Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E in Los Barrios: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
F-BENG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bordeaux – Gibraltar – Casablanca
MSN:
12812
YOM:
1947
Location:
Algeciras
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Gibraltar, while climbing to an altitude of 2,500 to 3,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in Los Barrios, northwest of Algeciras. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Bordeaux to Casablanca with an intermediate stop in Gibraltar. The aircraft was carrying a load of four tons of various goods.
Probable cause:
The published procedure for a departure from runway 27 at Gibraltar Airport states that crews have to make a turn to the left after takeoff in order to avoid the mountains near Algeciras. For unknown reason, the crew continued a straight in climb out after lift off, causing the aircraft to hit the mountain.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in Casablanca

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1948
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
SOCOTRA - Société Coopérative de Tramping Aérien
Registration:
F-BBZC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
248
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, a landing gear failed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapse on landing.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan near Sefrou: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1946 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
AAC.1 Toucan
Operator:
Air Océan
Registration:
F-BCAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris – Casablanca
MSN:
281
Location:
Sefrou
Fès-Boulemane
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While flying by night in low visibility at an altitude of 3,600 feet, the three engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 10 km south of Sefrou. The wreckage was localized few hours later and all 16 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that, following a navigational error on part of the crew, the aircraft was on the wrong track at the time of the accident. Also, its altitude of 3,600 feet was insufficient.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Casablanca: 13 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107377
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27064
YOM:
1944
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Casablanca-Cazes Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed 3 km from the airfield. Thirteen occupants were killed while 17 others were injured.
Crew killed were:
R. Garrett,
F/O J. Harrington,
1st Lt Stanley E. Indyk,
1st Lt Eric B. Ives,
Sgt R. T. Johnson,
Cpl Watters L. Lamkin,
1st Lt Samuel W. Lipscomb,
Pfc Michael A. Miraglio,
Lt Col Harry Paller,
1st Lt Bernard A. Perlick,
Maj George E. Skiriey,
Cpt E. Wertman,
Lt Col Charles L. Wheaton.

Ground accident of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Casablanca

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96530
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30192
YOM:
1944
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The mishap occurred in unknown circumstances during taxiing at Casablanca-Cazes Airport. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator in RAF Talbenny: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AM913
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Casablanca - Talbenny
MSN:
4
YOM:
1940
Location:
Talbenny AFB
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Talbenny, the pilot lost control of the aircraft as a result of an engine's explosion. The aircraft came down in a field few miles short of runway threshold. Eight occupants were seriously injured while eleven others were killed.
Probable cause:
An engine exploded on approach and fell off, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of a Saro A.27 London II off Casablanca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Saro A.27 London
Operator:
Registration:
K9682
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Gibraltar
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Gibraltar on a reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrol mission. While flying along the Moroccan coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a Vichy French Curtiss H-75 and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 60 km off Casablanca. Both pilots were killed and three other crew members became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Edwin Charles Minchinton, pilot, †
F/L Bruce McCallum, pilot, †
LAC Richard Marshall-Hardy, wireless operator, +2.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Vichy French fighter.

Crash of a Martin 167 Maryland off Gibraltar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1940 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 167 Maryland
Operator:
Registration:
4
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Casablanca - Gibraltar
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Casablanca on a flight to Gibraltar, carrying four crew members. After it landed in El Polo Airfield in Campamento, on the Spanish territory, the crew realized he was not in Gibraltar, took off and headed south. On approach to Gibraltar, the aircraft was shot down by ground fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jacques Le Forestier de Vendeuvre,
Lt Jean-Pierre Berger,
Lt Bertrand Jochaud du Plessis,
Lt Robert Weill.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte near Tivissa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-AUJG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cologne – Toulouse – Barcelona – Casablanca
MSN:
5942
YOM:
1938
Location:
Tivissa
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Barcelona to Casablanca, while cruising southwest of Tarragona, the three engine aircraft named 'Hans Wende' impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra de Llaberia, near Tivissa. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.310 in Casablanca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1939 at 0635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Caproni Ca.310/311/312/313
Operator:
Registration:
14-22-1
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rome - Casablanca - Lima
MSN:
435
YOM:
1939
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rome to be delivered to the Cuerpo Aeronaútico del Perú in Lima. Following a fuel stop at Casablanca Airport, the airplane took off when then it went out of control and crashed seven km from the airfield. One crew member was seriously injured while both other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Pedro Canga Rodríguez, pilot,
Mr. Icaca, mechanic,
Mr. Villanueva, radio operator. †
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