Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Guatemala: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport on a humanitarian flight to Honduras, carrying various goods for the victims of the hurricane 'Fifi'. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered engine problems when the airplane crashed 14 km from the airport. All six occupants were killed, among them both Guatemalan businessman Afonso Bosch and Dionisio Gutiérrez.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Managua: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Managua
Managua City District
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew departed Managua-Las Mercedes Airport on a supply mission to the west coast of the country that suffered Hurricane 'Fifi'. The aircraft was carrying a crew of seven and a load of 5,000 pounds of various goods. During the initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed into Lake Xolotlán off Managua. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DK in Assam: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
BJ920
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
13696
YOM:
1944
Location:
Assam State
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area of the Assam State, killing all nine crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Buenaventura: 27 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1974 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-508
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tumaco - Cali
MSN:
4527
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
AV610
Location:
Buenaventura
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tumaco-La Florida Airport at 0825LT with an ETA in Cali at 0955LT. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to rain falls. The airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan when, at an altitude of 9,670 feet, it struck the slope of Mt Trujillo located in the region of Buenaventura, about 75 km northwest of Cali Airport. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Eventually, the wreckage was found in a ravine on October 31st 1974. All 27 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Mota

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16098/32846
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mota
Amhara
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
25067
Circumstances:
After landing at Mota Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DK in Mont-Apica: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Laurentian Air Services
Registration:
C-FTAT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Tuque - Saint-Honoré
MSN:
11850
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mont-Apica
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 2,750 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mont-Apica located about 67 km southwest of saint-Honoré Airport. Six passengers were seriously injured while five other occupants including all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Mueda

Date & Time: May 6, 1974 at 1358 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6175
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nangade - Nampula
MSN:
19393
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mueda
Cabo Delgado
Country:
Mozambique
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Nangade to Nampula, the airplane was hit by a SAM-7 missile (Strella) that struck the right engine. The crew decided to divert to Mueda but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing on the short training runway of Nacatári-Chapa. After landing, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance (too short runway), overran and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Baños de Agua Santa: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1974 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HC-AUC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shell Mera – Ambato
Location:
Baños de Agua Santa
Tungurahua
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
17 minutes after its takeoff from Shell Mera-Río Amazonas Airport, while flying by night at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain with its left wing that was partially torn off. Out of control, the airplane crashed near Baños de Agua Santa. The wreckage was found the following morning and five injured people were evacuated while 20 other occupants were killed, among them two crew members.
Probable cause:
Investigations were able to determine that the following factors contributed to the accident:
- Failure of the crew to adhere to the minima safe altitude fixed at 12,500 feet,
- Failure of the crew to follow the 275° heading from Rio Negro to Baños de Agua Santa,
- Overconfidence on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Possible distraction of the flight crew due to the presence of a tourist guide in the cockpit.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Svay Rieng: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Air Union Laos
Registration:
XW-TFL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Pakse - Svay Rieng
MSN:
9559
YOM:
1943
Location:
Svay Rieng
Svay Rieng
Country:
Cambodia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
After landing at Svay Rieng Airport, the airplane became uncontrollable and skidded on runway. It veered off runway and collided with several wooded houses. All six occupants escaped uninjured while six people were killed on the ground.
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