Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Budapest: 30 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HA-TSA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Budapest - Budapest
MSN:
20492
YOM:
1944
Location:
Budapest
Budapest City District
Country:
Hungary
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a local sightseeing flight over Budapest when descending to Ferihegy Airport, the airplane crashed onto a building and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 27 occupants and three people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by carelessness on the part of the crew. The commission said the pilots had two friends in the cabin during the whole flight and the pilots had performed various forbidden maneuvers and in one sharp turn, lost control of the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK in Pearce: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1961 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-106
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pearce – Edinburgh
MSN:
16542/33290
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pearce
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft and crew had been travelling to a number of locations around Australia on a task for NASA, and were in WA calibrating the Muchea Tracking Station in support of a Project Mercury space launch. They had intended to leave for home base, RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia, earlier in the day, however the calibration had been delayed due to technical difficulties at Muchea which, being a mobile tracking station, was not as electronically stable as the fixed installations. A65-106 finally departed Pearce off Runway 18 after dusk and in passing rain showers. During initial climb, the airplane crashed few km from the airfield. All four crew members were killed while all three passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
F/O W. J. Bowden, pilot,
F/Sgt P. F. Davis, copilot,
F/O R. G. White, navigator,
F/Lt A. J. Cook, signaller.
Passengers:
LAC R. A. Leiper,
LAC W. Miles,
Mr. N. A. McBain.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Tehran: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tehran - Tehran
Location:
Tehran
Tehran City District
Country:
Iran
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Tehran consisting of material, equipment and soldiers dropping. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances, killing all nine occupants.

Crash of a Douglas SC-47A in Wiesbaden: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19743
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Pune: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hyderabad – Bombay
Location:
Pune
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a flight from Hyderabad to Bombay, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Pune, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Kameshli

Date & Time: May 6, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ALP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairo – Damascus – Aleppo – Kameshli
MSN:
14662/26107
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kameshli
Al-Hasakah Governorate (الحسكة‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kameshli Airport, the aircraft was too low, struck the ground 300 meters short of runway threshold and came to rest in flames. All seven occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 at Rimkhim Post

Date & Time: May 1, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Rimkhim Post
Uttarakhand
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Engaged in a supply mission, the pilot was approaching the drop zone when he realized he was facing a mountain. He reduced the engine power in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed on the slope of a snowy mountain an altitude of 5,100 meters. On impact, a fuel tank was broken and the aircraft came to rest in flames. All five crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Mustang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N200
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City
MSN:
20400
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mustang
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Four pilots left Oklahoma City-Will Rogers for a local training flight. While cruising at low height, between 200 and 500 feet, the airplane went into a dive and crashed in a canyon located in Mustang, about six miles west of Will Rogers Airport. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to maintain flying speed during VMC demonstration manoeuvre and the conduct of the demonstration flight at an excessively low altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK on Mt Parker: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1961 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49014
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Taipei
MSN:
26275/14830
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Parker
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport, while climbing in foggy conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Parker located 4 km south of the airfield. A passenger was injured while 14 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was on its way to Taiwan with US soldiers joining their base following a permission period.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 at Fallon NAS: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Grosse Ile – Fallon – Alameda
Location:
Fallon NAS
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fallon NAS, while climbing to a height of 10 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Six occupants were killed and 12 others were injured.
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