Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Lake Bienville

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
C-FIRW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9834
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lake Bienville
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft when through the ice (hot spot) while taxiing, because of wrong information given to the crew. The crew completed the emergency shut down and exited the aircraft by the main door.
There was no injury. The aircraft was bought by a third party and flown out after being taken back on thicker ice. Cancelled from registry in 1982.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Bahar Dar

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12981
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bahar Dar
Amhara
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
43024
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. All four occupants (three crew members and one security officer) escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL at Çiğli AFB

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HEK-15
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20883
YOM:
1944
Location:
Çiğli AFB (Izmir)
Aegean Region (Ege Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at Çiğli AFB. Occupants fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL on Mt El Boquerón: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1980 at 1547 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Colombian Government
Registration:
HK-1221G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Turbo – Medellín
MSN:
9703
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt El Boquerón
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Turbo on a flight to Medellín, carrying employees of the Colombian Customs Services (Direccion General de Aduanas). While descending to the altitude of 9,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt El Boquerón located about 100 km northwest of Medellín Airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 20 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds.
Probable cause:
The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC when the airplane struck the mountain. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near San José del Guaviare

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1980 at 1338 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1131
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San José del Guaviare - Bogotá
Location:
San José del Guaviare
Guaviare
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from San José del Guaviare Airport, the crew declared an emergency following an engine failure. The captain attempted an emergency landing on Mt Las Lajas when the airplane crash landed eight minutes after takeoff. All 23 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK in Yaxchibal: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aero Express - Guatemala
Registration:
TG-BAC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14330/25775
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yaxchibal
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes prior to its arrival at Flores Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a pasture located in Yaxchibal. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DK in the Mediterranean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Kurfiss Aviation
Registration:
ECT-025
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Madrid - Perpignan - Frankfurt
MSN:
13375
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The DC-3 aircraft had been decommissioned by Spanish Air Force and stored at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. It was auctioned in July 1979 and bought by Kurfiss Aviation of Germany to become part of an aviation museum. The aircraft was then repaired by mechanics contracted by the new owner. A provisional, restricted Certificate of Airworthiness was issued to allow the airplane to be ferried to Frankfurt via Perpignan Airport (PGF). On the day of the ferry flight a VHF radio was installed but two-way communication could not be established. The departure was delayed until finally took off at 15:29 hours, without authorization, using a runway which was not rated for the weight of the DC-3 aircraft. There was no communication with the flight due to the radio problems. The aircraft presumably reached the zone of Barcelona in very low visibility conditions, due to both the hazy conditions and the diminishing daylight hours. The airplane did not arrive at Perpignan. A search operation was started but no sign of the plane was found. It is presumed to have crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Puerto Berrío: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1980 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aeronorte Colombia - Aerovias del Norte
Registration:
HK-329
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Bogotá
MSN:
4404
YOM:
1942
Location:
Puerto Berrío
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport at 1930LT on a cargo flight to Bogotá. About two hours later, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located near Puerto Berrío. The wreckage was found few hours later and all three crew members were killed:
Crew:
Jaime Feged, pilot,
Arnovis Guarín, copilot,
Rafael Melo, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while cruising in severe turbulences after one wing detached following rivets failure.
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