1950 — Aug 31, TWA 903 engine loss after takeoff, crash landing ~Cairo Egypt– 23US of 55
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard, 8-29-2023, for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–55 AP. 55 Are Lost In TWA Crash In Egypt.” Alice Daily Echo, TX, 8-31-1950, p. 1.
–23 Americans
–55 Aviation Safety Network. TWA 903 engine loss emer. crash landing at night near Cairo Egypt.
–55 Civil Aeronautics Board. AIR. Trans World Airlines, Inc., Near Cairo, Egypt, Aug 31, 1950.
–55 Eckert. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” AJFM&P, 3/1, Mar 1982, p53.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950:
“Date: Thursday 31 August 1950
“Time: 02:03
“Type: Lockheed L-749A Constellation
“Operator: Trans World Airlines – TWA
“Registration: N6004C
“MSN: 2636
“First flight: 1950
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
“Passengers: Fatalities: 48 / Occupants: 48
“Total: Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 55
….
“Location: near Wadi Natrun (Egypt)
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: International Scheduled Passenger
“Departure airport: Cairo-Farouk Airport…Egypt
“Destination airport: Roma-Ciampino Airport…Italy
“Flight number: TW903
“Narrative:
“TWA Flight 903 from Bombay, India to New York was carried out by TWA’s Constellation “Star of Maryland”. Departure from Bombay was at 08:34, August 30 and arrival at Cairo at 22:17. A complete crew change was made at Cairo and the aircraft was refueled The weather over the route was good and the flight departed Cairo at 23:35, planning to cruise at an altitude of 14,500 feet. A routine position report was received from the flight by the Cairo control tower at 23:55, “off Cairo 23:35 25 miles out of Cairo at 23:43 estimated time of arrival Rome 0530”. This message was acknowledged but the flight did not reply. At that moment, while climbing through an altitude of approx. 10,000 feet, the plane suffered a no. 3 engine failure. A major fire erupted, forcing the crew to return to Cairo. When the burning engine fell free of the aircraft, a forced landing in the desert became necessary. The aircraft crashed during the attempted night-time emergency landing.”
Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report:
“The Accident
“Number 3 engine failed on Trans World Airlines’ Flight No. 903 of August 30, 1950, near Cairo, Egypt. A fire resulted, and the aircraft was turned back as if to land at Cairo. The fire increased, the burning engine fell free and an attempted landing on the desert at about 0003Z on August 31 resulted in destruction of the aircraft and death to all 48 passengers and 7 crew members.
“History Of The Flight
“Flight 903 of August 30, a Lockheed Constellation, N 6004C, originated at Bombay, India. Its destination was New York, New York, with several intermediate scheduled stops. Departure from Bombay was at 0834 and arrival at Cairo at 2217.
“At or about the time of the receipt of the [last communication from the plane]…a number of persons on the desert to the northwest of Cairo saw the aircraft afire in flight. The aircraft’s position at that time was about 67 miles from Cairo, and on course, and its altitude was approximately 10,000 feet. These persons were interviewed and statements were taken from 11 of them. From these statements and from other evidence the flight path can be readily reconstructed with a high degree of probability, as follows.
“From the time the fire was first seen from the ground, at or about the time of the position report, the aircraft continued on course for about 10½ miles. It then turned to the left, still burning, and descended heading back in the general direction of Cairo. Approximately 13½ miles along this reverse course the burning engine fell to the desert, the flight reduced its rate of descent, assumed a heading of about 210 degrees (about 90 degrees to the right of the course for Cairo), and held this heading, still burning until it struck the ground in a relatively flat position at a point about 52 miles to the northwest of Farouk Airport. Widespread disintegration of the aircraft and a general fire resulted.
“At approximately 0800 the following morning the wreckage was sighted by another Trans World Airlines’ aircraft.”
….
“Analysis
“A careful review of all of the evidence indicated that the immediate cause of the major damage to the rear row power section with its resulting fire was failure of the rear master rod bearing. However, the failure resulted in such extensive damage to both the bearing and the crank pin, causing wear of approximately one inch difference in their diameters, that it was impossible to determine positively the primary cause of the master rod bearing failure, i.3., the damage was so severe that it eliminated the evidence….
“As a result of this accident and previous failures of master rod bearings in the model 749C18BD1 engine, the following corrective measures were taken:
- The practice of no oil changes between engine overhaul [1,200 hours] has been discontinues. Oil is now being changed at periods not to exceed 400 hours.
- Fine mesh main oil screens are now being service tested by Trans World Airlines. It is believed that some contaminants now being carried into the engine lubricating system will be screened out.
- Longer master rod bearing oil feed tubes are currently being installed by Trans World Airlines in both the 745C18BA3 and 749C18BD2 engines. This is an interim fix which will not be required when the new type crank pin sludge plug now under development is installed.
- It is believed use of a crank pin sludge plug which is under development will very effectively reduce the crank pin sludge accumulation to the point that it is of no consequence.
- A long range project is the development of a centrifuge, independent of the engine, for the separation of sludge from the oil. This appears to be the most practical approach to the problem, however, the development period at best will be quite a long time.
….
“Probable Cause
“The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was failure of the rear row master rod bearing causing an uncontrolled fire which precipitated a crash landing.”
“Flight Personnel
“Captain Walton B. Webb, age 45…
“First Officer H. J. Hammutt, age 34…”Navigator H. B. Hackett, age 32…
“Flight Engineer Melvin C. House…
“Flight Radio Officer, H. J. Stiles…
Flight Purser Jose Bernard and
“Flight hostess J. Lorenzi.””
Newspaper
Aug 31, AP: “Cairo, Egypt, Aug 31, (AP) – Twenty-three Americans were among the 55 persons killed in the crash of a Trans-World Airlines passenger plane near Cairo today. The big constellation burned after the crash. There were no survivors among the 48 passengers and crew of seven. The airliner was so badly damaged that only a small section of it remained intact.
“Officials of the district government office in Behaira province placed the scene of the crash about 75 miles northwest of Cairo. Eyewitnesses said they saw the big four-engine ‘Star of Maryland’ plummet to earth in flames. Earlier the district governor’s office had held out hope that six of those aboard had survived but this was dashed by messages direct from the scene….
“A Texan is listed as a passenger aboard the plane. He was 25-year-old Aubrey W. Schoefield of San Antonio and Houston. Schofield is a former general in the Texas Ain National guard….
“Another passenger aboard the plane was William C. Gist, administration services and transportation officer at the American embassy in Cairo….
“TWA said other passengers included Francis Pope, a TWA pilot, his wife, Helanita and two children, May Louise and Paul F. They were believed to be on a vacation tour….”
Sources
Associated Press. 55 Are Lost In TWA Crash In Egypt.” Alice Daily Echo, TX, 8-31-1950, p. 1. Accessed 8-28-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/alice-daily-echo-aug-31-1950-p-1/
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950. TWA 903 engine loss, emergency crash landing attempt at night near Cairo Egypt, 8-31-1950. Accessed 8-28-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19500831-0
Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Trans World Airlines, Inc., Near Cairo, Egypt, August 31, 1950 (File No. I-C114). Washington, DC: 6-15-1951. Accessed 8-28-2023 at: dot_33398_DS1.pdf
Eckert, William G. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Vol. 3, No. 1, March 1982, Table 1.
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