Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Reindeer Air Service

Registration:

CF-TQW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

12598

YOM:

1944

Location:

Norman Wells

Northwest Territories

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (6,200 feet high) located in the region of Norman Wells. The wreckage was found few hours later about 200 feet below the summit and both pilots have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47Q in Nakhon Phanom: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1972 at 1740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-49771

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nakhon Phanom - Nakhon Phanom

MSN:

15587/27032

YOM:

1945

Flight number:

Baron 56

Location:

Nakhon Phanom

Nakhon Phanom (นครพนม)

Country:

Thailand

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Nakhon Phanom Airport following a supply mission, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area near the airport. Two occupants were killed while eight others were rescued.
Those killed were:
Cpt Robert Alan Kohn,
M/Sgt John W. Ryon.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control caused by the failure of the rudder control system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK into the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

S & H Aviation

Registration:

CF-FOL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Keflavik - Saint John's

MSN:

14038/25483

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a charter flight from Keflavik to Saint John's, Newfoundland. En route, both engines failed simultaneously due to fuel exhaustion. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 160 km east of Saint John's. All three occupants were killed in the accident.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew was inexperienced on this type of aircraft and that he never flew a transatlantic flight in the past. Investigations reported that the crew encountered strong headwinds all along the flight, causing the fuel consumption to be higher than expected with a lower speed than calculated. It was determined that the aircraft's speed was in fact 112 km/h instead of the expected 150 km/h.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Kampot: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Cambodia Air Commercial

Registration:

XW-TDA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13729

YOM:

1944

Location:

Kampot

Country:

Cambodia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Kampot Airport, the airplane was shot down by a mortal shell and crashed in flames near the airport. All nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a mortar shell.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK in Madrid: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

EC-AQE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Madrid - Madrid

MSN:

14196/25641

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Madrid-Barajas. At liftoff, the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed. A pilot was killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot-in-command (a student under training) pulled up to abruptly on the control column and initiated the rotation prematurely as the aircraft's speed was insufficient (between 65 and 70 knots), causing the aircraft to adopt a wrong takeoff configuration and to stall.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DL in Caranavi

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-24

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Paz - San Borja

MSN:

9207

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route on a cargo flight from La Paz to San Borja, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine and was cleared to divert to Caranavi for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While both pilots escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical issues on the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in La Paz

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-565

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

19236

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following engine problems, the aircraft was parked at La Paz-El Alto Airport for several days for repairs. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames 1,135 meters past the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were injured. Rotation was completed at a speed of 74 knots.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-45-DL in Dulikhel: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1972 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

9N-RF10

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Panchkhal - Katmandu

MSN:

9950

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Panchkhal Army Reserve, the crew encountered limited visibility. While cruising at low height, the airplane struck power cables, stalled and crashed in a field located in Dulikhel, about 20 km southeast of Katmandu-Tribhuvan Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 31 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Gondar: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1972 at 1020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ET-ABQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site: