Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-AST

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guayaquil – Arica

MSN:

9659

YOM:

1943

Location:

Tacna

Country:

Peru

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a cargo flight from Guayaquil to Arica, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Maldito (3,501 meters high) located in the region of Tacna, Peru. The wreckage was found a month later, on April 16. All four crew members have been killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47P in Ben Het

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-77016

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nha Trang - Nha Trang

MSN:

16600/33348

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a radio intelligence mission over Laos. While cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and the left engine caught fire. The crew was able to leave the combat zone and to return to South Vietnam before completing an emergency landing at the special forces camp of Ben Het. The aircraft crash landed and was destroyed while all six crew members escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Statesville

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1968 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Millers Aviation

Registration:

N525W

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20054

YOM:

1944

Location:

Statesville

North Carolina

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

Captain / Total hours on type:

150.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Statesville Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command reduced power on the right engine and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. While all four occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Improper operation of powerplant on part of the crew who failed to use anti-icing/deicing systems prior to takeoff. Icing conditions conducted to the icing of the carburetor and induction systems on the left engine that failed during initial climb. Takeoff was completed with reduced power.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B in Saigon

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-48471

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District

MSN:

14287/25732

YOM:

1944

Location:

Saigon

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after rotation at Tan Son Nhat Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to a pilot error.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky near Phan Rang: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-49859

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15675/27120

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While conducting a night supply mission, the airplane was hit by enemy fire and crashed in flames 8 km south of Phan Rang Airbase. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Karl Merritt Waldron,
Cpt Edward Beeding Quill,
Cpt Thomas Joseph Margle,
S/Sgt Warren Mitchell Dixon,
S/Sgt Robert Kiyoshi Kawamura,
S/Sgt Roger Gail Lee,
Sgt James Harvey Bennett,
Sgt Brent Tosh.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in General Carneiro

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2026

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Site:

Schedule:

Belo Horizonte - Belo Horizonte

MSN:

20459

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in General Carneiro, in the suburb of Belo Horizonte while completing a local training mission. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Lagos

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1968 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

5N-AAL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Site:

MSN:

13919/25364

YOM:

1944

Location:

Lagos

Country:

Nigeria

Region:

Africa

Crew fatalities:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D in Rome: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48321

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14137/25582

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Rome-Ciampino Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After completing a last turn, the airplane stalled and crashed in an open field located few dozen yards short of runway. A passenger was killed while six other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1968 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft: