Aïn Oussera | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Aïn Oussera Airfield on a flight to Laghouat. While cruising at an altitude of 400 metres, some 8 km from the destination airfield, the engine lost power. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a flat field. The airplane landed then rolled for about 100 metres when it collided with a rock pile, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The airplane slid for few dozen metres and came to rest, bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped unhurt while the airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Sgt C Orfila, pilot.
Passenger:
Cpt Bardou.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the engine failed in flight following a fuel exhaustion probably caused by a fuel leak.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston in Aïn Oussera

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Blida - Laghouat

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Blida Airfield at 1200LT on a transit flight to Laghouat. At 1225LT, while cruising 25 km from Aïn Oussera, the left engine lost power and black smoke was coming out from the nacelle. The crew decided to divert to Aïn Oussera but was unable to maintain a safe height because the left propeller could not be feathered. On final, the airplane stalled and crash landed, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Mérigon, pilot,
Adj/C Georges Touzé, cdt,
Sgt Albert Roure, mechanic,
Sgt/C Henri Juret, radio operator.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.