Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Hasimara: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1971 at 2039 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-ATT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guwahati – Bagdogra – Calcutta
MSN:
20363
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hasimara
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a flight from Guwahati to Bagdogra, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed track for unknown reason and crashed in a mountainous area located near Hasimara, West Bengal. The wreckage was found six days later and all 15 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Red Devil

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1971 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Vanderpool Flying Service
Registration:
N49319
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bethel – Red Devil
MSN:
15231/26676
YOM:
1944
Location:
Red Devil
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7500
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Red Devil Airfield, the airplane hit a 3-foot high unmarked snowberm and came to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The airport supervisory personnel failed to notify of unsafe conditions and failed to mark the obstruction. The following factors were reported:
- Unmarked obstructions at airport,
- Airport conditions, snow on runway,
- Overload failure,
- Unmarked snowberm on runway 3 feet high and 40 feet from the edge of the runway.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1971 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
E. W. Brown
Registration:
N99H
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
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:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N55L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville
MSN:
15230/26675
YOM:
1944
Location:
Phnom Penh-Pochentong
Phnom Penh
Country:
Cambodia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-653
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santa Marta – Bucaramanga
Location:
Bucaramanga-Gomez Niño
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
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:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N7
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Calibration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
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:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Loja - Guayaquil
Location:
Mt Guachanama
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
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:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CZC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Delhi - Jaipur
MSN:
12103
YOM:
1943
Location:
New Delhi-Safdarjung
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
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.
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