Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Sarir

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1970 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5967C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sarir - Tobruk
MSN:
A-842
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2330
Captain / Total hours on type:
211.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, smoke spread in the cockpit and cabin. The pilot abandoned the takeoff procedure and stopped the airplane onto the runway. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It is believed that an engine caught fire during takeoff for unknown reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III in Libya: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1943 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGIB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cairo - Djerba - Poole
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While cruising over Libya by night and in good weather conditions, one the right engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in the desert but while descending, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames some 150 km southeast of Tobruk. All 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to officials, a fire with very high intensity broke out on one of both right engines and quickly spread to the right wing that separated during the descent, causing the plane to crash.

Crash of a Fiat G.12 off Gavdos Island

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-FELI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tobruk – Athens
MSN:
18
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Tobruk to Athens, the crew encountered technical problems with the fuel supply system. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Gavdos Island, south of Crete. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost. The aircraft was carrying the military registration MM60666 as well.
Crew:
Cpt Fenili.
Probable cause:
Failure of the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Tobruk

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGCZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Tobruk
MSN:
2023
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Tobruk Airfield. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Tobruk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8530
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shot down by the pilot of an Italian fighter and crashed near Tobruk. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Colin Pryce Edwards, †
Sgt Harry Cecil Thomas Holmans, †
F/Lt J. Paine.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I off Tobruk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L8479
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The bomber was shot down by the pilot of a CR.42 and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea off Tobruk. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Peter James Bingham Griffiths, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Charles Tadhunter, observer,
Sgt Colin Blackshaw, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian fighter.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Tobruk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5849
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Heliopolis
MSN:
SH.42
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Heliopolis on a mission over Tobruk. Approaching the target area at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Alexandria

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5819
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tobruk - Alexandria
MSN:
SH.12
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew initiated the approach to Alexandria Airport in foggy conditions following a supply mission from Tobruk. Due to poor visibility, the captain was unable to locate the runway, abandoned the approach and initiated a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second approach, both engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mariout Lake, few hundred metres short of runway. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (216th Squadron).
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Marsa Matruh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5815
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Tobrouk – Héliopolis
MSN:
SH.8
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a supply mission in Tobruk, the aircraft was returning to Heliopolis. While cruising at night at low height, it impacted a cliff and crashed about 40 km south of Mersa Matruh. Two crew members were injured and three others were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
P/O Ralph Paul Joseph Osborne, pilot, †
S/L R. G. Taylor, pilot, †
LAC Kenneth Edward Webber, †
LAC George Niven,
Cpl A. C. Hazlitt.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I off Alexandria: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5848
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tobruk - Heliopolis
MSN:
SH.41
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to Heliopolis following a supply mission in Tobruk. While cruising along the shore at night, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the sea. One body was recovered from sea but not trace from the four other crew members was ever found.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Albert Grundy, pilot,
Sgt John George Cowlishaw,
LAC Matthew Hetherington Winship,
LAC Peter Douglas Snowden,
LAC Thomas Murray.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.