Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Lao Airlines

Registration:

XW-TDI

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15700/27145

YOM:

1945

Location:

Ban Huoeisay (Houei Sai)

Bokèo Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Shelter Cove: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1971 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

Lake Riverside Estates

Registration:

N90627

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Shelter Cove – San Jose

MSN:

4642

YOM:

1942

Location:

Shelter Cove

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Circumstances:

After liftoff at Shelter Cove Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. The undercarriage struck an electric transformer and the left engine struck the roof of a sewage disposal building. Shortly later, the airplane entered a left bank and crashed into the sea about 150 yards offshore. Both pilots and 15 passengers were killed while seven other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew who failed to remove the rudder and elevator control locks prior to takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Shiraz

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air Taxi Company (Iran)

Registration:

EP-ADG

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

MSN:

10237

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident in Shiraz. Occupant's fate and circumstances remain unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK in Southend

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1971 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PH-MOA

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Southend – Amsterdam

MSN:

16605/33353

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4663

Captain / Total hours on type:

1750.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3247

Copilot / Total hours on type:

230

Aircraft flight hours:

6372

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a charter flight from Southend to Amsterdam, carrying 32 supporters of the Ajax football team back to The Netherlands. Following a fall in manifold pressure and the discovery of an oil leak in the starboard engine soon after a night takeoff, the pilot decided to return to Southend Airport for an emergency landing. In order to avoid an overshoot, he positioned the flaps to a 15° angle for the landing which resulted in a higher than normal airspeed at touchdown. The aircraft touched down about half-way down the runway in use, overran the paved area and collided with an earth bank. Of the 32 passengers and four crew on board, two passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The accident was due to a late touchdown and inappropriate use of the flaps. Insufficient braking efficiency resulted in a higher speed of overrun than would have otherwise occurred. The following factors were reported:
- The documentation of the aircraft was not in order,
- The number of persons on board was in excess of the number for which seating capacity and safety belts were provided, and the aircraft weight at take-off was 335 kg in excess of the authorised maximum,
- Following an engine failure in the air, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Southend Airport at a weight 560 kg in excess of its regulated landing weight,
- The approach and landing was made with 15° of flap extended, full flap was not used,
- Touchdown occurred approximately half way down the runway,
- The aircraft wheels brakes were worn to the extent that their efficiency would have been impaired and oil may have reduced the grip of the starboard tyre,
- The aircraft overran the paved area and collided with an earth bank on the aerodrome boundary.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK on Somerset Island

Date & Time: May 13, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CF-BZI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13448

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Somerset Island was completed in whiteout conditions. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the left ski struck the ground about 150 feet short of runway threshold. The left ski dug into the snow and was torn off, causing the airplane to crash. While both pilots were unhurt, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair and later convoyed to the Calgary Air Museum.

Probable cause:

The crew attempted to land in below-minima visibility due to whiteout conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in La Paz

Date & Time: May 4, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TAM-22

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Paz - El Jovi

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 1,500 meters past the runway end. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-85-DL in Cheyenne: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-15555

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20021

YOM:

1943

Location:

Cheyenne

Wyoming

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Cheyenne Municipal Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (snow falls) when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames and exploded few dozen yards from the airfield and was totally destroyed by fire. All five crew members were killed. The aircraft had just carried 15 young cadets to the Air Force Academy.
Crew:
Lt Col Frank L. Trochak,
Maj Fabian Dauzvardis,
Maj James C. Beach,
S/Sgt Paul Huston +1.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK at Basa AFB: 40 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1971 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

293246

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Basa - Nichols

MSN:

13136

YOM:

1944

Location:

Basa AFB (Floridablanca)

Pampanga

Country:

Philippines

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Basa AFB (north of Floridablanca), while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed 800 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 40 occupants were killed, among them 10 officers and 26 family members.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Tortola

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1971 at 0951 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Vinair (USA)

Registration:

N57372

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site: