Crash of a Fairchild CC-119 Flying Boxcar near Minozzo

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1958 at 1700 LT
Operator:
Registration:
22128
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Athens – Pisa
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Canada, carrying the remains of a RCAF DHC-3 Otter (c/n 185) that crashed in Gaza on 19SEP1958. While overflying the Apennins mountain range, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and icing conditions. In such circumstances, the airplane lost altitude and eventually, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a rough terrain. All seven crew members were evacuated while both aircraft were destroyed.

Crash of a Vickers 628 Viking 1B in Port Said: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AGN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Athens – Cairo
MSN:
196
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While approaching Cairo Intl Airport following an uneventful flight from Athens, the crew was instructed by ATC to divert to Port-Said due to poor weather conditions at destination. The crew continued to Port-Said and on approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the Manzala Lake located few km from the airfield. All four crew members and four passengers were killed while 18 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B near Castrovillari: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1958 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-APJS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bahrain – Athens – Rome – London
MSN:
14001
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
2294.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a ferry flight from Athens, Greece to Ciampino Airport, Rome - it was being transferred from Bahrain to England to be checked and to undergo certain modifications. It had departed Athens at 1407Z on an IFR flight plan and later reported that it expected to fly over Caraffa at 1730 and requested clearance to fly at a lower level. This clearance was not granted since the flight level requested was below the safety minimum for that route segment. There were no further contacts with the aircraft. It crashed between 1735Z and 1808Z on the southeast slope of Mt Scifarello at a height of approximately 1,730 metres (5 675 ft). The 3 crew aboard were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a navigational error. The following were contributing causes:
- The weather conditions encountered were worse than those forecast,
- The pilot had difficulty in receiving MF bearings,
- There was no anti-icing equipment on the wing surfaces.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B on Mt Taurus: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VK-500
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Amman – Beirut – Athens – London
MSN:
260
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Amman to London with intermediate stops at Beirut and Athens, carrying four high ranking officers of the Jordanian Air Force (Arab Legion Air Force) on behalf of the Jordanian Government, and two crew members. While overflying Turkey, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located in the Taurus Mountain Range, about 30 km southwest of Karaman. As the airplane failed to arrive in Athens, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted in an isolated area six months later. All six occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 near Bitola: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Athens – Florina
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a special flight from Athens to Florina on behalf of the Balkans Commission by the UNO. After the crew started the descent to Florina from the north, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances south of Bitola, about 25 km north of Florina. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Monte Argentario: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1948 at 1752 LT
Registration:
ZS-BYX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Athens – Nice
MSN:
12587
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While flying over the Ligurian Sea en route from Athens to Nice, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to divert to Rome-Ciampino. The aircraft overflew the Orbetello lagoon and then went through low clouds when it hit the slope of a mountain located near Monte Argentario. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed. The airplane was performing a charter flight on behalf of the British operator Scott Gordon Aviator.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain. Poor visibility caused by low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E into the Mediterranean Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-BCJA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marseille – Rome – Athens – Nicosia – Baghdad – Saigon
MSN:
12802
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way to Indochina to be delivered to the Société Indochinoise de Transports Aériens (SITA) and was carrying two British engineers and three pilots. While cruising between Turkey and Cyprus, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mediterranean Sea, about 100 km north of the Cyprus coast. No trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near Athens: 44 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1947 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SE-BBG
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Istanbul – Athens – Rome – Geneva – Amsterdam – Copenhagen – Stockholm
MSN:
42930
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
AB1629
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
While descending to Athens-Hassani Airport, the crew was contacted by ATC and instructed to stack for a while due to poor weather conditions (thunderstorm activity) at destination. Few minutes later, the four engine aircraft christened 'Sunnan' hit the slope of Mt Hymettus located northeast of the airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all 44 occupants were killed. The crew was unable to distinguish the mountain due to poor visibility caused by low clouds. It is believed that the crew was not aware of his exact position at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII off Athens: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
MF188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising at a height of some 1,500 feet during a training exercise and performing a turn to the right, the right engine failed. The crew increased power on left engine and elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed off Pireas harbor. The aircraft was lost and all eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-105-BO Flying Fortress near Picinisco: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1945 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-39197
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Marseille – Athènes
MSN:
10175
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Enroute, while cruising along the Italian shore, the crew encountered poor weather with severe icing conditions and told ATC he wanted to divert to Rome Airport. Later, while in poor visibility due to clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of Monti della Meta located few km northeast of the Picinisco village. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was located by walkers in May 1946. It is believed that the crew misjudged the icing severity and the flight was not properly prepared. Heavy cumulus were present from 1,200 up to 5,000 meters.