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Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Ekron

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
B-52
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
611
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ekron-Tel Nof AFB
Central District
Country:
Israel
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a bulldozer. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan IV near Tel Aviv

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Miles M.57 Aerovan
Operator:
Registration:
B-71
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6418
YOM:
1947
Location:
Tel Aviv (תל אביב-יפו)
Tel Aviv District
Country:
Israel
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing south of Tel Aviv. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all five occupants survived. The captain Murray Weissberg was recovered later while the second pilot Spencer Boyd and all three passengers were captured by Palestinians soldiers and later executed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Ground fire of a Curtiss C-46 in Ekron

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
RX-133
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ekron - Žatec
Location:
Ekron-Tel Nof AFB
Central District
Country:
Israel
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The left engine caught fire during start up. The crew called the fire brigade and evacuated the aircraft. The fire was extinguished but the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire and considered as damaged beyond economical repair.
Probable cause:
It was reported that fuel spilled on the left hand wing during a refueling operation with a manual fuel pump.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Latrun: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
RX-136
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Žatec - Ekron
Location:
Latrun
Jerusalem District
Country:
Israel
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Žatec, Czech Republic, to the airbase of Ekron-Tel Nof, carrying a load of bombs and a Czech fighter aircraft. While descending to Ekron, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to divert to Tel Aviv-Sde Dov Airport. On final approach, the aircraft was hit by gun fire. In such conditions, the captain increased power and started a go around to leave the area. Few minutes later, while cruising a low height in reduced visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located south of Latrun. Both pilots were rescued while the navigator was killed. It was later confirmed by the authorities that the soldiers in place in Tel Aviv Airport opened fire on the aircraft as they have not been informed that an aircraft would land.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Amman: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
B-51
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
723
YOM:
1944
Location:
Amman
Amman City District
Country:
Jordan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Taking part to the Independence War of Israel, the single engine aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it crashed in unknown circumstances in Bait Mahseer, a suburb of Amman. All four occupants were killed, among them pilots Yariv Sheinbaum and Daniel Bukstein.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A Commando in Mexico City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
RX-138
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Burbank – Mexico City – Panama City
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after lift off, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. The copilot was killed while the captain was seriously injured. He died from his injuries few hours later. The crew was on its way from Burbank to Israel to deliver the aircraft to the Israel Air Force. Four other similar aircraft were performing the same trip at the same time. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was still under the Panamanian register by LAPSA - Lineas Aéreas de Panama.
Crew:
William Guy Gerson, pilot,
Ernest Glen King, copilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of one engine just after rotation.
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