Nicosia – Tehran
Flight / Schedule
Nicosia – Tehran
Aircraft
Douglas C-118 LiftmasterRegistration
51-3822
MSN
43569
Year of Manufacture
1952
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFDate
June 27, 1958 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Azerbaijan All Azerbaijan
Region
Asia • Azerbaijan
Crash Cause
Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage
Narrative Report
On June 27, 1958 at 12:00 AM, Nicosia – Tehran experienced a crash involving Douglas C-118 Liftmaster, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Azerbaijan All Azerbaijan.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
9 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 9 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The crew was performing a flight from Nicosia to Tehran, carrying a load of highly sensitive equipment for the CIA. Maybe following a navigational error, the four engine aircraft penetrated the Soviet Airspace over Armenia and was later attacked by the pilots of two Soviet MiG-17. The pilot of the C-118 was able to attempt an emergency landing in a field located somewhere in Azerbaijan (the exact place remains unclear). While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all nine crew members were evacuated.
Aircraft reference details include registration 51-3822, MSN 43569, year of manufacture 1952.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was performing a flight from Nicosia to Tehran, carrying a load of highly sensitive equipment for the CIA. Maybe following a navigational error, the four engine aircraft penetrated the Soviet Airspace over Armenia and was later attacked by the pilots of two Soviet MiG-17. The pilot of the C-118 was able to attempt an emergency landing in a field located somewhere in Azerbaijan (the exact place remains unclear). While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all nine crew members were evacuated.
Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
9
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
9
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 9
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Nicosia – Tehran
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Asia • Azerbaijan
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Dobrolet
Kalinin K-4
Following an uneventful flight from Tiflis (Tbilisi), the crew initiated the descent to Baku at dusk. On final, in total obscurity, the airplane was too low when it collided with a telegraphic pole and crashed one km from the airport. The mechanic survived while three other occupants were killed.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Kalinin K-5
The aircraft departed Baku on a regular service to Tiflis (Tbilisi), carrying three passengers and two crew members. En route to Ganzhda and Yevlakh, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. He reduced his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground and followed the railway line. Approaching Göyçay, at a height below 30 metres, he realized he was facing trees so he initiated a sharp turn to the right when the aircraft impacted poplar trees. The right wing was partially torn off and the aircraft crashed. A female passenger was injured while four other occupants were killed.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Tupolev ANT-35 (ANT-35bis & PS-35)
The crew left Baku-Bina Airport at 1245LT on a flight to Tbilisi. Fifteen minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters in clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the city of Shemakha, just above the Dzheirankechmaz River. The passenger and the copilot were injured while all other crew members were killed. The pilot died from his injuries a day later.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle
On the leg from Hajigabul to Tbilisi of a route proving flight from Moscow-Vnukovo to Tbilisi when the crew decided to land at Yevlakh (Azerbaijan) due to an oil leak on the left engine. But the "Exactor" hydraulic control system of the propellers failed due to a design fault so that propeller pitch increased and the propeller thrust decreased, making it impossible to reach Yevlakh Airfield. The crew made a forced landing near Yevlakh and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair as the tail broke off. All 4 crew members and 3 passengers were slightly injured.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Lisunov LI-2
The crew left Baku-Bina Airport at 0150LT for a two hours and a half training mission in the region of Baku. While cruising at an altitude of 1,000 meters, the aircraft caught fire, went out of control and plunged into the Caspian Sea off Baku. Some debris were found on a beach north of the capital city two days later but no trace of the wreckage nor the seven crew member was found.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Lisunov LI-2
The aircraft and its crew were dispatched from Baku-Zabrat Airport to the south (125 km south of Baku) to complete a night training program. While approaching Banke Airstrip, at a height of 100 meters, the pilot in command made a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed. Four crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.
