Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Kayseri. The twin engine airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed, two pilots and an army officer.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1975 at 1840 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-654

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Saravena – Villavicencio – Bogotá

Location:

Sierra Nevada del Cocuy

Boyacá

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Saravena to Villavicencio, the crew declared an emergency when control was lost and the airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a De Havilland CSR-123 in the Duke of York Bay

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1975

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Registration:

9413

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

389

YOM:

1960

Location:

Duke of York Bay (Southampton Island)

Nunavut

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During take-off from a gravel bar along the edge of the Duke of York River, the Otter became airborne but did not gain altitude. Shortly thereafter, it contacted a steep gravel river bank, made a shallow turn to the right, settled into the river and slowly nosed over, coming to rest inverted in three or four feet of water. Water began to pour in on the two crew and five passengers, who were hanging upside down still strapped into their seats. They managed to free themselves and wade ashore.
Source: https://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_389.html

Probable cause:

The accident report found that the pilot elected to take off from an “uncleared, austere airstrip” of unknown exact useable length, in unfavourable wind conditions, at or near maximum allowable gross weight. The aircraft captain had failed to brief his co-pilot and assign him the task of monitoring the cockpit instruments during the critical phase of the take-off. The air detachment commander was required to fly as a line pilot on a regular basis. This, together with being subordinate in rank to the Otter detachment commander, made effective control of flying operations virtually impossible.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in India

Date & Time: May 19, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

BJ975

Flight Type:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident somewhere in India. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47A at U-Tapao NAS

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

084

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Saigon - U-Tapao

MSN:

13900/25345

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed upon landing at U-Tapao NAS while completing a flight from Saigon. The aircraft was destroyed but there were no casualties.

Crash of a Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748-2-247 in Jalanpur

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748

Operator:

Registration:

H1520

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

558

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Jalanpur, about 20 km west of Panagarh Airport. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute in Fort Stockton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1975 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft U-21 Ute

Operator:

Registration:

66-18039

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fort Stockton - Ford Hood

MSN:

LM-40

YOM:

1967

Location:

Fort Stockton

Texas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Fort Stockton Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane bank left then rolled inverted and crashed in flames about half a mile past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during initial climb following a loss of power on the left engine for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Helio AU-24A Stallion off Trat: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Helio H-550A Stallion

Operator:

Registration:

21332

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was descending to Trat when it crashed under unknown circumstances into the sea, killing all four occupants. Apparently, they escaped Cambodia.