Al-Anbar (الأنبار) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The four engine aircraft departed Al Asad AFB at 1102LT on a cargo flight to Baghdad with 7 crew members on board, carrying various goods for the allied forces in Iraq. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the engine n°2 failed and caught fire. The crew declared an emergency and reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a desert area located 22 km southeast of Al-Taqaddum AFB, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of engine n°2 for unknown reasons.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide at H3 Oil Station

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1954

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Arab Contracting & Trading Company

Registration:

OD-ABH

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

H3 Oil Station - Beirut

MSN:

6469

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the engine startup, the left engine caught fire. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be destroyed by fire. The aircraft was preparing for a flight from H3 Oil Station (Southwest) located about 450 km west of Baghdad to Beirut, Lebanon.

Probable cause:

The left engine caught fire during startup.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Habbaniya AFB

Date & Time: May 3, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN543

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16399/33147

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Habbaniya AFB, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan IV in Ruţbah Wells

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Miles M.57 Aerovan

Operator:

Arab Contracting & Trading Company

Registration:

G-AIDJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6387

YOM:

1946

Location:

Ruţbah Wells (Ar Ruţbah)

Al-Anbar (الأنبار)

Country:

Iraq

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, injuring both crew members. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in H3 Oil Station

Date & Time: May 11, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Avro 691 Lancastrian

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGLF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cairo – Basra

MSN:

1172

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute from Cairo to Basra on a cargo flight, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to divert to the H3 Oil Station Airfield for an emergency landing. The four engine aircraft crash landed and came to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Habbaniya AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

L4649

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Habbaniyah - Habbaniyah

MSN:

116

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Habbaniya AFB. After takeoff, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. A crew was seriously injured and two others were killed. The next day, the only survivor died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
W/O John Osmotherley Barnes,
Cpl Edward James Myers,
LAC William Faulds McLeod.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Habbaniya AFB

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

L4659

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Habbaniyah - Habbaniyah

MSN:

126

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training mission at Habbaniya AFB on behalf of 4th FTS. Shortly after touchdown, a tyre burst. The aircraft swerved, veered off runway and came to rest. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control upon landing after a tyre burst.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near RAF Habbaniya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

K7097

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

MSN:

8050

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a desert area located about 100 km southwest of Habbaniya. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Ldr Percy Kinsey, pilot,
Sgt Vernon Walter Garside killed, pilot,
AC1 Reginald Walter Carpenter,
AC1 Lewis William Cooper,
AC1 Frederick Oscar Gamble,
Capt John Barnett Harvey.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control caused by a carburetor icing.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat near Habbaniya Lake: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat

Operator:

Registration:

G-AETW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Southampton – Sydney

MSN:

S.839

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

En route from Southampton to Sydney and while flying over Iraq at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a sandstorm. Apparently in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the float plane named 'Calpurnia' hit the ground at full power and crashed. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Habbaniya: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

K7102

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Habbaniyah - Habbaniyah

MSN:

8055

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Habbaniyah, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Charles Alexander Stephen, pilot,
AC1 Harold Davies.

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after takeoff.