Africa | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While flying in poor weather conditions on an international flight from Mombasa, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sangalla Hills located south of Voi. All eight crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1943

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

VP-YBZ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6256

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after take off from Salisbury Airfield for unknown reason. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Algiers: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1943 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-7811

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Algiers – Oran

MSN:

4310

YOM:

1942

Location:

Algiers

Country:

Algeria

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after departure from Algiers-Maison Blanche Airport, while cruising over the Mediterranean Sea, the right engine caught fire. The captain ordered the crew to bail out but the aircraft lost height rapidly and crashed into the sea some 35 km west of Algiers. The crew of a French fishing boat was able to rescue three crew members while seven others were killed. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew killed were:
1st Lt Ernest W. Dvorak,
Pvt Gomer Jones,
1st Lt Jerome B. Jordan Jr.,
1st Lt Michael J. Lagio,
2nd Lt Rachel H. Sheridan,
1st Lt John R. Southerlin,
S/Sgt George Vilen.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by an engine fire.

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

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 458 Wellington XI

Operator:

Registration:

MP691

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dakar - Dakar

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances on Gorée Island, off Dakar. Two crew members were killed and five others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Cairo

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

G-AFCS

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1025

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Cairo-Almaza Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft christened 'Lea' was written off.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III in Libya: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1943 at 2245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGIB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Cairo - Djerba - Poole

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising over Libya by night and in good weather conditions, one the right engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in the desert but while descending, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames some 150 km southeast of Tobruk. All 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to officials, a fire with very high intensity broke out on one of both right engines and quickly spread to the right wing that separated during the descent, causing the plane to crash.