Crash of a Douglas C-54E-1-DO Skymaster in Ushuaia

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5-T-3
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27274
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Ushuaia Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster in Bến Cát: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XV-NUH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vientiane - Saigon
MSN:
10588
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport on a flight from Vientiane, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems when control was lost. The airplane crashed near Bến Cát, about 45 km north of Saigon and was destroyed. Three occupants were injured while 10 others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Laos: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1972 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XW-TDE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saigon - Savannakhét - Vientiane
MSN:
3098
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet over Laos, the crew contacted ATC and give his ETA in Vientiane at 1422LT. Shortly later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens without the pilots having been able to transmit all or part of an emergency message and crashed in an isolated area somewhere in Laos. The wreckage was not found and all 23 occupants are presumed dead.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft may have been shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Fort-Archambault

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TT-DAA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3096
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Fort-Archambault Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. The captain failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed 4 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the radio altimeter was inoperative. It is believed the accident was the consequence of a possible faulty altimeter reading, a wrong altimeter setting or a technical issue with the altimeter. Crew fatigue may have been a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-DC Skymaster in Barrancabermeja: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971 at 1623 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-692
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Valledupar – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
10442
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 21 at Barrancabermeja-Yariguíes Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, went down an embankment and came to rest in flames 150 meters further. A crew members and five passengers were killed while 29 other occupants were wounded. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-10-DC Skymaster on Mt Huayca: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-JPG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
10328
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Huayca located about 90 km northeast of Lima. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-10-DO Skymaster near Homestead AFB

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-0602
Flight Type:
MSN:
36055
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 4,7 miles northeast of Homestead AFB, south Florida. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster in Miami: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1970 at 0724 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AON
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Panama City – Quito
MSN:
10608
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
EU461
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3053
Captain / Total hours on type:
318.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3251
Copilot / Total hours on type:
120
Aircraft flight hours:
20413
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being operated as an international cargo flight by Compania Ecuatoriana de Aviacion. The accident occurred during the initial climb, following an instrument takeoff on Runway 27R at Miami International Airport. The flight was en route,from Miami to Panama City, Panama, the first leg of a flight which was to terminate at Quito, Ecuador. The two pilots, the only occupants of the aircraft, were killed, and the aircraft was demolished by impact and post impact ground fire. The crew first requested a takeoff clearance at 0621 but because fog reduced visibility to one-eighth mile, the tower controller delayed issuance of the clearance until 0722 when the visibility was reported to be one quarter mile, the visibility minimum the pilot had stated he needed for takeoff. The crew's acknowledgment of this clearance was the last recorded transmission from the flight. Following liftoff, the aircraft was observed flying in a level flight attitude at an altitude of approximately 50 feet near the western end of Runway 27R, which was 10,500 feet long. The landing gear was retracted. As the observers watched the aircraft, they saw the nose drop slightly, check, and then the aircraft descended to earth. Impact occurred 279 feet north and 230 feet beyond the western end of the takeoff runway. The aircraft continued 89 feet beyond the initial impact point, struck a concrete abutment and burned.
Probable cause:
Improper monitoring of instruments during an IMC take-off. Factors were the improper procedures after take-off and reduced visibility due to fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas RC-54V Skymaster on Mt Pumacona: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-776
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Trujillo - Juanjuí
MSN:
10591
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
En route to Juanjuí, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the four engine airplane was off course when it struck the slope of Mt Pumacona (3,200 meters high). The wreckage was found few hours later and all 28 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by an error of navigation on part of the flying crew. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Pilot error,
- The mental state of the pilot-in-command adversely affected his judgment and efficiency,
- Poor ATC assistance,
- Poor weather conditions (low visibility),
- Inadequate navigation aids along the route.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Alaska: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72611
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Elmendorf – King Salmon
MSN:
10716
YOM:
1945
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Elmendorf AFB to King Salmon. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1972 in an isolated area.