Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Amman: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-51
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
723
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Taking part to the Independence War of Israel, the single engine aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it crashed in unknown circumstances in Bait Mahseer, a suburb of Amman. All four occupants were killed, among them pilots Yariv Sheinbaum and Daniel Bukstein.

Crash of a Sud-Est SE.161 Languedoc in Romainville: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1948 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BCUC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Paris-Le Bourget - Paris-Le Bourget
MSN:
29
YOM:
1946
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Paris-Le Bourget Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed on a factory located in Romainville, in the suburbs of Paris. All nine occupants were killed while two workers in the factory were slightly injured. The crew was performing a local training flight from Paris-Le Bourget Airport and the takeoff was initiated with one engine voluntarily inoperative.
Crew:
Georges Lemare, pilot,
Charles Fouquet, pilot,
François Rogale, copilot,
Jean Soulard, radio navigator,
Pierre Tolosano, mechanic,
Hubert Halter, mechanic,
Guy Kerespert, mechanic,
Roger Deluc, mechanic,
Pierre Ledoux, radio navigator by Air Atlas.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Shanghai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-141
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Shanghai-Longhua Airport, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an industrial area located near the airport. While both pilots were seriously injured, three people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Triângulo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1947 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-OMB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Araguari – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
6927
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Araguari in the morning on a flight to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont. Enroute, an engine failed, forcing the pilot to divert to Triângulo (Ponte Nova) for an emergency landing. But the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames on a building. Nobody on the ground was injured but the pilot (Technical Director of the company) and two passengers were killed while six other occupants were seriously injured.
Crew:
Djalma Pompeu de Camargos Rangel, pilot. †
Passengers:
Azarias Vieira Machado, †
Francisco Luiz da Costa, †
Iná Ferreira, †
Dr. Helvécio Rosemburg,
Neusa Rosemburg,
Dr. Jonas Aybe,
Alcântara Vieira Cardoso,
Arlindo Ferreira.
Source & photo:
http://gazetadotriangulo.com.br/tmp/noticias/ha-67-anos-aviao-caiu-em-araguari-deixando-vitimas-fatais/
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Ruislip

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGZA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Northolt – Glasgow
MSN:
12455
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airport of Northolt was closed for arrivals for few hours and only few departures were allowed. After as long waiting time, the crew of G-AGZA received the permission to takeoff bound for Glasgow. The pilot increased power on both engines, started the takeoff procedure and completed the rotation at a speed of 85 knots. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height and was in a constant stall attitude. Then, it hit a house located in Ruislip, north of the airfield, and came to rest on its roof. Fortunately, the aircraft did not caught fire and the cabin remained quite intact. All five occupants were injured, the captain seriously. Into the damaged house, a fourth months baby was miraculously found unhurt.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and forgot to remove the snow on the aircraft prior to takeoff. Due to snow falls, the fuselage, wings, elevators and tail were covered by snow. Thus, the performances were reduced, the aerodynamic properties were modified, the airspeed was insufficient, the total weight was to high with too much drag as well.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 near Hamm: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX175
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Gütersloh – Northolt
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying at low height in foggy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the chimney of the De Wendel Factory located eight km southwest of Hamm, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All seven occupants wee killed.
Crew (2nd Communication Group):
F/Lt Maxwell Roy Harwood, pilot,
F/O Jack Albert Butler, navigator.
Passengers:
Cpl Allan MacDonald,
F/O Arthur Stanley Pinnion,
F/O Charles King Allan,
F/Sgt George William Harry Barkham,
F/Lt Noel Joseph Mowat.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Appleton-le-Moors: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1946 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BJ884
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Leconfield - Leconfield
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On 26th July 1946 110 (City of York) ATC Squadron were holding their annual summer camp at the Central Gunnery School (CGS) at Leconfield. As part of their camp the Cadets were being allowed to be taken as passengers on training flights the CGS were undertaking. There is a suggestion that more than one Wellington was being used for this but if this was so then the take-off times were staggered and their flights did not interrupt or engage with each other. The Wellington concerned in this incident had suffered an engine malfunction prior to take-off and the two cadets already down to have a flight on this aircraft were allocated to a different aircraft to have their trip. The faulty aircraft was soon repaired and two further cadets would be allowed to go up in this original aircraft for what become the ill-fated flight. The ill-fated flight finally took off with a pilot and two cadets on board at around 1400LT, they flew northwards and towards the North Yorkshire Moors. The pilot of the Wellington carried out a Bomber Affiliation training exercise with other aircraft, the Wellington was being subjected to a number of dummy attacks by two Spitfires. It was during one of these attacks and twenty five minutes into the flight that tragedy struck at 1420LT; one of the Spitfires was making a head-on attack on the Wellington when the pilot of the Spitfire misjudged the distance between the two aircraft. The two aircraft collided head on more or less directly over the village of Appleton-le-Moors. The Wellington partly broke up in the air, with parts being scattered across the main street in Appleton le Moors and on houses in the village. Both aircraft, including the main section of this Wellington came down in flames on and near the village football field. There would be no survivors. At the inquest to their deaths, the Coroner, Mr R K Smith gave a verdict of "death by misadventure".
Crew:
W/O Henryk Szwedowski, pilot.
Passengers:
Cadet William Anthony Lain,
Cadet Robert Hall.
Source:
http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/46-50/bj884.html
Probable cause:
Misjudge of the distance between both aircraft on the part of the Spitfire pilot.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Manhattan: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1946 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-47570
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lake Charles - Newark
MSN:
7977
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While overflying New York city in poor visibility due to fog, the crew started the descent to Newark when the twin engine aircraft hit the 58th floor of the Bank of Manhattan Building located 40 Wall Street. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all four crew members were killed. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the building or on the ground.

Crash of a Percival D.3 Gull Six in Camooweal: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Alice Springs - Camooweal
MSN:
D.60
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the pilot was flying over the city of Camooweal at a very low height, causing the aircraft to hit electrical wires. A wing was cut and the aircraft crashed in the city. No one on the ground was injured but the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, Kyle B. Sellick, was killed.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in Ir-Rabat: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1946 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HE274
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie, simulating an aerial attack with a RAF Spitfire. While cruising at a height between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, the aircraft banked 20° to the left then dove into the ground and crashed in the center of the city. The aircraft exploded on impact and damages on ground were so heavy with several houses destroyed. All four crew members were killed plus 16 people on the ground. Several others were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
The loss of control was attributed to strong smoke spread in the cockpit due to a leak on a hydraulic line, intoxicating the crew that was unable to maintain a directional control of the aircraft and could not send any distress call.