Matruh | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a positioning flight from Kiev to Khartoum with an intermediate stop in El Alamein, Egypt. While cruising by night, the crew informed ATC that he was short of fuel and attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located about 50 km east of El Alamein Airport. The aircraft belly landed, slid for few dozen metres and came to rest, broken in two. There was no fire. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is reported that the crew was forced to make an emergency landing due to fuel shortage, probably caused by strong headwinds all along the flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Marsa Matruh: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

349050

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

El Adem – Nicosia – Saigon

MSN:

14866/26311

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

While flying along the Egyptian coast, en route to Saigon via Nicosia, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed near Marsa Matruh, killing all nine crew members registered to the Touraine Group.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul near El Alamein

Date & Time: May 24, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.65 Consul

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIOU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Croydon – Cairo

MSN:

4355

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Enroute, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing in a desert area located about 26 km south of El Alamein. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-1 near Marsa Matruh: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Alexandria - Marsa Matruh

MSN:

1087

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on a flight from Alexandria to Marsa Matruh and was destroyed. All four crew members were killed. The exact location of the mishap remains unclear.
Crew:
Fw Rudolf Grossmeyer, pilot,
Fw Horst Helpenstein, observer,
Uffz Hardy Freisackern, radio operator,
Uffz Josef Heiss, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Mersa Matruh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

NQ+AV

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

5480

YOM:

1935

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Circumstances:

The three engine airplane departed Derna, Libya, on an ambulance flight to Greece, carrying wounded soldiers and three crew members. Over Mersa Matruh, it was shot down by a British fighter and crashed in a desert area near the city. At least a crew member, Uffz Rudolf Horan (air gunner) was killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell in Sidi Heneish

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

41-29681

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

87-7846

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by antiaircraft fire and crashed in Sidi Heneish. Apparently, all occupants parachuted to safety.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near Al Dabaa

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1942 at 2330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

Z8976

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abu Sueir - Abu Sueir

Location:

LG.106 AFB (Al Dabaa)

Matruh

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Abu Sueir at 1900LT on an operation to Tobruk. At 2315LT, while approaching the target area at an altitude of 12,000 feet, it was hit by the German Flak and the left engine stopped. The crew decided to return to base but was unable to maintain altitude with only the starboard engine running. Eventually, the pilot made a smooth emergency landing in a desert area located in the Qattara Depression, near Al Dabaa. All six crew members walked for 29 days before reaching the allied lines.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald Cyril Carter, pilot,
Sgt Arthur Dennis Bebbington, pilot,
Sgt Ivor Davies, navigator,
P/O Brian Earl Johnston, wireless operator,
Sgt John Christopher Haldon, air gunner,
F/Sgt Georges Thomas Boniface Croisiau, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Hit by the German Flak.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m3ge in Marsa Matruh

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-AHFN

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6047

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed on landing at Marsa Matruh Airport while approaching in poor weather conditions. There were no fatalities.

Crash of De Havilland DH.86A Express in Siwa

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.86 Express

Operator:

Registration:

AX762

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Siwa

MSN:

2333

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Upon landing at Siwa Airport, while on an ambulance flight from Heliopolis, the right main gear failed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there was no casualties.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear upon touchdown.