Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Port Sudan

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-BUL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Nairobi – Port Soudan – Jeddah
MSN:
1329
YOM:
1945
Location:
Port Sudan
Red Sea (البحر الأحمر)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed on landing in Port Sudan Airport for unknown reason. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all seven crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Vickers 458 Wellington XI in Marrakech: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 458 Wellington XI
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Marrakech
Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
For undetermined reason, the twin engine aircraft failed to rotate, overran and hit a concrete wall. Lieutenant Billaud, pilot, and Lieutenant Grandjean, radio navigator, were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Bône

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1947 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
F-BATY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bône – Paris
MSN:
25
Location:
Annaba
Annaba
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, it appears that an undercarriage failed. The aircraft skidded, overran, lost its landing gear and came to rest with the engine number one on fire. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Ambavalao: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
KN881
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Ambavalao
Fianarantsoa Province
Country:
Madagascar
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Ambavalao Airport, while on a reconnaissance mission, the crew was forced to circle vertical to the city to gain sufficient height to clear the mountain. After passing the first mountainous terrain, the twin engine aircraft hit a rocky ridge and crashed. A crew member was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Anizet,
Lt Col Pierre Lequesne, †
Cpt Guillot, †
S/Lt de Tournadre, †
Adj Gourcerol, †
Sgt Allard, †
Sgt Katsia. †

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Zanzibar

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1947
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
The Uganda Company
Registration:
VP-UAW
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6631
YOM:
1942
Location:
Zanzibar
Unguja North Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On start-up, the right engine caught fire. Both occupants were able to leave the aircraft that was partially destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire on start-up.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dominie in Tunis

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1947
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Franco-British Commercial & Industrial Company
Registration:
G-AJSJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon – Tunis – Antananarivo
MSN:
6826
YOM:
1947
Location:
Tunis
Tunis Governorate (ولاية تونس‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Tunis while on a delivery flight to Antananarivo. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were injured. The airplane christened 'Tamatave' was on its way from Croydon to Antananarivo to be delivered to Air Madagascar.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in El Hajeb: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1947
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Registration:
F-BCHQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
322
Location:
El Hajeb
Meknès-Tafilalet
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Hit a mountain near El Hajeb, killing at least one occupant.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 near Maridi

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH865
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Maridi
Western Equatoria (غرب الاستوائية)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising by night in good weather conditions, a short-circuit on the electrical system caused the failure of several instruments. As the crew decided to fly without a navigator (which was considered against RAF procedures), the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a prairie, skidded for several yards and eventually came to rest with its left engine in flames. Both crewmen were able to leave the aircraft that was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Short-circuit on the electrical system.

Crash of a Caudron C.440 Goéland off Bizerte

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.440 Goéland
Operator:
Air Azur
Registration:
F-BAQT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tunis – Bizerta
MSN:
10057/1171
Location:
Bizerte
Bizerte Governorate (ولاية بنزرت‎)
Country:
Tunisia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Bizerta Airport from the east, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean Sea, few km off shore. Both occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Oran: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
LT831
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oran - Oran
Location:
Oran-Tafraoui
Oran
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While performing a solo training mission at Oran-Tafraoui Airfield (called BAN Lartigue in the 40's), the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Ouardia, about 2 km from the airport. The pilot Robert Georges Gosselin was killed.
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