Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HC-ALC

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

MSN:

19871

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Ecuador.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Houston

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971 at 0915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

E. W. Brown

Registration:

N99H

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Houston

MSN:

15840/32588

YOM:

1945

Location:

Houston-C.R.C. Crose

Texas

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:

19000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3550.00

Circumstances:

Both crew members were involved in a local test flight. During the takeoff roll, right main gear brake dragged. To avoid a collision with trees located past the runway end, the pilot made a ground loop. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Aborted takeoff due to landing gear problems. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear, braking system,
- Improper clearance/tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Intentional ground loop,
- Right brake dragged on takeoff,
- Assembly changed and adjusted 2 days prior to the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Phnom Penh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1971 at 1220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N55L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville

MSN:

15230/26675

YOM:

1944

Location:

Phnom Penh-Pochentong

Phnom Penh

Country:

Cambodia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15608

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport, while climbing, the right engine caught fire and exploded. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure and explosion of the right engine for unknown reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Bucaramanga: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-653

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santa Marta – Bucaramanga

Location:

Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño

Santander

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Bucaramanga-Gómez Niño Airport, the airplane struck the slope of Mt La Judia located about 11 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in New York-LaGuardia

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1971 at 1832 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Johnstown - New York

MSN:

20426

YOM:

1944

Location:

New York-LaGuardia

New York

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:

9711

Captain / Total hours on type:

112.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

9169

Copilot / Total hours on type:

470

Circumstances:

A Federal Aviation Administration Douglas C-47, N7, crashed approximately 2,000 feet short of the approach threshold of runway 06 at LaGuardia Airport, New York. The crew was attempting to fly an Instrument Landing System approach in instrument meteorological conditions at night. The LaGuardia weather reported 3 minutes after the accident was: '200 feet scattered, measured 300 broken, 600 overcast, visibility 1 1/2 mile, light rain, fog, wind 060° at 11 knots, altimeter 29.63 inches, runway 04, visibility variable to 3 miles.

Probable cause:

The board determines that the probable cause of this accident was: the failure of the pilot to recognize the windshear conditions and compensate for it; the lack of crew coordination in that the copilot did not monitory the approach due to a self-induces communications problem and failed to warn the pilot that the aircraft was too low; and the diversion of tho pilot's attention from his primary task of completing the approach and landing. These conditions resulted in a mismanaged ILS and landing approach and the continuation of the descent into ground obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Guachanama: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Loja - Guayaquil

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Loja on an airlift to Guayaquil, carrying civilians (doctors) and various equipments following the recent earthquake. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters et marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Guachanama located in the region of Celica. All eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in New Delhi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1970 at 0643 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CZC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

National Capital Territory of Delhi

Schedule:

New Delhi - Jaipur

MSN:

12103

YOM:

1943

Location:

New Delhi-Safdarjung

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from New Delhi-Safdarjung Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The pilot declared an emergency, initiated a turn when the airplane went out of control, stalled and crashed. Three crew members and two passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine during initial climb due to fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the crew failed to follow the preflight checklist and due to poor flight preparation, the aircraft was not refueled prior to departure.

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

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1970 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cartago (East Central Valley)

Operator:

Registration:

411

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Managua - Panama City

Location:

Mt Turrialba

Country:

Costa Rica

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a special flight from Managua to Panama City, carrying three passengers (all civilians), and three crew members. While approaching San José, Costa Rica, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. In poor visibility, the airplane struck the slope of the Turrialba volcano (3,340 meters high) and disintegrated on impact. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Paraparaumu

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Government of New Zealand

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-AXS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site: