Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

I-ETNA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Milan – Brussels

MSN:

4396

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Milan-Linate Airport, while climbing in foggy conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed. The assumption of an engine failure is not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Prague

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1948 at 1220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

OK-WDC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Prague (Hlavní mesto Praha)

Schedule:

Amsterdam – Prague

MSN:

12176

YOM:

1944

Location:

Prague-Ruzyne

Country:

Czech Republic

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Prague-Ruzyne Airport, when the aircraft broke through the clouds, it was deviated by 300 meters to the right of the runway centerline. Rather than making a go around, the pilot completed a steep turn to the left to join the runway but on final, the left wing hit the ground and the aircraft came to rest in a grassy area to the right of the runway. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK near Vehari: 21 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1948 at 1115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AP-ACE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Karachi – Lahore

MSN:

12775

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft left Karachi at 0805LT bound for Lahore and climbed to the assigned altitude of 7,000 feet. While cruising in the region of Vehari, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all 21 occupants.

Probable cause:

The omission of a sealing washer on the carburetor fuel filter of the port engine resulting in fuel leaking on to the ignition systems, culminating in a severe oil fire which finally involved the main port fuel tanks. Secondary causes were a generally low standard of maintenance due to lack of tools, spares, adequate lighting, hurried workmanship, and inexperience in lower staff grades. The crew carried out their duty in a disciplined manner and if disintegration had been delayed for a short while longer an emergency landing could have been made.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Fazenda Boa Esperença

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Transportes Carga Aérea

Registration:

PP-ASA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Anápolis - Rio Formoso

MSN:

19843

YOM:

1944

Location:

Fazenda Boa Esperança

Minas Gerais

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed while landing on Fazenda Boa Esperença runway, probably following an engine failure. Nine occupants were injured while six others were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Mumbai

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Indian Overseas Airlines - IOA

Operator:

Registration:

VT-AZZ

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4267

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Ground accident in Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport. No injuries.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Paris

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-BWX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Johannesburg – Wadi Halfa – Khartoum – Nice – Paris – London

MSN:

4254

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

While descending to Paris-Le Bourget Airport, the pilot was instructed by ATC to divert to Orly Airport as a landing in Le Bourget was impossible due to the low visibility caused by mist. While approaching Paris-Orly Airport, the crew was forced to abandon the approach due to foggy conditions and made a go around. Then three other attempts to land were also aborted. During the fifth attempt, the pilot reduced his altitude, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground, when the aircraft hit a electric pylon and crashed on a generator located near the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 14 occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota C.4 in Berlin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KP223

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lübeck – Berlin

MSN:

16692/33440

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The approach to Berlin-Gatow Airport was started in poor weather conditions (horizontal visibility 1,500 meters and cloud base at 500 feet). On final, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in flames in the Soviet zone. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B Dakota C.4 near Rawang: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

KN633

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

16569/33317

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a SAR mission after a RAF Spitfire was missing since that morning. While cruising at low height, the aircraft hit with one of its wings some tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. All five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the pilot who failed to maintain a sufficient safe distance with the ground obstacles.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Bogotá: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-119

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors: