Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Malaybalay: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cotabato – Bacolod
Location:
Malaybalay
Bukidnon
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Katanglad located about 24 km northwest of Malaybalay. All 18 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to weather and it appears that Mt Katanglad was showed with an elevation of 7,900 feet on maps while its real altitude was 9,300 feet.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Khabarovsk: 22 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1947 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1048
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nikolayevsk-on-Amur – Khabarovsk
MSN:
11936
YOM:
26
Location:
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Aircraft flight hours:
2388
Circumstances:
On final approach, the visibility was poor due to severe weather and as the aircraft was too low, it hit with its right wing a radio antenna located 2,600 meters short of the runway threshold. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all 22 occupants.
Probable cause:
The crew was completing the approach procedure in weather conditions that were considered as below minima. In such situation, the captain should make a go around or divert to the nearest suitable airport. Deficiencies and irregularities were pointed out in flight organisation, operation management and crew training.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in San Salvador

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aerovias Latino Americanas
Registration:
YS-30
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4461
YOM:
1942
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit a train. On impact, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. No one was hurt in the train.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Taymyr Peninsula: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1947 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1204
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mys Kosistyy – Khatanga
MSN:
9118
YOM:
1943
Location:
Volochanka
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Enroute from Mys Kosistyy to Khatanga, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing in the Taymyr Peninsula after the left engine failed. The aircraft crash landed in the tundra about 180 km northwest of Volochanka. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but all 33 occupants survived the accident. Four days later, as the rescue teams were unable to locate the wreckage, the captain and eight passengers decided to leave the crash site to search for help. On May 11, 1947, the wreckage was eventually spotted and the rescuers arrived on site to evacuate the remaining 24 occupants. Unfortunately, no trace of the pilot and the eight other passengers was ever found. Officially registered CCCP-L1204 in the Soviet Register, the aircraft still have the 42-32892 registration on tail. The wreckage was recovered in 2016 and transferred to as delivered to the Museum of Northern development in Krasnoyarsk.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DL near Karlovy Vary

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23368
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9230
YOM:
1943
Location:
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary Region (Karlovarský kraj)
Country:
Czech Republic
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In flight, all crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture. The aircraft was destroyed but all occupants were safe.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-2 near Malakal

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-BNB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
4098
YOM:
1941
Location:
Malakal
Upper Nile (أعالي النيل)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed 10 km south of Malakal and came to rest. Two passengers were slightly injured while all other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Dalry: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
K-14
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
14712/26157
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dalry
Ayrshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the region of Dalry. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D Skytrain in Kelly AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49258
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kelly - Davis Monthan
MSN:
15074/26519
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kelly AFB (ex Brooks Field, San Antonio)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kelly AFB, an engine failed. The aircraft passed over few houses, stalled and crashed in a cotton field. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were rescued, some of them injured. The aircraft was written off. The crew was enroute to Davis Monthan carrying the members of a baseball team taking part to a tournament.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Caracas: 27 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1947 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-ALO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cumaná – Caracas
Location:
Caracas
Caracas Federal District
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
While descending to La Carlota Airport in Caracas, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 40 km east of Caracas. All 27 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK near Decaturville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76231
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
15815/32563
YOM:
1945
Location:
Decaturville
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located about 5 miles west of Decaturville. All four occupants were killed.
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