Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew (three pilots) departed Addis Ababa-Bole Airport for a local training mission. On final approach to runway 07, the crew reported an engine failure and the airplane became unstable. While trying to restart the engine, the crew failed to realize he was losing altitude when the airplane struck the roof of a house and crashed on a second. All three crew members were injured while there were no injuries on the ground.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in San Borja

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1243

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

15861/32609

YOM:

1945

Location:

San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia

Beni

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed by the runway. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Poptún: 31 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guatemala City - Poptún

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Guatemala City Airport, carrying 27 passengers and four crew members, essentially army officers and family members who were flying to Poptún to visit Maya ruins. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed in a mountainous area located about 65 km south of Poptún. All 31 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK off Si Racha: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

L2-13/96

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

12872

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training mission when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few km off Si Racha. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Puerto Lempira: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

313

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20839

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Puerto Lempira. Both pilots were killed while all passengers survived.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Cascavel

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Consultoria Tecnical e Operacional de Aviaçao - CTOA

Registration:

PT-KVT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

12147

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km from Cascavel. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Kaduqli

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

National Agricultural Organisation

Registration:

ST-AHH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15880/32628

YOM:

1945

Location:

Kaduqli

South Kordofan (جنوب كردفان)

Country:

Sudan

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in flames and was destroyed by fire. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota IV-M in Bettles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1979 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

N99663

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Bettles - Ambler

MSN:

16719/33467

YOM:

1945

Location:

Bettles

Alaska

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Bettles Airport was unstable and completed in poor weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and blowing snow. The aircraft crashed on three parked aircraft on apron. The C-47 was destroyed and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.

Probable cause:

Collision with parked aircraft on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Blowing snow,
- Visibility less than half a mile, below minimums,
- No alternate airport,
- LOC/DME approach.

Final Report: