1957day.year
Sutton Wick air crash a Blackburn Beverley of 53 Squadron, Royal Air Forces, crashes into the village of Sutton Wick, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) killing most of the crew and passengers and two local residents.
On March 5, 1957, a Blackburn Beverley of RAF 53 Squadron crashed into Sutton Wick village in Berkshire, killing most aboard and two villagers.
During a nighttime training flight, a Blackburn Beverley heavy transport aircraft suffered an in-flight structural failure over Sutton Wick. The plane broke apart and crashed into homes in the village, instantly killing the majority of its crew and passengers along with two residents on the ground. The tragedy shocked nearby communities and raised urgent questions about aircraft maintenance and flight safety protocols. Investigators attributed the accident to metal fatigue and initiated improvements in structural inspections. The disaster remains one of the RAF’s most devastating peacetime accidents.
1957
Sutton Wick air crash
1963day.year
American country music stars Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas and their pilot Randy Hughes are killed in a plane crash in Camden, Tennessee.
American country music stars Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and their pilot died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee, on March 5, 1963.
After a performance in Kansas City, Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and their pilot boarded a small private plane bound for Nashville. Encountering heavy fog and rain, the aircraft crashed into a wooded area near Camden, Tennessee, killing all on board. The tragedy sent shockwaves through the country music community, cutting short the careers of three rising stars. Tributes poured in from fans and fellow artists, and Cline’s recordings saw a surge in popularity posthumously. The accident also led to renewed calls for stricter weather-related flight regulations for touring performers.
1963
Patsy Cline
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Cowboy Copas
plane crash
Camden, Tennessee
1963day.year
Aeroflot Flight 191 crashes while landing at Aşgabat International Airport, killing 12.
Aeroflot Flight 191 crashed while landing at Aşgabat International Airport on March 5, 1963, resulting in 12 fatalities.
Flight 191, operating from Moscow to Aşgabat, encountered severe crosswinds and poor visibility as it approached Aşgabat International Airport. The pilot lost control during the final descent, causing the aircraft to crash short of the runway. Twelve people on board were killed instantly, and emergency response was hampered by limited ground equipment. Subsequent investigations pointed to pilot error and inadequate weather forecasting. The incident prompted Soviet aviation authorities to implement enhanced instrument landing systems and stricter approach protocols.
Aeroflot Flight 191
Aşgabat International Airport
1966day.year
BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707 aircraft, breaks apart in mid-air due to clear-air turbulence and crashes into Mount Fuji, Japan, killing all 124 people on board.
BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707, broke apart mid-air due to severe clear-air turbulence and crashed into Mount Fuji on 5 March 1966, killing all 124 on board.
On 5 March 1966, BOAC Flight 911, en route to Hong Kong, encountered unexpected clear-air turbulence near Mount Fuji, Japan.
The severe turbulence caused the Boeing 707’s structure to fail, leading to an in-flight disintegration.
Debris and wreckage rained down on the slopes of Mount Fuji, with no survivors among the 124 passengers and crew.
Investigators identified clear-air turbulence as a critical hazard for high-speed jets flying through mountainous regions.
The disaster prompted improvements in weather monitoring, structural design, and pilot training to detect and avoid invisible turbulence.
The crash remains one of the deadliest in Japan’s aviation history and reshaped safety protocols worldwide.
1966
BOAC Flight 911
Boeing 707
clear-air turbulence
Mount Fuji
Japan
1967day.year
Lake Central Airlines Flight 527 crashes near Marseilles, Ohio, killing 38.
Lake Central Airlines Flight 527 crashed near Marseilles, Ohio, on 5 March 1967, resulting in the tragic loss of all 38 passengers and crew.
On 5 March 1967, Lake Central Airlines Flight 527 departed Columbus, Ohio, bound for Toledo when it encountered severe airframe icing conditions.
Ice accumulation led to a loss of control, causing the aircraft to stall and crash near Marseilles, Ohio.
All 38 passengers and crew perished in the accident.
The tragedy highlighted the dangers of in-flight icing and accelerated the development of improved anti-icing systems.
Subsequent safety recommendations strengthened de-icing protocols, enhancing winter flight operations.
1967
Lake Central Airlines Flight 527
Marseilles, Ohio
1968day.year
Air France Flight 212 crashes into La Grande Soufrière, killing all 63 aboard.
Air France Flight 212 crashed into La Grande Soufrière in Guadeloupe on 5 March 1968, killing all 63 on board.
On 5 March 1968, Air France Flight 212, a Boeing 707, disappeared from radar during its approach to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
In poor weather and low visibility, the jet struck the summit of La Grande Soufrière volcano.
The impact and post-crash fire claimed the lives of all 63 passengers and crew.
Wreckage was scattered across the volcanic terrain, complicating recovery efforts.
Investigators pointed to navigational errors and inadequate altitude clearance in challenging meteorological conditions.
The accident spurred revisions to approach procedures and low-visibility operational standards in tropical regions.
1968
Air France Flight 212
La Grande Soufrière
1973day.year
An Iberia McDonnell Douglas DC-9 collide in mid-air with a Spantax Convair 990 Coronado over Nantes, France, killing all 68 people aboard the DC-9, including music manager Michael Jeffery.
On 5 March 1973, an Iberia DC-9 collided mid-air with a Spantax Convair 990 over Nantes, France, killing all 68 aboard the DC-9, including music manager Michael Jeffery.
The tragedy unfolded on 5 March 1973 when a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 operated by Iberia collided with a Spantax Convair 990 during the approach to Nantes–Atlantique Airport.
In dense fog, both aircraft were granted similar landing clearances on intersecting flight paths.
The DC-9, carrying 68 people including renowned music manager Michael Jeffery, bore the brunt of the collision.
All passengers and crew on the DC-9 perished, while the Convair landed safely with no serious injuries.
The accident investigation revealed failures in air traffic control separation protocols and inadequate spatial awareness in low-visibility conditions.
This mid-air collision prompted stricter radar surveillance and improved collision avoidance measures in European airspace.
1973
Iberia
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
collide
Spantax
Convair 990 Coronado
Nantes
Michael Jeffery
1991day.year
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109 crashes in Venezuela, killing 45.
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109 crashed in Venezuela, resulting in 45 fatalities.
On March 5, 1991, Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109 plunged to the ground under unclear circumstances. All 45 passengers and crew on board lost their lives in Venezuela. The accident prompted a thorough investigation by Venezuelan civil aviation authorities seeking to determine the cause. Investigators examined potential mechanical failures and severe weather conditions, but the exact reason remained undetermined. The crash stands as one of the deadliest in Aeropostal's history and led to renewed calls for enhanced safety protocols and crew training within the country's airlines.
1991
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109
1993day.year
Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashes at Skopje International Airport in Petrovec, North Macedonia, killing 83.
Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashed at Skopje International Airport, killing 83 passengers and crew.
On March 5, 1993, Flight 301 approached Skopje International Airport in challenging weather when it crashed short of the runway. The accident claimed the lives of 83 people aboard the Yakovlev Yak-42 aircraft. Witnesses described severe turbulence and sudden loss of control as the plane descended. Subsequent investigations pointed to possible wind shear and pilot misjudgment amid a thunderstorm. The tragedy became the deadliest aviation disaster in North Macedonia to date and spurred calls for improved weather monitoring and pilot training in the region.
1993
Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301
Skopje International Airport
Petrovec, North Macedonia
2001day.year
In Mina, Saudi Arabia, 35 pilgrims are killed in a stampede on the Jamaraat Bridge during the Hajj.
A catastrophic stampede on the Jamaraat Bridge in Mina during the Hajj killed 35 pilgrims.
During the Hajj pilgrimage on March 5, 2001, a dense crowd gathered on the Jamaraat Bridge for the stoning ritual in Mina, Saudi Arabia. A sudden surge of pilgrims triggered a stampede that left 35 people dead and many more injured. Emergency responders faced challenges navigating the overcrowded walkways to reach victims. The incident highlighted the immense difficulties in managing millions of pilgrims during the world's largest annual gathering. Saudi authorities subsequently introduced crowd control measures, expanded bridge access points, and improved emergency protocols to prevent similar tragedies in future Hajj seasons.
2001
Mina, Saudi Arabia
stampede
Jamaraat Bridge
Hajj
2002day.year
An earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines, kills 15 people and injures more than 100.
A deadly earthquake struck Mindanao in the Philippines, killing 15 people and injuring over 100.
On March 5, 2002, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake shook the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The tremor caused buildings to collapse and triggered landslides in hilly areas, leaving 15 people dead and more than 100 injured. Local hospitals were overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients, prompting national and international aid. Relief teams distributed food, water, and medical supplies to affected communities. The quake underscored the Philippines' vulnerability to seismic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire and led to efforts to improve building codes and early warning systems.
2002
earthquake
Mindanao
2011day.year
An Antonov An-148 crashes in Russia's Alexeyevsky District, Belgorod Oblast during a test flight, killing all seven aboard.
An Antonov An-148 prototype crashed during a test flight in Russia, killing all seven crew members.
On March 5, 2011, an Antonov An-148 regional jet on a test flight went down in Russia's Alexeyevsky District, Belgorod Oblast. All seven engineers and test pilots aboard perished when the aircraft plummeted to the ground. The prototype was undergoing performance evaluations before certification for commercial service. Russian investigators combed the crash site to determine whether mechanical failure or design issues were to blame. The tragedy cast a shadow over the promising An-148 program and prompted a review of testing standards. Antonov Aircraft Company pledged to enhance safety protocols and engineering checks for future flights.
2011
Antonov An-148
crashes
Alexeyevsky District, Belgorod Oblast