Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Mouangko: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1956
Registration:
F-OAVZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Libreville – Kribi – Douala
MSN:
6790
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height, the twin engine aircraft hit a tree and crashed in the Sanaga River, about 40 km south of Douala. As the airplane failed to arrive at Douala Airport, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found near Mouangko five weeks later on October 26. The pilot was killed. For undetermined reason, he was flying at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Johannesburg

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
ZS-AVZ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04021
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Rand Airport, Jo'burg. There were no injuries but the aircraft came to rest in a field and was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Gerdes El Abid

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1956
Registration:
G-AESR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gerdes El Abid – Benghazi
MSN:
6363
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Went out of control and crashed while taking off from Gerdes El Abid. The aircraft was written off while all seven occupants were rescued and evacuated. It is believed that the airplane hit soft sand while departing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Kikwit

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CMS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Port-Francqui
MSN:
6902
YOM:
1945
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An unexpected situation forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in Kikwit. The airplane was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Canadair C-4M Argonaut in Kano: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1956 at 1722 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALHE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lagos – Kano – Tripoli – London
MSN:
151
YOM:
1949
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed runway 25 at Kano Airport for Tripoli in moderate rain and climbed to an altitude of 250 feet. The aircraft then began to lose height rapidly and although the pilot-in- command ordered full power, the descent could not be checked. Notwithstanding the increased power he was unable to prevent it striking a tree and the aircraft crashed about 1,5 mile from the end of the runway. Three crew members and 29 passengers were killed. At time of takeoff, the reported weather conditions on runway 25 were as follows: cloud 3/8, base at 2,500 feet, wind 270° at 20 knots, visibility 1,500 yards and moderate rain.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of loss of height and airspeed caused by the aircraft en- countering, at approximately 250 feet after takeoff, an unpredictable thunderstorm cell which gave rise to a sudden reversal of wind direction, heavy rain, and possible downdraught conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Idris

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGNS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1220
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident at Idris Airport prior to takeoff. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Lunzu

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YIM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lilongwe – Blantyre
MSN:
87
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Blantyre, the pilot encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions and decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in Lunzu, about 6 km northeast of the Chileka Airport. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross at Wheelus AFB

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
51-039
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
G-114
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, stalled and crashed 400 meters from the airfield. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Cairo: 52 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1956 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGOD
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Saigon – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Paris
MSN:
43835
YOM:
1953
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Saigon to Paris, France and had left Karachi for Cairo on 19 February at 1715 hours Greenwich Mean Time with 9 crew and 55 passengers aboard. The flight was routine until 0230 hours (20 February) when the aircraft reported to Cairo Air Traffic Control that it had passed Suez (60 miles east of Cairo) at 0224 at a flight level of 8 500 feet, flying VFR and was descending. At 0240 it reported the Cairo aerodrome in sight and being 15 miles out, was granted an authorization for a VFR approach and at the same time was given the QFE and QNH, 29.42 and 29.73 respectively. Contact was established with Cairo approach and the aircraft requested and received landing instructions oh 118.5 megacycles and was asked to call down wind. This message was acknowledged and was the last heard from the flight. Several attempts to contact the aircraft on all available frequencies were made but were unsuccessful. At 0450 hours the wreckage was sighted 18 miles southeast of the aerodrome. Only 6 crew members and 6 passengers survived.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the failure of the pilot-in-command to monitor the co-pilot during a direct approach procedure and the reliance of the latter on his instruments exclusively to fix his position relative to the runway at an altitude below the minimum safe altitude. The factor of crew member fatigue can- not be ruled out
Final Report: