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19 fatalities

Aircraft Crash Near Avlona After Departure from Athens-Ellinikon (SX-BAD)

Avlona, GreeceFlight

On October 30, 1959, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration SX-BAD) operated by Olympic Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Avlona, Greece in flight. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the failure of the gudgeon pin bearing of no.6 piston of the left engine, which resulted in the abrupt breaking of the engine. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft departed Athens-Ellinikon for Tessaloniki and crashed near Avlona after disappearing from radar. All 19 occupants were killed. The official cause was a left engine failure leading to propeller shaft failure and wing separation.

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The aircraft departed Athens-Ellinikon Airport at 1501LT, bound for Tessaloniki. The crew climbed to 3,000 feet on a 240° heading and later received permission to climb to 9,000 feet. While approaching Mt Parnis in good weather, the captain reported his position to air traffic control. Five minutes later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens and crashed near Avlona. The aircraft was totally destroyed on impact, and all 19 occupants were killed. ## Official Probable Cause The official investigation found that the accident was caused by the failure of the gudgeon pin bearing of no. 6 piston of the left engine, which resulted in the abrupt breaking of the engine. The inertia of the propeller at the moment of engine failure caused the propeller shaft to fail. The broken propeller, while rotating, caused serious cuts to the left wing. The wing then separated, and loss of control followed.

Engine failure

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Oct 1959 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Avlona, Greece?

An aircraft departed Athens-Ellinikon for Tessaloniki and crashed near Avlona after disappearing from radar. All 19 occupants were killed. The official cause was a left engine failure leading to propeller shaft failure and wing separation.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 Oct 1959 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 19 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 Oct 1959 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration SX-BAD, operated by Olympic Airways, at Avlona, Greece.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the failure of the gudgeon pin bearing of no.6 piston of the left engine, which resulted in the abrupt breaking of the engine. Inertia of the propeller at the moment of the breaking of the engine caused failure of the propeller shaft. The broken propeller, rotating, caused serious cuts on…

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