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Crash of a Max Holste M.H. 1521M Broussard near Alpe d'Huez: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1961 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard
Operator:
Registration:
F-BJLR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alpe d'Huez - Alpe d'Huez
MSN:
50C
YOM:
1958
Location:
Alpe d'Huez
Isère
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Alpe d'Huez Aerodrome with one pilot and two employees from Europe 1, one journalist and one sound engineer, who wanted to make a reportage about the recent avalanches. While approaching the mountain located above Alpe d'Huez, the aircraft was caught by severe downdrafts and crashed in a rocky area located at an altitude of 2,070 meters. A passenger was killed while both other occupants were seriously injured. Few hours later, they died from their injuries.
Crew:
Mathieu Conti.
Passengers:
Pierre Nicoli, sound engineer,
Francis Lauga, journalist.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to severe downdrafts in altitude.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas near Boukpayanga: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGZB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berbérati – Bangui – Bambari
MSN:
2
YOM:
1952
Location:
Boukpayanga
Lobaye
Country:
Central African Republic
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a special flight from Berberati to Bambari with an intermediate stop at Bangui, carrying a crew of three and Barthélemy Boganda, President of the Central African Republic and five members of his office. He was returning to the capital city after taking part to several discussions in Berberati. About 27 minutes after takeoff from Berberati Airport, while in cruising altitude, the right wing failed and detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in the savanna located near Boukpayanga. The airplane was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the right wing detached in flight due to a structural failure caused by severe vibrations due to additional engines that were installed on this special Noratlas model.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Salisbury: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1958 at 1252 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGTZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Salisbury – Brazzaville – Algiers – Nice – Paris
MSN:
43827/337
YOM:
1953
Flight number:
UT736
Location:
Harare
Harare Province
Country:
Zimbabwe
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
63
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating UAT scheduled service UT736 from Johannesburg to Paris. It took off from Salisbury Airport at 1252LT for Brazzaville and during takeoff from runway 24 entered rain. The aircraft climbed to about 50 feet and then began to lose airspeed and height. Although the captain was using full power, had 20" of flap extended and the undercarriage retracted, he was unable to prevent the aircraft sinking back on to the ground. Fire broke out immediately after impact. Of the 7 crew and 63 passengers on board, three passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft struck the ground shortly after take-off as a result of an uncontrollable loss of airspeed and height due to a sudden squall accompanying the onset of a thunderstorm.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in Fort Lamy: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFVT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Douala – Fort Lamy
MSN:
10292
YOM:
1944
Location:
N'Djamena
N'Djamena Capital City
Country:
Chad
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On landing at Fort Lamy Airport, the four engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest upside down in flames. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B on Mt Koupé: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGOI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yaoundé – Douala
MSN:
14010
YOM:
1953
Location:
Mt Koupé
Southwest
Country:
Cameroon
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Yaoundé at 1658LT four a short flight to Douala, ETA 1730LT. While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Koupé (2,064 meters high) located about 80 km north of Douala. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 12 occupants was found. On 19 February 1956, walkers found the wreckage in a dense wooded area on Mt Koupé.
Probable cause:
The accident seems to be the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain. Nevertheless, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident and the reason why the flight was off course to the north as the aircraft crashed 80 km north of Douala on a flight from the east.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 1A in Dakar

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1953 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGSC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris – Marseille – Dakar – Abidjan
MSN:
6019
YOM:
1953
Location:
Dakar-Yoff
Dakar Region
Country:
Senegal
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight and approach, the pilot-in-command landed properly and started the braking procedure when one of the main landing gear struck a hole in the runway surface. The gear's leg broke off and the airplane came on its belly, slid for dozen yards and overran before coming to rest about 40 meters past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. Brand new, it was delivered few weeks ago.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed while contacting a hole in the runway surface.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in Bordeaux: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1953 at 1028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFGR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Abidjan – Conakry – Dakar – Casablanca – Bordeaux – Paris
MSN:
10290
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bordeaux-Mérignac
Gironde
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6878
Captain / Total hours on type:
1877.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
350
Copilot / Total hours on type:
40
Aircraft flight hours:
11250
Circumstances:
The final approach to Bordeaux-Mérignac was performed in foggy conditions. Due to low visibility, the flying crew did not realize that his altitude was insufficient when the four engine aircraft hit the top of pine trees, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Eysines, north of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and nine occupants were killed, six crew members and three passengers.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the causes of the accident, listed in the chronological order of their occurrence, can be analyzed as follow:
- unfortunate initiative by the tower controller and a misjudgment by the pilot-in-command leading to an attempt to land in insufficient visibility,
- use of an attention-grabbing procedure by an excess of means for guiding in plan to the detriment of altitude safety,
- a probable wrong altimeter setting,
- wrong interpretation of the altitude vertical to the outer marker.
The fatigue of the flying crew resulting from an excessive period of duty and the discomfort caused by the presence in the cockpit of two additional crew members under training may have contributed to the occurrence.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Lake Chad: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFVO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fort Lamy – Beirut
MSN:
10498
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lake Chad
Lac
Country:
Chad
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Chad. A pilot was rescued while five other occupants were killed. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Fort Lamy to Beirut.
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