Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HJ243
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Brahmapoutre River, few km from the airfield. All occupants from the 11th Squadron were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL near Prado: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1959 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
2070
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Salvador
MSN:
13822
YOM:
1944
Location:
Prado
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
En route from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near Prado, south Bahia. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed, among them Major-Brigadier Dionisio Cerqueira de Taunay who was travelling with his wife and both children on behalf of the Ministry of Defense.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK on Mt Osorno: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1959 at 1349 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
952
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santiago – Punta Arenas
MSN:
12976
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Osorno
Región de Los Lagos
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the aircraft struck the slope of the volcano Osorno (2,652 meters high). The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a Chilean Army helicopter two days later. All seven occupants were killed in the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK Dakota C.4 at Sungai Besi AFB

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1959 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ810
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kuala Lumpur – Penang
MSN:
14149/25594
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kuala Lumpur-Sungai Besi AFB (Sempang)
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sungai Besi AFB, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was partially destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane because the elevators were still locked.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL on Mt Pena Blanca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1959 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XH-SAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Copán – Nuevo Ocotepeque – San Pedro Sula
MSN:
19667
YOM:
1944
Location:
Copán
Copán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
15840
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Copán Airport, the pilot-in-command decided to continue under VFR when he encountered marginal weather conditions while flying over a mountainous area. Seven minutes after it departed Copán Airport, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Pena Blanca. The wreckage was found few hours later and all five occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the pilot's attempt to fly over mountainous terrain by visual reference to the ground under weather conditions severely restricting visibility ahead of the aircraft, which forced him to descend to a dangerous altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK Dakota III near Pistoia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
975
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Grostenquin – Pisa
MSN:
14558/26003
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pistoia
Tuscany
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route to Pisa-San Giusto Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls and the visibility was limited. By night, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Apennins Mountain Range, near Pistoia. All five crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1958 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
K-18
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14603/26048
YOM:
1944
Location:
Isiro
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Paulis Airport (now Isiro) was completed in high cross winds. On touchdown, the airplane registered K-18 and OT-CWH swerved on runway, veered to the right, lost its right main gear and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in East Sale: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-89
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16133/32881
YOM:
1945
Location:
East Sale
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Parked at East Sale Airport, the airplane was illegally taken by a RAAF aircraftman. Shortly after takeoff, the 'pilot' lost control of the airplane that crashed near the runway end. The airplane was destroyed and the sole occupant was killed. The aircraftman did not held any pilot license.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Tangier

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CN-CCJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13805/25250
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tangier-Boukhalef
Tangier-Tétouan
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An undercarriage failed on landing, causing the aircraft to skid. There were no injuries but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Bolivia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-05
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Borja – La Paz
Location:
Bolivia
All Bolivia
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area while conducting a flight from San Borja to La Paz. The wreckage was not found.
Subscribe to Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)