Crash of a Douglas SC-47A in Thule AFB

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
42-93513
Flight Type:
MSN:
13433
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed three km east of Thule Airbase while approaching the airfield. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Gaspé: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1952 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CF-BXZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saint-John – Goose Bay
MSN:
4695
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane left Saint-John, New Brunswick, at 1348LT on a cargo flight to Goose Bay with one pilot and three passengers on board. At 1434LT, the pilot informed ATC he was flying under IFR at an altitude of 7,000 feet near Chatham and estimated his position over Seven Islands at 1544LT. This was the last radio transmission as the aircraft disappeared shortly later from the radar screens. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the occupants was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted by the pilot of a Trans-Gaspesian Airline aircraft on 27 August 1953.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Offutt AFB

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1952 at 0319 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16257
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Offutt - Mountain Home
MSN:
20723
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the airplane banked left and crash landed. It went across trees and through a fence before coming to rest in flames near a house occupied by senior officers of the Strategic Air Command. All 12 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The exact reason of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off La Ciotat

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
42-100502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18965
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine failure in flight, the crew decided to ditch the aircraft into the Mediterranean Sea off La Ciotat. While all occupants were rescued, the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Cebu City: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C5
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Cebu City – Manila
MSN:
9754
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 22, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a popular area located about 500 meters from the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and several houses were destroyed. Twelve people were killed (all three crew members and nine people on the ground) while nine others were injured, some of them seriously.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL on the Guggi Glacier: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1952 at 1540 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-100593
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Madrid - Fürstenfeldbruck
MSN:
19056
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Madrid-Barajas to the airbase of Fürstenfeldbruck located west of Munich. At 1455LT, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the radio operator informed ground about his position three km south of Dijon. Apparently due to navigation errors, the airplane then continued to the east over the Swiss Alps when it hit the slope of a mountain surrounding the Guggi Glacier. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, Swiss authorities were contacted at the end of the day by the USAF quarters in Frankfurt-Main AB that an airplane was missing. SAR operations were conducted by locals and the wreckage was found a day later at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Gus John Mehess, pilot,
Lt Col Robert L. Spear, copilot,
Maj Samuel D. McFadden, instructor pilot,
Sgt Earl D. Clay, radio operator,
Cpl Boyd F. Crook, flight engineer,
Lt Col Orville H. Riggs, observer,
Maj Ralph C. Adams, observer.
Passenger:
Erwin L. Steinert, radio operator.
Source & photo:
http://www.bezg.ch/img/publikation/12_1/01_12_BEZG_cornioley.pdf
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D near Sydney

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
43-49226
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15042/26487
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Weather conditions deteriorated in flight and the crew lost his orientation. Due to fuel exhaustion, all 18 occupants decided to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a remote area. All 18 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
HJ880
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barrackpore - Barrackpore
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying in the vicinity of the Barrackpore Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a small lake located about 1,2 km northeast of runway 20 threshold. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost. The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Barrackpore at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Millinocket

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
42-93193
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Millinocket – Burlington
MSN:
13077
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Millinocket, while in initial climb, both engines failed. The crew elected to return to Millinocket but eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The airplane crash landed 3 miles west of Millinocket and came to rest. While all five crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Nagpur: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1952 at 0223 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AXE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Madras – Nagpur
MSN:
19160
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The final approach to Nagpur-Sonegaon Airport was completed by night and limited visibility. On final, the aircraft was too low and hit trees, banked left and crashed about 700 meters short of runway 27. A passenger and both pilots were killed while 14 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who decided to pass below the glide and continue the approach at an insufficient height. A wrong altimeter setting was considered as a contributory factor, the crew continued the approach in QNH mode instead of QFE.
Final Report: