Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

VH-MME

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Perth – Carnarvon – Darwin

MSN:

9350

YOM:

1943

Flight number:

MV772

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3500

Circumstances:

After a night takeoff, while climbing to a height of 600 pieds, the aircraft christened 'Fitzroy' nosed down and plunged into the earth, crashing in a huge explosion with flaps and undercarriage retracted. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The report confirmed that the crash occurred because the aircraft stalled and the pilots were unable to regain control. However, the evidence was not sufficient to allow determination of what caused the stall. The report conceded that over-loading of the aircraft's rear baggage compartment may have contributed to the stall. The inquiry was critical of the operator and the Department of Civil Aviation. In particular, it was critical of the operator's poor standards of maintenance of aircraft instruments. For this reason, the inquiry recommended the operator's airline licence should be suspended or cancelled. It also considered the Department should have made more checks of the operator's methods and record keeping. The Minister declined to take action against the operator, saying its maintenance record keeping had improved significantly since the accident. He also cited the hardship that would be inflicted on many remote communities in Western Australia if the operator's airline licence were to be suspended or cancelled.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 near Santa Monica: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

17279

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moffett - Santa Monica

MSN:

14479/25924

YOM:

1944

Location:

Santa Monica

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Santa Monica-Clover Field, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Dry Canyon, some 5 miles north of the airport. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Athens: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1949 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

SX-BAI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kavala – Athens

MSN:

12162

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Athens-Hassani Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the aircraft entered cumulonimbus. In thunderstorm activity with turbulences, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of Mt Parnitha (1,413 meters high) located about 30 km north of Hassani Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 22 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The loss of control was caused by the failure of the right wing in flight. Investigations revealed that turbulences and pressure was above the load certification, causing the wing to fail in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Florianópolis: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1949 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2023

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro – Florianópolis – Porto Alegre

MSN:

17098/34365

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Florianópolis Airport, while climbing in heavy rain falls, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cambirela located 14 km southwest of the airfield. Rescuers arrived on scene 27 hours later and all 28 occupants have been killed. Due to poor visibility caused by bad weather conditions, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountainous terrain.

Ground accident of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK Dakota C.4 in RAF North Luffenham

Date & Time: May 23, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KN551

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

16830/33578

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While holding for takeoff, the Dakota registered KN551 was hit by another RAF Dakota registered KJ810. The accident occurred in unclear circumstances and there were no injuries. While KJ810 was repaired, KN551 was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Tungurahua: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1949 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Descending to Ambato Airport in poor weather conditions, while at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of the Tungurahua volcano located 31 km southeast of the airport. All thirteen occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK into the Lamon Bay: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1949 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PI-C98

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Daet – Manila

MSN:

16743/33491

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Daet to Manila, the aircraft exploded in the air and crashed into the Lamon Bay. Few debris were found in water and all 13 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Disintegration of the aircraft in the air due to the explosion of a time bomb placed in the rear of the cabin by two ex-convicts who were hired for the job by a woman and a man who were attempting to kill the woman's husband, a passenger in the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-16396

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Ponta Delgada – Saint John’s

MSN:

20862

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft about 500 km southeast of Saint John's. The airplane crashed near a US Coast Guard ship. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C47A-4-DK in Athens

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

SX-BAF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site: