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Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Bangui

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6036
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing 128 km from Bangui. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels – London
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Brussels on a mail flight to London on behalf of the RAF 271st Squadron. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak. The mechanic bailed out and survived while both pilots were killed when the aircraft crashed in an open field.
Crew:
P/O John Robertson McLaren, pilot, †
Victor Moreau, pilot, †
Armand Peeters, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-227B in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2094
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Brussels to the British Isles. While overflying the region of Merville, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located near Arques and was destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot and the navigator were killed while both other crew members and both passengers became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Chartier, pilot, †
Capt John M.H. Hoare, navigator, †
P/O Benson Freeman,
Pier Vrebos, engineer.
Source: http://luchtvaartgeschiedenis.be/
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.83 in Léopoldville

Date & Time: May 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
34003
YOM:
1938
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Brussels: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1939 at 0557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
5815
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Brussels-Haren Airport at night and in marginal weather conditions, at a height of about 50-60 metres, the three engine airplane lost altitude and descended to 10-20 metres when the pilot-in-command initiated a go around procedure. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident appeared to be attributable to an error of the pilot who made a go around when the aircraft was in the final landing phase, flaps out, and was already losing speed. The pilot's error was caused by an initial error of judgement, as he felt that he could land without facing the wind when he had taken a large margin of safety at high altitude, a margin required by the poor weather conditions and the lack of clearance from the aerodrome boundary in the direction of landing. The pilot did not appear to be concerned about the required landing direction indicated to him by the 'T' and the landing light location. His decision seems to have been dictated by the fear of missing the ground that he had had a hard enough time finding after a trip that was probably painful. In any event, the terminal services do not appear to be questionable as to the origin and consequences of the accident.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Soest: 20 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1938 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brussels – Düsseldorf – Berlin
MSN:
4
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On the leg from Düsseldorf to Berlin, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet in fog and rain, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All 20 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Vanden Eynde, pilot,
André Edmond Moulin, copilot,
Josef Baus, radio operator,
Charles Deleusse, engineer.
Passengers:
Friedrich Luther,
Ernst Maurach,
Walter Kappes,
Mrs. Walter Kappes and three children,
Paul Ullmann +8.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. There was speculation that a propeller may have broken, tearing loose an engine, or that the pilot may have attempted a sudden pullout from a rapid descent, the manoeuvre over stressing a wing and causing its failure.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Lympne

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Brussels - Lympne
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Brussels on a cargo flight to Lympne. On approach, he encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and strong winds. The airplane struck the roof of a house and crashed in a garden located by the church. Both crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Ostend: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1937 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Munich – Frankfurt – Brussels – London
MSN:
5827
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While descending to Brussels, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to divert to Ostend where two other passengers were supposed to embark. Upon arrival, the crew completed two circuits over the airport of Ostend before initiating the final approach. Weather conditions were poor with limited visibility due to fog. On final, at a height of some 20 metres, the aircraft hit with its right wing the chimney of the 'Briqueterie Nationale' located in Stene. The aircraft stalled and crashed upside down, bursting into flames. All 11 occupants were killed, among them Grand Ducal and Duchess of Hesse and two of their children.
Crew:
Antoine Lambotte, pilot,
Maurice Courtois, radio navigator,
Ivan Lansmans, engineer.
Passengers:
Georges-Donatus von Hesse-Darmstadt, Grand-Ducal of Hesse,
Cécile de Grèce, Grand Duchess of Hesse,
Éléonore von Solms-Hohensolms-Lich,
Louis von Hesse-Darmstadt,
Alexander von Hesse-Darmstadt,
Joachim Riedesel zu Eisenbach,
Arthur Martens,
Lina Hahn.
Probable cause:
An airport employee was blamed for not adequately assisting the pilot down in the conditions of poor visibility, even though rockets had been fired from the ground in an attempt to do so.

Crash of a Sabca S.73 in Oran: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1937 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGR
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elisabethville – Gao – Aguelhok – Reggane – Colomb-Béchar – Oran – Brussels
MSN:
2
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Colomb-Béchar at 1510LT on the leg to Oran. On approach to Oran-Es Senia Airport, while flying at a height of some 2,500 feet below the clouds, the three engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed some 10 km short of runway. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Marcel Liedts, pilot,
Auguste Closset, copilot,
Roger Maerschalk, radio operator,
René Verfaillie, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Mrs. Gueldoof,
Mr. Bossaert,
Mr. Thommes,
Mr. & Mrs. Dieudonné,
Mr. Pirsoul,
Mr. Gullmin +1.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were considered as good and the airplane was flying below the clouds when control was lost. Any technical anomalies with the engines was ruled out.

Crash of a Sabca F7/3m in Silly-le-Long: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1936 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris – Brussels – Cologne
YOM:
1929
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 cargo flight from Paris to Cologne with an intermediate stop in Brussels. Few minutes after takeoff from Paris-Le Bourget Airport, the three engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Silly-le-Long, some 30 km northeast of Le Bourget Airport. Both crew members were killed.