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Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.83 in Léopoldville

Date & Time: May 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.83
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUC
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
34003
YOM:
1938
Location:
Kinshasa
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
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:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
5815
YOM:
1937
Location:
Brussels
Flemish Brabant
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
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:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Düsseldorf – Berlin
MSN:
4
YOM:
1936
Location:
Soest
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
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:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Brussels - Lympne
Location:
Lympne
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Munich – Frankfurt – Brussels – London
MSN:
5827
YOM:
1937
Location:
Ostend
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
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:
Sabca S.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elisabethville – Gao – Aguelhok – Reggane – Colomb-Béchar – Oran – Brussels
MSN:
2
YOM:
1936
Location:
Oran-Es Senia
Oran
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
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:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Brussels – Cologne
YOM:
1929
Location:
Silly-le-Long
Oise
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
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.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Flandria

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Libenge – Léopoldville
YOM:
1930
Location:
Flandria
Équateur
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the left undercarriage was torn off and the airplane slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was dismantled and towed to the nearest airfield but was eventually considered as damaged beyond repair. This flight was an inaugural one.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Tatsfield: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1935 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
30004
YOM:
1935
Location:
Tatsfield
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew initiated the descent to Croydon at sunset. The visibility was poor due to a cloud ceiling down to 100 metres. Too low on approach, the three engine aircraft impacted tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located in Tatsfield, some 13 km southast of Croydon Airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jean Schroonbroodt, pilot,
Jean Desmet, radio navigator,
Alphonse Verbinnen, engineer,
Raymond Strechfuss, steward.
Probable cause:
It was concluded by the UK Accidents Investigation Branch that the pilot, who did not request bearings from the airport and tried to navigate on his own, had descended out of the clouds prematurely, apparently uncertain of his position. He then must have initiated a steep climbing turn to the left to avoid the surrounding hilltops or after realizing that the visible lights were in fact those of Biggin Hill Aerodrome, not Croydon. During the evasive manoeuvre, the SM.73 apparently lost flying speed and stalled, resulting in an uncontrolled descent. And after the stall, some of the passengers may have been thrown forward, causing a weight distribution imbalance that would have hindered the ability of the pilot to regain control. No evidence was found of any prior mechanical or structural failure in the aircraft.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Croydon

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1935 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
30002
YOM:
1935
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the three engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All four crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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