Country
Libya
code

Tripoli (طرابلس)

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

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-039
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
G-114
YOM:
1952
Location:
Wheelus AFB (Mitiga)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
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 Canadair C-4M Argonaut in Tripoli: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1955 at 0023 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALHL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Rome – Tripoli – Kano – Lagos
MSN:
158
YOM:
1949
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
On approach to Tripoli Airport by night and poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. Three times, the captain decided to abandon the approach procedure for a go around maneuver. During a fourth attempt, he descended below the glide when the aircraft hit trees and crashed 1,200 yards short of runway 11. Two crew members and 13 passengers were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. All other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an error of judgement on the part of the captain who having made three unsuccessful attempts to line-up and land on runway 11 on his fourth attempt allowed his desire to keep the runway lights in view to affect his judgement, in that during a visual approach to the runway he failed to make adequate reference to his flight instruments. In the restricted visibility the runway lights gave him insufficient guidance as to attitude, height and angle of approach and unknowingly he permitted the aircraft to descend below its correct approach path.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 off Tripoli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
RF306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luqa - Luqa
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea out from RAF Luqa. While flying at a very low height over the sea off the Libyan coast, the pilot realized the situation and decided to increase his altitude. While pulling on the control column, the base of the empennage hit the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea few miles off Tripoli. A crew member was killed while five others were rescued. The aircraft was lost.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGMM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1192
YOM:
1944
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN435
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16116/32864
YOM:
1945
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Prior to departure, the captain was informed that the total weight of the aircraft was above the MTOW. Despite this, he took the decision to takeoff. Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the left engine failed. The captain decided to return for a safe landing and elected to reach the closest runway which was occupied by workers. The captain then extended the approach and landed after the roadworks. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster in Castel Benito: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJPL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nairobi – Khartoum – Tripoli – London
MSN:
7464
YOM:
1944
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The descent to Tripoli-Castel Benito Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and a visibility reduced to two miles. On final approach at an altitude of 700 feet, both right engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. Fifteen occupants were injured while 37 others were unarmed. Unfortunately, a crew member was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the captain to maintain a safe height by using available power on both left engines after the failure of both right engines. The reason for this failure by the captain could not be determined. The failure of both right engines was caused by a fuel starvation due to an insufficient amount of fuel in the right tank. This fuel shortage was the result of the wing tanks being allowed to become progressively unbalanced during the last stage of the flight. An attempt by the flight engineer under emergency conditions to cross feed the right engines from the left tanks failed owing to the full operation not having been completed in time.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGJD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Castel Benito – London
MSN:
1210
YOM:
1944
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff run, the aircraft was caught by a strong crosswind gust and slewed across the runway. The captain over-corrected and the aircraft ran off the runway on the opposite side and rolled over on the grass, breaking in two in the process. There were no injuries but all the passengers were suspended upside down in their seats by their seatbelts. The only reason they all got out was that, mercifully, the York didn’t catch fire despite being full of fuel for the sector it was starting.
Thanks to Andy Frish for his testimony and pictures.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling V in Castel Benito: 29 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1945 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
PJ950
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Castel Benito (Qaser Bin Ghashir)
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff by night from Castel Benito, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on a sand dune located near the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while 28 other occupants were killed. All passengers were returning to England on behalf of the Air Transport Command.
Crew (158th Squadron):
F/Lt Claude Robert Wilson, pilot,
F/Lt Peter Austin Finnett, navigator,
F/O Ernest Leo Hill, pilot,
F/O Sidney Hodges, pilot,
F/Lt Frank William Kenrick, pilot,
F/O George Frederick Phillipson, flight engineer,
F/Lt Leonard Simpson, navigator.
Passengers:
Gun Victor Charles Acourt,
Gun William Beardsley,
Pvt James William Merritt Belk,
Gun Henry Benjamin Butler,
Gun George Ward Chapman,
Gun Ronald William Dobson,
Gun Donald James Elliott,
Sgt Cyril Flannery,
Gun Thomas George Gregory,
Gun Leonard Kemp,
Gun Albert McGrath,
Gun Walter Marshall,
William Moncur,
Trp Peter Owens,
Gun Alfred Eric Roberts,
Gun Andrew Ross,
Gun Frank Shepherd,
Gun John Henry Telford,
Gun Henry Turvey,
Sig John William Walter Wilson,
Gun Denzil Young.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was seen on fire shortly after rotation and it is believed that one of both left engines exploded shortly after liftoff, maybe due to a leak on a fuel line, a loose connection or a leak on a tank. Unfortunately, investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident due to the total destruction of the aircraft.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Tripoli: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Transport Aérien Militaire (TAM)
Registration:
FC-AXM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Antananarivo - Tripoli - Paris
MSN:
2163
YOM:
1942
Location:
Tripoli
Tripoli (طرابلس)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Antananarivo to Paris with an intermediate stop in Tripoli. Shortly after take off, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Koufra' crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all eight occupants. The flight was conducted on behalf of the French Ministère de l'Air (Direction Technique et Industrielle).
Crew:
André Vercruysse, pilot,
Daniel Levesque, radio navigator,
Georges Deloustal, flight engineer.
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