Matruh | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a positioning flight from Kiev to Khartoum with an intermediate stop in El Alamein, Egypt. While cruising by night, the crew informed ATC that he was short of fuel and attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located about 50 km east of El Alamein Airport. The aircraft belly landed, slid for few dozen metres and came to rest, broken in two. There was no fire. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is reported that the crew was forced to make an emergency landing due to fuel shortage, probably caused by strong headwinds all along the flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Marsa Matruh: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

349050

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

El Adem – Nicosia – Saigon

MSN:

14866/26311

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

While flying along the Egyptian coast, en route to Saigon via Nicosia, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed near Marsa Matruh, killing all nine crew members registered to the Touraine Group.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul near El Alamein

Date & Time: May 24, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.65 Consul

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIOU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Croydon – Cairo

MSN:

4355

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Enroute, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing in a desert area located about 26 km south of El Alamein. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of De Havilland DH.86A Express in Siwa

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

Operator:

Registration:

AX762

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Siwa

MSN:

2333

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

On landing at Siwa, while on an ambulance flight from Heliopolis, the right main gear failed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.

Probable cause:

Right main gear failure on touchdown.

Ground accident of a Bristol 130 Bombay I at LG.75

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5840

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

SH.33

YOM:

1939

Location:

LG.75 AFB (Sidi Barrani)

Matruh

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an accident and was damaged beyond repair while taxiing at LG.75 Airfield located about 40 km south of Sidi Barrani. There were no injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Fuka

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8362

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fuka - Fuka

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure upon takeoff and crashed. All three crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-N3 Super Electra near El Salloum

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

AX682

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1496

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

En route to Tobruk, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located some 16 km northwest of El Salloum. Upon landing, the brakes failed and the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. All occupants escaped uninjured.
Photo and source: http://www.virtualwings.org/hudson/l14_g.htm

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF LG.102: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8467

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

LG.102 - LG.102

Location:

LG.102 AFB (Sidi Haneish)

Matruh

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed while on a night takeoff from RAF LG.102 located in Sidi Haneish. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Stanley John Barbour, pilot,
Sgt Thomas Herman Gill, observer.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Sidi Barrani

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

L7865

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight to Berka when an engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located 30 miles southeast of Sidi Barrani, bursting into flames. The aircraft was wrecked and all five crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in El Salloum: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8465

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The bomber was shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near El Salloum. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Patrick Cullimore Traill-Smith, pilot,
P/O Vincent Dennis Fry, observer,
Sgt Tom Osborn Liggins, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an Italian fighter.