Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK near Barentu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AFW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
16681/33429
YOM:
1945
Location:
Barentu
Gash-Barka
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
10566
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight, the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The wreckage was found in a desert area near Barentu and all five occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a bomb exploded on board in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Teseney: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
15030/26475
YOM:
1944
Location:
Teseney
Gash-Barka
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
18767
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Teseney, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Belle Glade

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Jose Rodriguez
Registration:
N4996E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12141
YOM:
1943
Location:
Belle Glade
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crash landed in a sugar cane field in Belle Glade and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, apparently sole on board, was not found. Illegal flight with a load of marijuana on board.
Probable cause:
Ground loop during landing roll after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain. The following contributing factors were reported.
- Misjudged distance and speed,
- High vegetation,
- Rough terrain,
- Illegally transporting marijuana,
- Crew not apprehended.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Des Moines

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1978 at 1313 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N41447
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago - Des Moines
MSN:
12987
YOM:
1944
Location:
Des Moines
Iowa
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck an embankment located 300 feet short of runway 03 threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off, the airplane nosed down and crashed. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with a dirt bank on final approach after the crew misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Windshield covered by ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Wind gusting 20 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-Dl near Rubio: 28 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1393
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta - Arauca
MSN:
19053
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rubio
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,200 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 30 km south of Rubio, in the Judio Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 28 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the airplane was not following the correct route as mentioned on the flight plan and its altitude was insufficient. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Mareb

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
4W-ABY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13174
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ma'rib
Ma'rib (مأرب)
Country:
Yemen
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Ma'rib Airstrip. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Degehabur

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12278
YOM:
1944
Location:
Degehabur
Somali
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The copilot was the pilot-in-command and completed the approach. Just prior to touchdown, the captain realized the airplane was unstable due to unfavorable winds and decided to regain control. Upon landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the right, struck a drainage ditch, lost its left main gear and came to rest. All 13 occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Soddo

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AGK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15020/26465
YOM:
1944
Location:
Soddo
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
30160
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the crew encountered engine problems and the decision was taken to divert to Soddo Airfield for an emergency landing. After touchdown, both engines were cut off. Unable to stop within the remaining distance of 1,200 meters, the airplane overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. All 32 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine problems caused by a loss of hydraulic pressure that fell to zero.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Belo Horizonte

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1978 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PT-KVU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
São Paulo – Belo Horizonte
MSN:
12356
YOM:
1944
Location:
Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Pampulha Airport, the crew encountered difficulties to stop the airplane that overran, went down an embankment and came to rest few dozen meters further with its undercarriage torn off. All 19 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the brakes failed after touchdown for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Kuopio: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1978 at 2131 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
DO-10
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kuopio - Helsinki
MSN:
12050
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kuopio
Northern Savonia
Country:
Finland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Kuopio Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The captain elected to return for an emergency landing and initiated a turn to the left when the airplane lost height and crashed in the Juurusvesi Lake, about one km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed, among them politicians and businessmen who were flying back to Helsinki after attending a National Defence Course meeting organized by the Finnish Defence Forces.
Crew:
1st Lt Kari Halmetoja, pilot,
M/Sgt Seppo Raninen, copilot,
Sgtm Heikki Mannila, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Risto K. Alanko,
Kirsti Hollming,
Aaro Kenttä,
Pekka Lahdensuu,
Olavi Majlander,
Arto Merisaari,
Antti Pohjonen,
Kari Sinisalo,
Viljo Särkkä,
Olli Varho,
Col Aarno Hukari,
Lt Col Tapio Kokkonen.
Probable cause:
The failure of the right engine was the consequence of the failure of the 5th cylinder due to fatigue cracks that could not be detected during the last maintenance check.
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