Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Canaima: 34 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AKE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Canaima - Caracas
MSN:
4705
YOM:
1942
Location:
Canaima
Bolívar
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Canaima Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency when on final, the airplane stalled and crashed few km from the airfield. None of the 34 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK off Sandoway: 28 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ACM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sandoway - Yangon
MSN:
15534/26979
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sandoway
Rakhine State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sandoway Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea (Gulf of Bengal). Three passengers were rescued while 28 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK at Swartkop AFB

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6850
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15301/26746
YOM:
1944
Location:
Swartkop AFB (Pretoria)
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was engaged in a mission on behalf of the 44th Squadron.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Wapenamanda

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-MAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madang - Wapenamanda
MSN:
11917
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wapenamanda
Enga
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Wapenamanda Airport while on a cargo flight from Madang, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing due to a fractured trunnion at the rear of the undercarriage strut.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Tabuk

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HZ-AAK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16231/32979
YOM:
1945
Location:
Tabuk
Tabuk (تبوك‎)
Country:
Saudi Arabia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a landing accident at Tabuk Airport. There were no casualties.

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

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-WSGU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15420/26865
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kulusuk
Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq
Country:
Greenland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a delivery flight from Europe to the US, the aircraft crashed on approach to Kulusuk Airport. There were no casualties and the aircraft was abandoned on site.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Compostela: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6012
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Compostela
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on Mt Buenavista located 5 km west of Compostela, Nayarit. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47J near Cuchivero: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-GAI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar - Cuchivero
MSN:
15168/26613
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cuchivero
Bolívar
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Ciudad Bolívar to the Cuchivero mines. While approaching its destination, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near the Rio Orinoco. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Moyobamba: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1972 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-653
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chiclayo - Moyobamba - Tarapoto
MSN:
17102/34369
YOM:
1945
Location:
Moyobamba
San Martín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Chiclayo Airport at 1524LT on a cargo flight to Tarapoto with an intermediate stop in Moyobamba. At 1615LT, the crew contacted ATC to obtain traffic and weather information for Moyobamba Airport. Five minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Killukichu. The wreckage was found few hours later and all six occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was flying at an insufficient altitude and under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Madang

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madang - Mendi
MSN:
15344/26789
YOM:
1944
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Madang to Mendi. While approaching Mendi Airstrip, a failure of the hydraulic system forced the crew to return to Madang for a safe landing. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a lake. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The hydraulic failure caused the braking system to be inoperable.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.
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