Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Tenkodogo

Date & Time: May 2, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-OAFP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Yaoundé – Kano – Algiers – Paris
MSN:
20000
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tenkodogo
Boulgou (Tenkodogo)
Country:
Burkina Faso
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Yaoundé to Paris on behalf of the French Government, carrying Mr. André Soucadaux, High Commissioner of France in Cameroun, his wife and both children and his chief of cabinet. While cruising southeast of Ouagadougou, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and informed ground that he lost his orientation. Eventually, the captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a desert area located near Tenkodogo, about 140 km southeast of Ouagadougou. All 13 occupants were injured and later rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK Dakota III in Summerside

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KG317
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12314
YOM:
1944
Location:
Summerside
Prince Edward Island
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Leon Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-0954
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kelly - Kelly
MSN:
16957/34217
YOM:
1945
Location:
Leon Springs
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Control was lost in flight following a structural failure. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 2.5 miles east of Leon Springs. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure.

Crash of a Douglas TS-62 near in Vitim: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1950 at 0812 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L862
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Kirensk – Olyokminsk – Yakutsk
MSN:
12136
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
SU543
Location:
Vitim
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
3686
Circumstances:
En route from Kirensk to Olyokminsk, the left engine caught fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude but the fire spread to the wing and reached the cabin via the heating system. Descending to an altitude of 2,000 meters, the left engine separated from the aircraft and the aircraft later crash landed in a field located 29 km southwest of Vitim and came to rest in flames. All four crew members and six passengers were able to escape while ten passengers were killed, apparently intoxicated by smoke.
Probable cause:
The cause of the in flight fire on the left engine could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the fire was caused by the failure of a connection on the fuel line was not ruled out. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- the cabin crew failed to us the fire extinguisher, and also failed to close the heating system valve, which contributed to the quick propagation of the fire into the cabin,
- the captain decided to perform a steep descent that also contributed to the fire's propagation,
- the entire crew failed to give appropriate instructions to passengers prior to and after the accident, and failed to assist them for a safe evacuation, causing the death of 10 women and children.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Santa Bárbara de Pinto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1950 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-309
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Barranquilla
Location:
Santa Bárbara de Pinto
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport at 1529LT on a cargo flight to Barranquilla. At 1635LT, the crew informed ground about his position at 9,000 feet vertical to San Marcos. Less than 30 minutes later, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain and crashed 20 km northeast of Santa Bárbara de Pinto. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jacobo Torres, pilot 1.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Fairfax Field

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48102
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13918/25363
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kansas City-Fairfax Field
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine fire or explosion in flight, the crew was forced to divert to Fairfax Field for an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Calcutta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1950 at 0356 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CJD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12826
YOM:
1944
Location:
Calcutta
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground that an engine failed and elected to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Hatiara, about 4 km south of the airfield. All three crew members were killed and the aircraft was partially destroyed. It was en route to the State of Assam, carrying a load of iron and steel goods.
Crew:
Cpt Wallace, pilot,
Mr. Pandalay, copilot,
Mr. Kamath, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, it was stated that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident, which probably affected the engine's performances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK near Nagoya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49915
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Iwakuni – Komaki
MSN:
15731/27176
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nagoya-Komaki
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching Komaki AFB in Nagoya after a training sortie. While cruising by night, the aircraft crashed in a mountain area located 42 km southeast of the airbase. A crew member was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-85-DL near Roswell

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15557
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20023
YOM:
1943
Location:
Roswell
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located 6 miles southwest of Roswell. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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