration:
VP-KDJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Khartoum – Malakal
Location:
Ed Dueim
White Nile (النيل الأبيض)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute to Malakal, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing near Ed Dueim for unknown reason. While both crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota C.4 near Cairo

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN426
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
16106/32854
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cairo
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, an engine failed. The crew tried several times to restart the engine that fell off shortly later. In such conditions, the crew elected to make an emergency landing in a desert area located about 40 km northwest of Cairo. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a SNCAC NC.702 Martinet near Palestro: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1948
Type of aircraft:
SNCAC NC.701/702 Martinet
Operator:
Compagnie Algérienne des Transports Aériens - CATA
Registration:
F-BDLG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Algiers – Biskra – Philippeville
MSN:
275
Location:
Lakhdaria
Bouira
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the radio navigator informed ground that an engine failed and elected to return to Algiers. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an affluent of the Isser River, about 11 km from Palestro (now Lakhdaria). All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Péhu, pilot,
Mr. Suhaud, radio navigator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ASW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2037
YOM:
1940
Location:
Johannesburg
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and hit a drainage ditch. All 15 occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in Casablanca

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1948
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
SOCOTRA - Société Coopérative de Tramping Aérien
Registration:
F-BBZC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
248
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, a landing gear failed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapse on landing.

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 De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Zambezi

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1947
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YBK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salisbury – Zambezi
MSN:
6359
YOM:
1937
Location:
Zambezi
North-Western
Country:
Zambia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Zambezi Airport for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all six occupants were slightly injured.

Crash of a North American B-25D-10 Mitchell near Colomb-Béchar: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1947 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
GLAM - Groupe de Liaisons Aériennes Ministérielles
Registration:
41-30330
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Oran - Colomb-Béchar
MSN:
87-8495
Location:
Béchar
Béchar
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
2050
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1500
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Tailly 2' left Oran at 1015LT in marginal weather conditions. Enroute, due to sandstorm, the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground. Twice, the crew informed ground that his ETA in Colomb-Béchar was delayed about fifteen minutes. While descending at a too low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground near a railroad and crashed in a huge explosion about 56 km north of Colomb-Béchar. All thirteen occupants were killed, among them the French General Philippe Leclerc. Thirteen bodies were recovered and evacuated to France, but only twelve of them were identified. A thirteenth occupant, wearing a French Army uniform with the grade of Lieutenant was recovered but unidentified.
Crew:
Lt François-René Delluc, pilot,
Lt André-René Pilleboue, navigator,
Adj Jean Guillou, mechanic,
Sgt Eugène Lamotte, radio operator.
Passengers:
Gen Philippe Leclerc,
Col Théodore Fieschi,
Col Charles Clémentin,
Col Louis du Garreau de la Méchenie,
Col Paul Fouchet,
Cpt Georges Frichement,
Cdt Michel Meyrrand,
S/Lt Robert Miron de L'Espinay.
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