Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

0-50781

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

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:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Arute International Air

Registration:

N6574

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Cockburn Town (San Salvador Island)

Schedule:

Miami - Cockburn Town

MSN:

4388

YOM:

1942

Location:

San Salvador

Country:

Bahamas

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Aerolineas Urraca

Registration:

HP-560

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

David - Changuinola

MSN:

19242

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

CF-OOV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Frobisher Bay – Resolute Bay

MSN:

13300

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

43-48636

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani

MSN:

14452/25897

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

Baron 52

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SQA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4742

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

PK-EHC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site: