Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Porto Nacional Airport, the pilot in command decided to abandon the landing and put full power on both engines to make a go around. At the same time, the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left and hit the ground, causing the left main gear to be sheared off. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in flames. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The left engine stopped because a hydraulic line failed. The exact cause of this failure could not be determined with certainty due to severe damages caused by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Pirsogianni: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49249

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

15065/26510

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a supply mission to Greek soldiers based in the Pirsogianni region and taking part to the civil war. While flying at low height, the aircraft was hit by enemy artillery and crashed in a mountainous area, killing all seven crew members.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota C.4 in Lübeck: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KJ970

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin – Lübeck

MSN:

14819/26264

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the Berlin Airlift and was flying back to his base in Lübeck-Blankensee. During a night approach, after he went through the last cloud layer, the pilot was blinded by the sodium lamps part of the approach light system. He decided to reduce his altitude and then completed a last turn to the left to join the runway when the aircraft hit the ground and crashed 3 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Bilwi

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

NC56800

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

MSN:

4589

YOM:

1942

Location:

Bilwi

Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte

Country:

Nicaragua

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL Skytrain near El Bonito: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16256

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

El paso – San Antonio

MSN:

20722

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a reduced visibility due to fog. The aircraft went off track and hit a mountain located near El Bonito, about 75 miles southwest of Del Rio. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Hong Kong: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1949 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

VR-HDG

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Manila – Hong Kong

MSN:

20576

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport from the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was very limited. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the Braemar Reservoir located 3 km southwest of the runway 31 threshold. All 23 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Cuzco: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1949 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cuzco – Lima

Location:

Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete

Cuzco

Country:

Peru

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground that the left engine caught fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. Two crew members and twenty passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

It appears that the tire on the left main gear burst after takeoff and set fire to the undercarriage compartment and then to the engine and its nacelle after the gear were raised.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK Dakota C.3 in Exhall: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1949 at 0945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHCW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Northolt – Glasgow

MSN:

13308

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in VFR mode over the region of Coventry at an altitude of 4,500 feet, the C-47 collided with a RAF Avro Anson registered VV243 and carrying four pilots under training. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Exhall, north of Coventry. All 14 occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the result of a midair collision. Since neither aircraft took any apparent avoiding action it must be concluded that the pilot of the Anson did not see the Dakota and that the pilots of the Dakota did not see the Anson. This must be attributed to failure on the part of the captain of each aircraft to ensure the maintenance of an effective lookout.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK Skytrain near La Poma: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-1138

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Panama City – Buenos Aires

MSN:

17141/34408

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a diplomatic flight from Panama City to Buenos Aires, carrying a crew of three and five passengers, among them Colonel Gerald Evan Williams, attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Buenos Aires, and his wife. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the aircraft hit the ground and disintegrated in a rocky and desert area located about 20 km west of La Poma. The wreckage was found few hours later and all eight occupants were killed.