Algeciras | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Algeciras: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

FP214

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

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Following an uneventful maritime patrol flight, the seaplane was flying by night over the land in south of Spain when it hit a mountain slope located near Puerto el Cabrito, between Tarifa and Algeciras. Eight crew members were killed while two others were rescued.
Crew (202nd Squadron):
P/O George Eric F. Johnstone, pilot, †
F/Sgt Harold Sterling Brown, †
Sgt Kenneth Bevan Cooper, †
F/O Edward Russell Free, †
Sgt George Edward Noble, †
P/O George Waters Tibbets, †
Sgt Michael L. Vernon Watson, †
Sgt Arthur Robert Webster, †
Sgt G. T. Davies,
Sgt A. Bibby.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI in Algeciras: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943 at 0132 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

FK621

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

414-7097

YOM:

1943

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Circumstances:

The crew was on a transfer flight from Hastings, Sierra Leone, to England, with intermediate stops including Morocco and Gibraltar. Following a night takeoff from Gibraltar Airport, the crew climbed to the east then veered to the west and continued at an altitude of 1,500 feet when the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Algeciras. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Brian Wallis Polson, pilot,
F/O Harold James Crowe, navigator,
Sgt Henry Edwin Ash, wireless operator,
Sgt Ronald Charles Granville Rickett, air gunner.

Probable cause:

The crew was out of practice at night. Last night flight was in August. Either the pilot did not fly on the correct course due to erratic instrument flying or observer did not give the pilot correct courses through the Straits. The pilot, although he had done no night flying for six months, preferred to be dispatched to the UK by night rather than fly an unarmed aircraft up by day. It is now evident that the crew were not fit to do so.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Algeciras: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

FH398

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Gibraltar - Gibraltar

MSN:

414-6688

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed RAF Gibraltar at 0632LT on an antisubmarine sweep operation. While returning to base, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. On approach in clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located 8 km southwest of Algeciras and 17 km southwest of RAF Gibraltar. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Thomas Waddington, pilot,
P/O Henry Charles Johnson, radio operator,
P/O Gordon Alfred Kenyon, observer,
F/Sgt Thomas McMury Moore, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.