Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Sarir

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1970 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Air Libya
Registration:
N5967C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sarir - Tobruk
MSN:
A-842
YOM:
1952
Location:
Sarir
Benghazi (بنغازي)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
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:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGIB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Cairo - Djerba - Poole
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
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 Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Tobruk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
T2049
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tobruk - Tobruk
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While taking off from Tobruk Airfield, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Theofanis G. Catselis,
W/O Ioannis D. Scalaios.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Fiat G.12 off Gavdos Island

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Fiat G.12
Operator:
Registration:
I-FELI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tobruk – Athens
MSN:
18
Location:
Gavdos Island
Crete / Κρήτη
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
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 ditched the airplane off Gavdos Island, south of Crete. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost. The airplane was also carrying the military registration MM60666.
Crew:
Cpt Fenili.
Probable cause:
Failure of the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Tobruk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6471
YOM:
1939
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane collided in midair with a second Luftwaffe JU.52 registered 8T+FL (msn 6931) about 20 km north of Tobruk and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mg5e off Tobruk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
8T+FL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6931
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane collided in midair with a second Luftwaffe JU.52 (msn 6471) about 20 km north of Tobruk and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Lehmann, pilot,
Ofw Winkelmann, radio operator,
Fw Wippler, mechanic,
Gefr Eichinger, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mg6e into the Mediterranean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
KF+QS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Maleme - Tobruk
MSN:
3131
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Maleme to Tobruk, the three engine airplane was shot down by a British fighter and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Obfw Josef Meisenhälter, pilot,
Uffz Paul Dickmann, radio operator,
Fw Georg Burgis, mechanic,
Uffz Roman Brückl, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Tobruk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
ES989
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed a LG in Egypt on an operation to Tobruk. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed in the target area. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O Archibald Boyd Cameron,
W/O Roger Bentley Clements,
F/Sgt Roderick Daniel MacDonald,
Sgt Peter McIntyre,
Sgt Geoffrey Donald Rawbone,
W/O Sidney Allan George Turner.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Tobruk

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGCZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Tobruk
MSN:
2023
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
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:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L8530
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
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.
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