Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam

Four minutes after its takeoff from Bangui Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located about 16 km south of Bangui. Three crew members and seven passengers were seriously injured while 46 other occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam

Registration

F-BELB

MSN

3084

Year of Manufacture

1943

Date

December 8, 1950 at 07:37 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Bangui Ombella-M'Poko

Region

Africa • Central African Republic

Coordinates

4.3990°, 18.5961°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On December 8, 1950 at 07:37 PM, Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam experienced a crash involving Douglas C-54 Skymaster, operated by Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux - TAI, with the event recorded near Bangui Ombella-M'Poko.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

56 people were known to be on board, 46 fatalities were recorded, 10 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 82.1%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 50, passenger fatalities: 43, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Four minutes after its takeoff from Bangui Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located about 16 km south of Bangui. Three crew members and seven passengers were seriously injured while 46 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-BELB, MSN 3084, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 4.3990°, 18.5961°.

Fatalities

Total

46

Crew

3

Passengers

43

Other

0

Crash Summary

Four minutes after its takeoff from Bangui Airport, while climbing by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located about 16 km south of Bangui. Three crew members and seven passengers were seriously injured while 46 other occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

6

Passengers On Board

50

Estimated Survivors

10

Fatality Rate

82.1%

Known people on board: 56

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Paris – Bangui – Dar es-Salaam

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Africa • Central African Republic

Aircraft Details

Registration

F-BELB

MSN

3084

Year of Manufacture

1943

Similar Plane Crashes

January 1, 1943 at 12:00 AM

SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne

Junkers JU.52

En route, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The three-engine aircraft came to rest some 80 miles from Bangui. While there were no casualties, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

January 15, 1943 at 12:00 AM35 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The four-engine aircraft was performing a flight from the US to Casablanca via South America (probably Natal), on behalf of the Air Transport Command. The on board delegation was flying to Morocco to take part to a conference. Rumors of a bomb on board caused the crew to divert to Port of Spain. A screwdriver was found in the hatch containing the IFF device but no trace of a bomb. While flying over Suriname, the aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and crashed in an isolated area located 30 miles northeast of Paramaribo. All 35 occupants were killed, among them Eric Mowbray Night, author and creator of the fictional collie 'Lassie'. He was Major by the US Army Special Services as well. Two identical C-54 planes traveling just 1/2 hour before and after this plane noticed anti-aircraft fire coming from what appeared to be an enemy submarine. Crew (TWA): Benjamin Hart Dally Jr., pilot, Theodore M. Wagner, copilot, Samuel S. Dorrance, flight surgeon, Everett Lee Bacon, copilot, Jason E. Voss, navigator, James M. Kane, navigator, Clyde E. Quisenberry, flight engineer, Leonard La Frank, radio operator, Leo J. Moriarty, radio operator, Eugene A. Dempf, flight purser. Passengers: Maj Eric Mowbray Knight, Cpt Albert L. Seeman, Cpt Basil D. Gallagher, 1st Lt Charles W. Campbell, 1st Lt Peter D. Barnhart, 1st Lt Donald C. Martin, 2nd Lt Carl A. Matteo, 2nd Lt Robert B. Walker, 2nd Lt John T. Girling, 2nd Lt Thomas L. Gallagher, 2nd Lt Max Solomon, F/O Charles S. Shively, S/Sgt Russell A. Baughman, S/Sgt Ellis H. Roberts Jr., S/Sgt Heyward O. Wylie, S/Sgt Roger M. Stoflet, Sgt Oscar Spahr Jr., Sgt Charles S. Roberts Jr., Percy E. Foxworth, Harold D. Haberfeld, William Hodson, James W. Seeger, Charles Howell Brown, Osmon E. Henryson, Morris Lewis. Source: http://www.lassiecomehome.info/id8.html

July 9, 1943 at 01:27 PM3 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The C-54 was flying in formation with a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior registered 38-546, so his crew could photograph the dropping of a dummy combat tank from the C-54. After the tank was released, the pilot of the C-40A made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 right wingtip. The C-40A entered a spin and crashed near the runway, killing all five crew members. The C-54 continued on for 700 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out. The plane then crashed in a vertical dive, killing three other crewmen. Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/

January 27, 1944 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason and came to rest in flames. At least one crew member was killed.

March 23, 1944 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Anguille Mountains, south of Stephenville. Crew fate unknown.

March 25, 1944 at 12:00 AM6 Fatalities

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The four engine aircraft was shot down by British fighters because it was approaching a ships convoy. The airplane was carrying dive flap modification kits for P-38's.