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.

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.
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