Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Sulaco

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HR-SAB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4299
YOM:
1942
Location:
Sulaco
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Sulaco, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a prairie. All 10 occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Rimouski: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-QBB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10081
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rimouski
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on an instrument approach to Rimouski Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a tree and crashed 5 km southeast of Rimouski. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Svay Rieng: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1973 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Cambodia Air Commercial
Registration:
XW-TDM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Svay Rieng – Phnom Penh
MSN:
10078
YOM:
1943
Location:
Svay Rieng
Svay Rieng
Country:
Cambodia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Svay Rieng Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was shot down by a mortar shell and crashed in flames. All 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Silk Hope: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1973 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
0-50781
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fort Bragg - Fort Bragg
MSN:
14953/26398
YOM:
1943
Location:
Silk Hope
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a training sortie from Fort Bragg-Simmons AAF and was carrying 11 members of the USA Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, two pilots and a crew chief. About an hour after its departure, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by the fact that the aircraft was overloaded. Apparently, a heavy metal plating floor had been added in Vietnam but not entered in the log book.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Cockburn Town

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1973 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Arute International Air
Registration:
N6574
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami - Cockburn Town
MSN:
4388
YOM:
1942
Location:
Cockburn Town (San Salvador Island)
San Salvador
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6900
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew started the descent to Cockburn Town Airport, San Salvador Island. After touchdown on runway 28, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged into the sea. All 23 occupants were evacuated and the copilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The pilot-in-command misjudged distance and speed. The following factors were reported:
- Wet runway,
- Downwind,
- The crew did not see the lighted wind sock and landed downwind.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL on Mt Horqueta: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aerolineas Urraca
Registration:
HP-560
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
David - Changuinola
MSN:
19242
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Horqueta
Chiriquí
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
En route from David to Changuinola, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Horqueta located north of Los Naranjos. Six occupants survived while 22 others were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Frobisher Bay

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-OOV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Frobisher Bay – Resolute Bay
MSN:
13300
YOM:
1944
Location:
Frobisher Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Frobisher Bay Airport, while climbing, one of the engine lost power. The crew elected to return when the airplane stalled and crashed by the airport. All three occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft was returning from a major overhaul in Toronto few days ago.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q near Salavan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48636
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani
MSN:
14452/25897
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Baron 52
Location:
Salavan
Saravane Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ubon Ratchathani AFB on a survey flight over the Ho Chi minh Trail to locate tanks. While flying at low height by night, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in an isolated area located 56 km southeast of Salavan. The wreckage was found two days later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt George Ross Spitz,
1st Lt Robert Edward Bernhardt,
Cpt Arthur Ray Bollinger,
2nd Lt Severo James Primm,
S/Sgt Todd Michael Melton,
Sgt Dale Brandenburg,
Sgt Peter Richard Cressman,
Sgt Joseph Andrew Matejov.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Rondonópolis

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SQA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4742
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rondonópolis
Mato Grosso
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Rondonópolis Airport in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Pontianak

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PK-EHC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15684/27129
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pontianak-Supadio
West Kalimantan
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight on behalf of the Pertamina Company. During the last segment, the airplane struck the runway 15 surface with its left wing. It went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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