Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

KLM Aerocarto

Registration:

PH-DAA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

11855

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet on a survey flight, one of the engine failed. The crew was able to feather its propeller but decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to increase the performances of the remaining engine. While descending, the pilot-in-command encountered low clouds and limited visibility when the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area. While both passengers were rescued, all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Buôn Ma Thuột: 23 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1968 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

45-0934

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saigon – Đà Nẵng – Hong Kong

MSN:

16937/34196

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the right engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller nor to maintain the assigned altitude so the captain decided to divert to Buôn Ma Thuột Airport. While descending, the airplane went out of control and crashed at an altitude of 700 meters on a plateau located 18 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed, among them two US civilians.
Crew:
Lt Col Howard Elmer Van Vliet,
Lt Col Robert Brooks Richardson,
Lt Col Council Lee Royal,
Maj Gerald Eugene Burgener,
Maj Basil Lincoln Ciriello,
Maj Gerald Dean Ziehe,
Cpt Gayland Omer Scott,
M/Sgt William Parker Bowman,
T/Sgt Donald William Bruck,
T/Sgt Billy Day Morris,
T/Sgt John Derral Thomas,
S/Sgt Eugene William Hendricks.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Feijó: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SAD

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13764

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Feijó Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ground about an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. While completing a last turn to join the approach path, control was lost and the airplane crashed in a field located few km from the airport. All 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL in Teterboro

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1968 at 1422 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N64423

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9251

YOM:

1943

Location:

Teterboro

New Jersey

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:

11345

Captain / Total hours on type:

3808.00

Aircraft flight hours:

52844

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Teterboro Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by an inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the crew. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The cargo shifted during initial climb to the rear, modifying the CofG,
- The cargo was improperly secured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-16159

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Phu Cat - Pleiku

MSN:

20625

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phu Cat when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Leslie Earl Harris, †
Maj Teddy James Tomchesson, †
Lt Barry Lynn Brown, †
Cpt Edward Chester Krawczyk, †
S/Sgt James Edgar Bowman, †
Sgt Douglas Joseph Cradeur, †
Sgt Roy Leo Lede. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Pleiku: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-76207

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Phù Cát - Phù Cát

MSN:

15791/32539

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The gunship was engaged in an aerial attack from Phù Cát when it was shot down by enemy fire in the region of Pleiku. Six crew members survived while three others were killed. Those killed were Cpt Donald Lewis Merry, Maj Richard William +1. Wackerfuss.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D in Trinidad

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-734

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Trinidad – La Paz

MSN:

17045/34311

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Trinidad Airport, the crew encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a wooded area, lost its landing gear, slid for several and came to rest with its right wing partially torn off. Several occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine problems after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Gia Nghĩa

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

607

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site: