Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Lake Charles: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-77228
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lake Charles - Lake Charles
MSN:
16812/33560
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lake Charles
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Lake Charles Airport. After completing several touch-and-go maneuvers, the airplane approached the airport when it landed very hard. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left then crashed into a covered concourse, the roof of which was about the same height of the windshield of the aircraft. All four crew members were killed. They were based at England AFB.
Probable cause:
The investigation was thorough, with extensive interviews, and it was determined that the accident was the consequence of a pilot error.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-Dl on Mt Sangay: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1972 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HC-SJE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Macas
MSN:
4425
YOM:
1942
Location:
Mt Sangay
Morona Santiago
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from Quito to Macas on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of the Sangay volcano (5,230 meters high) located 40 km northwest of Macas. A crew member survived while six others were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt San Nicolas: 39 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1972 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-661
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medellín – Quibdó – Bahía Solano – Buenaventura – Cali
Flight number:
FAC-661
Location:
Mt San Nicolás
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Circumstances:
En route from Mdellín to Quibdó, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds. While cruising at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Nicolas (3,800 meters) located southwest of Betania. The wreckage was found four days later, on January 25. All 39 occupants were killed, among them civilians.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew lost his orientation while cruising in poor weather conditions and failed to realize he was not on properly track, thus at the right altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK Dakota 4MFP in Norman Wells

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-KAH
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15739/27184
YOM:
1945
Location:
Norman Wells
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Dominican Republic: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Dominican Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Dominicana
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dajabón - San Isidro
Location:
Dominican Republic
All Dominican Republic
Country:
Dominican Republic
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Dajabón-La Aviación Airfield to the San Isidro AFB located east of Santo Domingo, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the center of the island. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Kargong-Mechuka: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
BJ622
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14397/25842
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kargong-Mechuka
Jammu and Kashmir
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near the airport of Kargong-Mechuka, killing all five crew members from the 43rd Squadron.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL on Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Compaña de Aviacion Aéreo Amazonas
Registration:
HC-ANJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Bogotá
MSN:
20719
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way from Quito to Bogotá as the aircraft was under a maintenance program. While cruising at an altitude of 5,100 meters in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Nevado de Santa Isabel located about 150 km west of Bogotá. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted on January 6, 1972. The accident was not survivable.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas CC-129 Dakota near Paulatuk: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
12930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
13303
YOM:
1944
Location:
Paulatuk
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a SAR mission in the region of Palautuk. While flying by night at a relative low height, the pilot-in-command completed a turn when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed, killing all eight occupants.
Crew:
Cpt C. A. Healy,
Cpt S. R. Gitzel,
Cpt P. C. Hodges,
Cpt L. A. Cooper,
Lt D. W. Smart,
Cpl W. E. Platt,
Sgt J. R. Lemieux,
Cpl R. N. Vodden.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Quy Nhơn: 22 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
South Vietnamese Air Force
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Quy Nhơn
Bình Định Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
On final approach to Qui Nhơn Airport in heavy rain falls, the airplane crashed few km short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while 22 other occupants were killed.
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