Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yoro: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1977 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
301
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yoro - Tegucigalpa
MSN:
6096
YOM:
1942
Location:
Yoro
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the left engine failed and caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a mountainous terrain located few km from the airport. 25 occupants were killed while 15 others were injured. All passengers were employees of local companies travelling with family members.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Puerto Montt: 38 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1977 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
989
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Punta Arenas – Puerto Montt – Santiago
MSN:
45534/1012
YOM:
1958
Location:
Puerto Montt-El Tepual
Región de Los Lagos
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
75
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Circumstances:
On approach to Puerto Montt-El Tepual Airport, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with rain falls and a limited visibility due to the night. In unknown circumstances, the four engine airplane crashed in flames in a swampy area located five km short of runway. All seven crew members and 31 passengers were killed while 44 other occupants were injured.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Cuangar: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1977 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Cuangar
Cuando Cubango
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed in flames. All 30 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by UNITA rebels.

Crash of a Douglas VC-54D-10-DC in Roi-Namur

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72650
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Roi-Namur - Kwajalein
MSN:
10755
YOM:
1945
Location:
Roi-Namur
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a short positioning flight from Roi-Namur Airport (north part of the Kwajalein atoll) to the main airport of Kwajalein located on the south part of the same atoll. During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. The left wing was broken in two and the aircraft was later removed from water but declared as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the 16 occupants.

Special thanks to US Army Louis D. Sutton, PIC on the following US Army C-54 that should takeoff immediately after the accident one, for his testimony.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Bangkok

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
L2-11/96
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Udon Thani - Bangkok
MSN:
16944/34203
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Don Mueang Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field located in Lam Luk Ka, about 15 km east of the airport. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed EC-130Q Hercules off Wake Island: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1977 at 2230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
156176
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wake - Agana
MSN:
4280
YOM:
1968
Location:
Wake Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wake Island Airport runway 10, while climbing by night to an altitude of 400 feet, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 1,500 meters offshore. Two engines and few debris were found while the aircraft sank and was lost. All 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane during initial climb after he suffered a spatial disorientation while flying over the ocean without any visual references. The accident occurred while there was no ATC at airport.

Ground accident of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Bangkok

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
L4K-2/16
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20033
YOM:
1954
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
9401
Circumstances:
While parked, the airplane was struck by a Royal Thai Force C-47 that just took off with 12 people on board. Both airplanes were destroyed. While the C-123 was empty, five people on board the C-47 were killed, seven others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Bangkok: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the tarmac, colliding with a parked Royal Thai Force Fairchild C-123K Provider registered L4K-2/16. Both airplanes were destroyed. While the C-123 was empty, five people on board the C-47 were killed, seven others were injured.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110C Bandeirante in Salto: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
T-584
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paysandú - Salto
MSN:
110-083
YOM:
1975
Location:
Salto
Salto
Country:
Uruguay
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While approaching Salto-Nueva Hespérides Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in an orange grove located few hundred meters short of runway. Three occupants were injured while 12 others were killed. The airplane had a dual registration T-584 and CX-BJE.

Crash of a Mitsubishi LR-1 Marquise in Obihiro

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Registration:
22002
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
802
YOM:
1971
Location:
Obihiro
Hokkaidō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Obihiro Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on a lumberyard located few km from the airfield. The occupant's fate remains unknown.
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