Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator near N'Gaoundéré: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1952 at 1430 LT
Registration:
F-BEFX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
N'Gaoundéré - N'Gaoundéré
MSN:
12
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
6087
Captain / Total hours on type:
395.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2698
Copilot / Total hours on type:
33
Aircraft flight hours:
7465
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight after the engine number four was changed. The airplane left N'Gaoundéré Airport at 1250LT. The captain made profit of this flight to improve the skills of the copilot who should be promoted as captain. While cruising in good weather conditions, the aircraft banked left, dove into the ground and crashed about 37 km southwest of N'Gaoundéré. As the airplane failed to come back to its base, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area a day later. All eight occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a collision with trees and the airplane was banking substantially to the left. The cause of this could not be specified due to lack of evidence due to the destruction of the wreck. Certain facts for which a specific explanation could not be found were:
- Extension of the duration of the flight,
- Radio silence,
- Stopping of engine number four,
- Pitch of the propeller on engine three.
Above all these findings, it was established that the crew was flying at low height few minutes before the accident according to the testimony of farmer. The reason for this could not be determined with certainty.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII in Sassano: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KN834
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from England to South Africa with a crew of four and eight passengers, all South African Army Officers returning home. While cruising by night, both left engines stopped simultaneously. The crew was unable to restart the engine and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, no suitable terrain was available around his position. Flying at low height, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in flames in a field. Eleven occupants were killed while the captain was the only survivor.
Probable cause:
In flight, the crew proceeded to a fuel transfer from the auxiliary tanks to the main tanks. Apparently following a lack of coordination or a wrong interpretation of the situation, the crew forgot to stop the fuel transfer. As the fuel pump was not switched off, the tanks that were feeding both left engines became empty, causing these engines to fail.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII near Gurgaon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
EW630
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Enroute, a fire erupted in the front of the cabin and the crew decided to divert to New Delhi-Safdarjung Airport. On approach, the aircraft on fire went out of control and crashed in a field located east of Gurgaon. Four occupants were killed while both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the in-flight fire could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII in Bago: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KN760
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine number one failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Four passengers were seriously injured while 17 other occupants were killed. Investigators revealed that the captain who was assigned to this flight failed to show himself to the preflight briefing and it was decided to replace him by another captain aged 24. This second captain accepted the mission that was the last one for him. He was killed in the crash.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-32-3 Liberator II in Goose Bay

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
AL597
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Goose Bay Airport, the aircraft hit a snowdrift and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII in Lunde: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KK331
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lossiemouth - Lossiemouth
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed RAF Lossiemouth at 1330LT on a training mission over the North Sea. While cruising in bad weather conditions at a height of some 850 metres, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed. All 8 crew members were killed.
Crew (111th OTU):
W/O Frank Brindle,
W/O Ernest Francis Sadler,
W/O Clifford Sydney Brain,
F/Sgt Hedley Edwards,
F/Sgt Stephenson Churchill Wells,
F/Sgt John Reginald Page,
F/Sgt Raymond George Tattingham,
Sgt Eric Needham.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Rochefort: 28 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1945 at 1330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
KH125
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from India to RAF Oakington, near Manchester, on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC). While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed near Rochefort, killing all 28 occupants.
Crew:
F/lt L. J. Slack,
F/Lt E. W. Beech,
F/Lt A. J. Balsom,
W/O S. J. Gillingham,
F/O H. Rowe.
Passengers:
LAC C. C. Baker,
LAC W. R. Birkett,
LAC B. F. Blackbourn,
Sgt H. Bolton,
Bsm T. G. Burch,
Sgt C. Donaldson,
F/Lt W. G. Gibson,
Sgt L. Hainsworth,
Cdr J. G. Halliday,
Bom H. D. Henderson,
Pvt C. J. John,
Pvt A. Mitchell,
Gun R. W. Norton,
Pvt F. J. Parkin,
Gun S. W. Pearson,
Pvt I. G. Richards,
Gun D. Ross,
Gun C. C. Thompson,
Bom W. E. Turner,
LAC W. Vincent,
Pvt D. West,
Gun G. Whitehead,
Cpl E. S. Winslade.
Probable cause:
The loss of control occurred while the aircraft was flying in a low pressure area with thunderstorm activity and severe turbulence. It is understood that the aircraft suffered of turbulence, maybe was hit by lightning and lost several pieces on the left wing before the control was lost.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30A Liberator in RAF Merryfield: 27 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1945 at 1000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
KH126
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Merryfield – Bombay
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from RAF Merryfield, while in initial climb, the captain made a turn to the left when the aircraft hit the slope of the Castle Hill located 4 miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 27 occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt L. Mielecki, pilot,
F/O G. T. Miers, copilot,
F/O S. Kleybor, navigator,
F/Sgt J. Anderson, flight engineer,
F/O A. Wize, wireless operator.
Passengers:
Sig R. O. Anderson,
Sig R. C. Anderson,
Sig J. H. Attwood,
Sig D. B. Benjamin,
Lt P. T. Biles,
Sig A. T. Birch,
Sig J. W. A. Brewis,
Cpt H. C. Buck,
Sig W. A. Charlton,
Sig A. E. Clark,
Sig L. J. Curry,
Sig H. Donovan,
Sig L. H. Downes,
Sig L. R. Dyer,
Sig P. B. Fairbairn,
Sig R. D. Farrance,
Dri B. W. Fox,
Sig F. W. Gent,
Lt A. G. Quick,
Maj H. W. G. Staunton,
Sig R. Williams,
Sig C. Williams.
Probable cause:
The captain completed the first turn to the left after takeoff at a too low altitude, about 800 feet instead of the minimum 1,500 feet as mentioned in the departure procedures. Low visibility due to poor weather conditions was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VI in Brussels: 31 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1945 at 2045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
KL595
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London – Brussels – New Delhi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
Following a long takeoff roll, the aircraft rotated but failed to gain sufficient height. At the end of the runway, the four engine aircraft hit a mound, nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 31 occupants were killed.
Crew (206th Squadron):
F/Lt Peter Green, pilot,
F/O John Dolphin Freckleton, pilot,
F/Sgt Dennis George Nightall, flight engineer,
F/O Bernard Connor, navigator,
F/O Harry Thomas Walter Alderton, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
S/Ldr Richard Charles Rivaz,
Dvr Rowland George Ashton,
Dvr William George Bayfeild,
Dvr George Henry Bowyer,
Dvr Leslie John Brannon,
Cpl Frederick John Edwin Cooper,
Cpt Philip Brian Crosby,
Dvr Sydney Crouch,
Pvt Cecil Henry Ellis,
Pvt Eric Joshua Ellis,
Pvt James Etheridge,
Pvt Cyril James Evans,
Pvt Richard Evans,
Pvt Bernard Fannon,
Pvt Thomas Fleming,
Pvt Thomas Henry Forsyth,
Dvr Albert Garner,
Dvr George Gibson,
Dvr Albert Edward Hubble,
Dvr William James Keeley,
Dvr Kenneth Mann,
Dvr Derick Moore,
Dvr Charles Mark,
Cpl Reginald Walter Pluck,
Dvr Reginald Pritchard,
Pvt Geoffrey Jack Withers.
Probable cause:
The rotation was attempted at an insufficient speed and the aircraft was in stall condition after liftoff.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30A Liberator II in Swanage: 27 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1945 at 0815 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JT985
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Holmsley South – Castel Benito – New Delhi
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
On the morning of Friday, June 15, 1945, with the war still raging in the Far East, Liberator JT985 of No 232 Squadron took off from RAF Holmsley South in the New Forest, on the first leg of its long flight to New Delhi-Palam Airport, India. The first refueling stop was scheduled to be at RAF Castel Benito, near Tripoli in North Africa. This Liberator was a passenger-carrying RY-3' (US designation) variant, with passenger accommodation in the former bomb bay area as well as within the main fuselage, and was distinguished easily from the twin tail fin bomber variants so well known with Coastal Command and the USAAF by its single large tail fin. It was unarmed. The weather at Holmsley South was poor, but both the captain and the duty executive officer considered it suitable for take-off, but poor enough for a diversion to be likely if an early return was necessitated. JT985 departed at 07:20 hours. At 07:45 hours, shortly after crossing the coast outbound, the aircraft reported a loss of fuel pressure and that the crew were turning back to carry out a precautionary landing at Holmsley South. This information was repeated again 10 minutes later. At around 08:15 hours the owner of Encombe House, Sir Ernest Scott, and a worker at Encombe dairy saw the aircraft, which was obviously below the height of the hills, and both knew instinctively that it was going to crash. It impacted on the edge of what is now the Dorset Coastal Path, the wings were ripped off and the engines detached and were thrown forward towards Orchard Hill Farm, one wing coming to rest on the footpath (not a public footpath) in Polar Wood leading from the top of the ridge to the farm. There were no survivors. The first to reach the scene were an RAF sergeant by the name of Reginald Reynolds, who was staying at Encombe House, and members of an Army searchlight battery located between the farm and the village of Kingston; they were soon joined by RAF personnel from, presumably, nearby RAF Worth Matravers. The National Fire Service from Swanage was soon on the scene, as were local police officers. When the low cloud lifted at about eleven o'clock a scene of total devastation was revealed. The tragic remains of 27 bodies was joined by much in the way of personal belongings such as a baby's photograph, playing cards, personal notebooks, wallets and the like, together with a distinguished flying cross, thrown from its box but which was also retrieved. Who did the DFC belong to? Not any of the crew or passengers, so maybe it was being taken to India for presentation to its owner? There was also a large amount of tropical uniform items and, to the delight of the local children, tins of boiled sweets. The bodies of the crash victims were eventually taken away to Poole Mortuary. This was, and still is, Dorset's worst ever air crash.
Crew (232nd Squadron):
F/Lt Saxon Cole, pilot,
F/O Donald Twaddle, copilot,
F/O Joseph Todd, navigator,
F/O George McPherson, radio officer,
Sgt George Wyke, flight engineer.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=25114