Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK near Dinalungan

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3558
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16969/34229
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The starboard engine blew up about 480 km north of Manila. Flight was maintained on one engine but bad weather and turbulence forced the plane down to below 1,000 feet. At about 200 km from Manila, some personal baggage and mail were jettisoned. The crew eventually realized it was impossible to join Manila so decided to make a wheels up landing near Dinalungan. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all 12 occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Moscow-Vnukovo

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L997
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Moscow-Vnukovo - Moscow-Vnukovo
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight following modification on the engines by GVF (Grazhdansky Vozdushnyi Flot). The final approach to Vnukovo Airport was completed in low visibility due to foggy conditions, when the aircraft hit a hill and crashed about 10 km northeast of the airport. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK in Memphis: 20 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1947 at 1810 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-76366
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
El Paso – Memphis
MSN:
15950/32698
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On final approach to Memphis in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 4 miles short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the crash could not be determined with certainty. There was no explosion or fire on board prior to final impact.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-6-DK near Trappa: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1947 at 1410 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-48736
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pisa – Frankfurt
MSN:
14552/25997
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
After his departure from Pisa Airport, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with alto-cumulus, heavy snow falls and wind from the southeast up to 25 knots. Due to the wind, the aircraft went off course up to 50 km to the west, and due to poor visibility, the crew was unaware of this course deviation. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Trappa and was destroyed. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On January 31st, 1948, Italian skiers found the wreckage of the aircraft and 20 dead bodies in an isolated area. According to some US military Officers, at least two passengers survived the crash but died few hours later.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL Skytrain in Bahía Blanca

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
T-18
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20406
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the aircraft hit unknown obstacles. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yakutat: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1947 at 0317 LT
Registration:
NC95486
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Anchorage – Yakutat
MSN:
6065
YOM:
1942
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
4300
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2000
Aircraft flight hours:
3756
Circumstances:
The flight departed from Anchorage at 0020, November 27, 1947, carrying 11 revenue passengers and 600 gallons of fuel. At 0238 the flight reported that it was over Yakataga, Alaska, at 6,000 feet, and that it was proceeding in accordance with instrument flight rules to Yakutat, estimating arrival there at 0320. Twenty-eight minutes later at 0306 the flight called Yakutat Radio, stating that it was leaving the 6,000-foot altitude and making an approach "straight in." The CAA communicator acknowledged and transmitted the Yakutat weather "Indefinite ceiling, 500-foot overcast visibility 3 miles, light drizzle, temperature and dew point 43 degrees, wind from the east-southeast at 10 miles per hour, altimeter setting 30.17." Yakutat Radio again called the flight at approximately 0316, requesting that it report the height of the ceiling when it descended into the clear. This was acknowledged by, "Okay Yakutat." No further communication was received from the flight. Shortly after the last transmission the airplane was heard to fly at a low altitude over a residence which was located approximately 300 feet south of the CAA Yakutat Radio station, and seconds later the occupants in the residence heard an explosion.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was failure to follow the approved instrument approach procedures while making an initial approach to Yakutat at an altitude insufficient to clear trees along the flight path.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Ciudad Bolivar

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AHO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolivar - Ciudad Bolivar
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ciudad Bolivar Airport, while on a test flight, the aircraft stalled and crashed 150 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was written off while all three crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in the Pir Panjal Mountain Range: 25 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
MA965
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Jammu – Srinagar
MSN:
12819
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Enroute from Jammu to Srinagar, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located in the Pir Panjal Mountain Range. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 25 occupants was found. Walkers found the wreckage in June 1980 in an isolated area. The crew was from the 12th Squadron.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK near Borja: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
43-48296
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
25557
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous and uninhabited area located some 60 km southwest of Borja, Peru. The wreckage was found ten days later and all five occupants were killed, among them Colonel John R. Hawkins, Chief of the USAF in Peru.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in New Delhi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1947
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agra – New Delhi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in New Delhi-Palam Airport, killing all 5 crew members. The fifteen passengers were injured.