Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Farsala: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Farsala
Thessaly / Θεσσαλία
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Farsala, killing all six occupants, two crew members, a captain and three soldiers.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A in La Carlota AFB

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Compania Anonima Vuelos Express - CAVE
Registration:
YV-C-CAJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Carlota-General Francisco de Miranda AFB (Caracas)
Caracas Federal District
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. Both crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Athens: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
SX-BAB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Athens - Athens
MSN:
18981
YOM:
1943
Location:
Athens-Hassani
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew consisting of eight pilots was completing a training exercise in Athens-Hassani Airport. On final approach, the aircraft encountered downdraft, lost height and crashed on a beach located in Voula, south of the airport. The three pilots that were seating in the cockpit were killed as the cockpit crashed on rocks. Five others occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Caught by downdraft on final approach.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota C.4 in Westgate-on-Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ984
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
MSN:
14977/26422
YOM:
1944
Location:
Westgate-on-Sea
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie and while cruising at low height with an engine inoperative, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Westgate-on-Sea. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined with certainty. However, investigators confirmed the aircraft was flying with an engine inoperative as voluntarily shut down by the crew for the exercise. Also, the pilot was able to recover from the spin but unfortunately too late as the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient when stall occurred.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Wuwei: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Urumqi – Lanzhou
Location:
Wuwei
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Urumqi to Lanzhou, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located in the region of Wuwei. The wreckage was found few days later and all 26 occupants were killed, among them one US and one British citizen.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Yogyakarta: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Indonesian Government
Registration:
VT-CLA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Singapore - Yogyakarta
MSN:
15471/26916
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yogyakarta
Special Region of Yogyakarta
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a humanitarian flight from Singapore on behalf of the Indonesian Red Cross with drugs on board. On final approach to Yogyakarta-Maguwo Airport, the Dakota was shot down by the pilots of two NEIAF (Netherlands East Indies Air Force) fighters and crashed in an open field located few km from the airport. All five occupants were killed. Indonesian authorities confirmed that the aircraft was flying under civilian color scheme but did not have any Red Cross painted on its fuselage. So it is most probable that the fighters' pilots mistook the aircraft and thought it was a military plane carrying soldiers. Both pilots were Australian citizens as all three passengers were high ranking Indonesian Army Officers. Still registered in India, the aircraft was offered few days ago to the Indonesian government by Jawaharlal Nehru, future Indian Prime Minister. Following this tragedy, Indonesian Authorities will rename the airport of Yogyakarta that became Adisutjipto instead of Maguwo.
Crew:
A. N. Constantine, pilot,
R. Hazlehurst, copilot,
B. Ram, flight engineer,
A. Q. Wirjokoesoemo, radio navigator.
Passengers:
Agustinus Adisutjipto,
Abdulrahman Saleh,
Adisumarmo Wirjokusumo.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilots of two ML-KNIL (Royal Dutch Indies Air Force) Curtiss P-40 fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Saigon

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
476353
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15937/32685
YOM:
1945
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Oberröblingen

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93802
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
13754
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oberröblingen
Saxony-Anhalt
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed enroute, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Oberröblingen. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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