Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Fort Severn: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1975 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CF-AII
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thunder Bay - Fort Severn
MSN:
19353
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from Thunder Bay to Fort Severn, carrying building supplies. On approach, the crew encountered heavy fog when on final, the airplane struck the bank of the Severn River. It bounced into the air, took off the roof of an Anglican church and crashed 267 feet away in a graveyard, about 3 km from runway 15 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the visibility was extremely limited due to fog and the crew descended too low until the airplane impacted ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL in La Grande

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1975
Registration:
CF-ECY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9264
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight, carrying a load of 15 fuel drums for the workers engaged in the construction of the hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River. After touchdown at La Grande-Rivière Airport, the airplane struck a snowdrift, went out of control and came to rest, broken in two. Both pilots were uninjured but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A off Quintero: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
125
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Quintero, killing all nine occupants.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47A off Itaparica

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1975 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
2065
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Salvador - Salvador
MSN:
19217
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport in the morning to proceed to a calibration mission. After a flight over the sea, the crew was returning to Salvador when, at an altitude of 1,500 feet, the right engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and elected to divert to the nearest airport when, at an altitude of 800 feet, the left engine failed as well. In such conditions, the crew ditched the airplane off Itaparica. While both pilots were able to swim to the shore, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Wakeman: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1975 at 1300 LT
Registration:
N144A
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wakeman - Miami
MSN:
9723
YOM:
1943
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
8000.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wakeman Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane nosed down, collided with trees and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Aircraft observed in shallow descent to ground impact,
- High power noted during descent,
- Pilots oxygen masks used,
- No oxygen in the system.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Mota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1975 at 1020 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Bahar Dar - Debra Marcos
MSN:
4292
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
23921
Circumstances:
En route from Bahar Dar to Debra Marcos at an altitude of 11,500 feet, weather conditions worsened and the visibility decreased due to low clouds. While descending into clouds, the captain saw a mountain ahead and elected to gain height when the base of the tail struck trees. The airplane stalled and crashed onto Mt Choke. A passenger was killed while other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 B-35-DK in Mtwara

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1975 at 0922 LT
Operator:
Registration:
5Y-AAF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dar es-Salaam – Mtwara – Nachingmea
MSN:
16577/33325
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
EC087
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2884
Copilot / Total flying hours:
411
Aircraft flight hours:
37365
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Dar es Salaam with three crew and 16 passengers. Flight EC087 was scheduled to call at Lindi and Nachingwea with the service terminating at Nachingwea. Due to the non availability of fuel at Dar es Salaam, the aircraft made an unscheduled stop at Mtwara to refuel with sufficient fuel for the return service EC088 to Dar es Salaam. The weather at Mtwara was reported fine with the wind light and variable. At the time of the landing, the wind direction was given as 030 and 8 knots. The aircraft made the approach and landing using standard procedures and touched down at a point some 1,000 feet from the threshold of runway 19. After a ground roll of 150 feet, the aircraft commenced a swing to the left side of the runway, it then rolled another 350 feet and swung to the right continued on this course, leaving the runway and skidding for approximately 180 feet before it came to rest having turned 135° from the direction of the landing. Both landing gear assys collapsed due to excessive side loads applied to the structure, substantial damage was caused to the centre section structure and nacelles. The port propeller was damaged. The passengers and crew were able to evacuate the aircraft with the aid of tile ground rescue services. Two passengers were taken to hospital and treated for shock.
Probable cause:
The most probable cause of the accident was the failure of the pilot to initiate corrective action to prevent the aircraft from turning off the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Bosaso

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
6O-SAC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bosaso - Gaalkacyo - Mogadishu
MSN:
20424
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At takeoff from Bosaso-Bender Qaasim Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane stalled, struck the runway surface and crashed. All 11 occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The left engine failed because the fuel was contaminated with water. The crew was unable to maintain a safe rate of climb because of a high aircraft weight and a high OAT.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Punta de Amapala: 21 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1975 at 1930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
412
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Veracruz - San Salvador - Managua
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a charter flight from Veracruz to Managua with an intermediate stop in San Salvador, carrying 18 Mexican actors. While descending to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, the crew was forced to make a go-around and could not land due to poor weather conditions. The captain decided to divert to an airport located on the coast when few dozen minutes later, the airplane crashed into the Gulf of Fonseca, about 300 meters off Punta de Amapala. All 21 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after both engines failed due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Colina: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
970
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santiago - Santiago
MSN:
19730
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Santiago de Chile-Pudahuel Airport for a local training mission with a crew of three and four paratroopers on board. While cruising at a relative low altitude, the paratroopers bailed out when one of them struck a stabilizer. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in Colina, about 23 km northeast of Pudahuel Airport. All seven occupants were killed.