ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-4-1009 F-BBDE Bahrain Airport (BAH)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Monday 12 June 1950
Time:21:15
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-4-1009
Operator:Air France
Registration: F-BBDE
MSN: 42937
First flight: 1946
Crew:Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 8
Passengers:Fatalities: 40 / Occupants: 44
Total:Fatalities: 46 / Occupants: 52
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:5,5 km (3.4 mls) SE off Bahrain Airport (BAH) (   Bahrain)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Karachi International Airport (KHI/OPKC), Pakistan
Destination airport:Bahrain International Airport (BAH/OBBI), Bahrain
Narrative:
The Air France DC-4 was on a scheduled flight from Saigon to Paris. It took off from Karachi (KHI) for Bahrain (BAH) at 16:05. At 20:42 the aircraft called Bahrain approach control giving its altitude as 6500 feet and requesting clearance to descend. Approach control gave clearance to descend to 2000 feet, altimeter setting of 29.51 inches, visibility 1500 yards (1370 metres).
The airplane overflew the airfield at a height of about 1000 feet. At 21:13 the aircraft called Bahrain tower, saying "down wind leg"; the tower acknowledged and said "ground wind 310/20 knots", the aircraft called the tower at 21:15 hours saying "finals" . The tower controller cleared the flight to land on runway 29. On finals the airplane contacted the water and crashed. The wreckage was found in 12 feet of water, 3,3 miles from the runway end 8 hours after the accident.

Two days later an Air France DC-4 on the same flight leg also crashed while on approach to Bahrain at night, killing 40 occupants.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot-in-command did not keep an accurate check of his altitude and rate of descent during the timed approach procedure, thus allowing his aircraft to fly into the surface of the sea. The possibility that the pilot-in-command was feeling the effects of fatigue cannot be ruled out. It is recommended that consideration be given to equipping Bahrain Airport with radio landing aids and with suitable runway approach lights."

Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: BEA France
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 10 months
Accident number: CA.134
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Insufficient rest / fatigue
Flightcrew's failure to monitor instruments
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Water

Sources:
» ICAO Circular 38-AN/33 (7-9)


Photos

photo of Douglas-DC-4-1009-F-BBDE
accident date: 12-06-1950
type: Douglas DC-4-1009
registration: F-BBDE
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Karachi International Airport to Bahrain International Airport as the crow flies is 1653 km (1033 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-4

  • 1242 built
  • 135th loss
  • 70th fatal accident
  • 5th worst accident (at the time)
  • 20th worst accident (currently)
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 Bahrain
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 2nd worst accident (currently)
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