Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver AL1 in Datteln: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1971
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
XP807
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1457
YOM:
1961
Location:
Datteln
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed during thunder storm . The aircraft was seen to leave cloud in a steep dive, whereupon a wing folded and the crash occurred. It was believed that the aircraft had suffered inadvertent 'negative G' during the thunderstorm activity and as a result the bottom wing strut bolt had sheered, thus the wing was no longer correctly braced. It is believed that the US Military Beaver fleet had also suffered a number of similar fatal accidents under these circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in La Paz

Date & Time: May 4, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-22
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Paz - El Jovi
Location:
La Paz-El Alto
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 1,500 meters past the runway end. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Gagetown: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1971
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
3689
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
56
YOM:
1954
Location:
Gagetown
New Brunswick
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reason shortly after takeoff from Gagetown Helipad. A passenger, Lt Ronald Edward Ehrne was killed while five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-118B at Ponta Pelada AFB: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
2414
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manaus - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
43746
YOM:
1952
Location:
Ponta Pelada AFB, Manaus
Amazonas
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus for Rio de Janeiro, carrying Brazilian soldiers and their family members. About 20 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems with one of the right engine and decided to return to Manaus for a safe landing. After touchdown, one of the right engine caught fire and exploded. The pilot-in-command stopped the airplane that was on fire. 36 occupants evacuated safely and were unhurt while 33 others were wounded. 16 occupants were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-85-DL in Cheyenne: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15555
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20021
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Cheyenne Municipal Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (snow falls) when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames and exploded few dozen yards from the airfield and was totally destroyed by fire. All five crew members were killed. The aircraft had just carried 15 young cadets to the Air Force Academy.
Crew:
Lt Col Frank L. Trochak,
Maj Fabian Dauzvardis,
Maj James C. Beach,
S/Sgt Paul Huston +1.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK at Basa AFB: 40 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1971 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
293246
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Basa - Nichols
MSN:
13136
YOM:
1944
Location:
Basa AFB (Floridablanca)
Pampanga
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Basa AFB (north of Floridablanca), while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed 800 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 40 occupants were killed, among them 10 officers and 26 family members.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reason.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Bergamo

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
MM61735
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7694
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bergamo-Orio al Serio
Lombardy
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Bergamo-Orio al Serio Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider in Thiện Ngôn

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0650
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20099
YOM:
1954
Location:
Thiện Ngôn
Tây Ninh Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All four crew members were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be totally destroyed by fire.

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

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971 at 1623 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-692
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Valledupar – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
10442
YOM:
1944
Location:
Barrancabermeja-Yariguíes
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
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.
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