20 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident near El Kelâa des Sraghna (55.S.4)

El Kelâa des Sraghna, MoroccoFlight

On August 17, 1960, an Avro 683 Lancaster (registration 55.S.4) operated by French Navy (Aéronavale - Marine Nationale) was involved in an aviation accident near El Kelâa des Sraghna, Morocco in flight. 20 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An engine fire occurred while the aircraft was en route, leading to a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781246421Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft flying toward Agadir crashed in hilly terrain following an engine fire, resulting in the loss of all 20 people on board.

What happened

During a nighttime flight destined for Agadir, the crew of the aircraft, identified by registration WU-26, contacted air traffic control to report an active engine fire. In response to the emergency, the flight crew decided to divert the mission to Casablanca Airport.

Shortly after this communication, the aircraft type crashed into hilly terrain in the vicinity of El Kelâa des Sraghna. The impact caused the plane to burst into flames upon hitting the ground. There were no survivors of the accident; the crash resulted in 20 fatalities.

Findings

Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor leading to the crash was an engine fire during flight.

Probable cause

An engine fire occurred while the aircraft was en route, leading to a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.