Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan near Sefrou: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1946 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Air Océan
Registration:
F-BCAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris – Casablanca
MSN:
281
Location:
Sefrou
Fès-Boulemane
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While flying by night in low visibility at an altitude of 3,600 feet, the three engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 10 km south of Sefrou. The wreckage was localized few hours later and all 16 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that, following a navigational error on part of the crew, the aircraft was on the wrong track at the time of the accident. Also, its altitude of 3,600 feet was insufficient.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster VII near Khoms: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
NX690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Saint Mawgan – Cairo
Location:
Khoms
Murqub (المرقب)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
While flying over Tripolitan on a flight from St Mawgan to Cairo, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed about 10 km west of Khoms. All 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft was hit by lightning while flying in a thunderstorm area.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Bathurst: 24 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1946 at 0410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHEW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Lisbon – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Montevideo – Buenos Aires
MSN:
1300
YOM:
1946
Location:
Banjul
Banjul City District
Country:
Gambia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
The aircraft arrived in Bathurst at 0243LT from Lisbon and the crew was changed. The departure was performed at 0408LT in fair weather conditions. Two minutes later, while in initial climb, the aircraft failed to gain height and hit few trees with its left wing. It then banked left and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 3 km from the airport. The aircraft christened 'Star Leader' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control during initial climb was probably due to a mishandling of the controls on behalf of the pilot in command. It was confirmed by investigations that it was the captain's first York flight on a scheduled service, and it was also the first takeoff he made in a York loaded to more than 69,000 lb.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Bathurst

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGWJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Lisbon – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Montevideo – Buenos Aires
MSN:
1282
YOM:
1945
Location:
Banjul
Banjul City District
Country:
Gambia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown, the aircraft lost its undercarriage, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Star Glow' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson XII in Cairo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ADJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1272
Location:
Cairo-Almaza
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cairo-Almaza Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. Both pilots and four passengers were killed while three others were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XII in Heliopolis

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH776
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Heliopolis
Location:
Heliopolis
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Heliopolis Airbase, while on a local training sortie, the captain decided to make a go around. The twin engine aircraft failed to gain height, stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. The pilot was injured while four other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI near Lul

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Location:
Lul
Upper Nile (أعالي النيل)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, both engines failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a desert area located in Lul, northeast of Malakal. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Dual engine failure.

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

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1946
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VP-KCU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nairobi – Mombasa
MSN:
6848
Location:
Garsen
Coast
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, both engines failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in the bush. While the aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair, all 8 occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 Dakota III near Abeokuta: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1946 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KG747
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kano – Lagos
MSN:
13846/25291
YOM:
1944
Location:
Abeokuta
Ogun
Country:
Nigeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility and turbulence in cumulonimbus. To avoid this low pressure area, the captain decided to modify his flight plan and reduced his altitude. Shortly later, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. All 22 occupants, among them four civilians, medical staff and engineers, were killed. A man on the ground was also killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the charts used by the crew were partially wrong and useless as the altitude mentioned were false.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-11-DK near Agadir: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49018
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
14834/26279
YOM:
1944
Location:
Agadir
Souss-Massa-Drâa
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located about 32 km north of Agadir. At least one crew member was killed.
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