Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 14 June 1950
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-4-1009
Owner/operator: Air France
Registration Number: F-BBDM
Location: SE off Bahrain Airport (BAH) –
ÿ Bahrain
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 40 / Occupants: 53
Component Affected: The pilot-in-command’s actions during the approach and landing procedures.The pilot-in-command’s actions during the approach and landing procedures.
Investigating Agency: BEABEA
Category: Accident
An Air France DC-4 aircraft crashed into the sea after takeoff from Karachi, following an intermediate stop in Saigon, due to a failure to execute the timed approach procedure and maintain the required altitude.An Air France DC-4 aircraft crashed into the sea after takeoff from Karachi, following an intermediate stop in Saigon, due to a failure to execute the timed approach procedure and maintain the required altitude.
Description
The Air France DC-4 was on a flight from Saigon to Paris when it took off from Karachi at 16:43 following an intermediate stop. The aircraft crashed into the sea just after commencing the procedure turn before landing at Bahrain. PROBABLE CAUSE: “1) Failure of the pilot-in-command to adopt the timed approach procedure to the prevailing conditions; 2) Having descended to 300ft, the pilot-in-command did not take the necessary steps to maintain this altitude until such time as the runway lights became visible. It is recommended that consideration be given to equipping Bahrain Airport with radio landing aids and with suitable runway approach lights.”
Primary Cause
Failure of the pilot-in-command to adopt the timed approach procedure to the prevailing conditions, resulting in a loss of altitude.Failure of the pilot-in-command to adopt the timed approach procedure to the prevailing conditions, resulting in a loss of altitude.Share on:
