Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Myitkyina

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HJ252
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Myitkyina
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a navigational error, while cruising in the northeast part of India, the aircraft continued over Burma. Due to fuel exhaustion, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed on the bank of the Irrawady River, in the region of Myitkyina, and came to rest. All occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Kathmandu: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CYN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shimla-Katmandou
MSN:
19988
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Kathmandu in poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed on a mountainous area located about 20 km from the airport. Following a navigational error on part of the pilots, the airplane followed a wrong approach path to Kathmandu Airport and went into the wrong valley. At the last moment, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to avoid the mountain but the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed and crashed on a rocky slope. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 20 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the flying crew. Lack of visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47A on Mt Vesuvius: 16 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1958 at 2224 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93817
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ramstein – Naples – Incirlik
MSN:
13771
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Vesuvius
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its night takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Vesuvius (1,281 meters high) located about 14 km south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near La Paz: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-04
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tipuani – La Paz
Location:
La Paz
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While approaching La Paz-El Alto Airport in poor weather conditions, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located few dozen km from the capital city. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Aklavik

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Interior Enterprise
Registration:
N75391
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
14921/26366
YOM:
1944
Location:
Aklavik
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located in the region of Aklavik. The wreckage was spotted few hours later and all three crew members were injured and evacuated. The aircraft hit the slope of the mountain about 50 feet below its summit and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the route mentioned on the flight plan due to wrong information provided by the local NDB. It was reported that the NDB parameters were regularly considered as inaccurate due to the local topography and the presence of atmospheric turbulences in the area. The crew was not aware of the inaccuracy of the NDB, causing the aircraft to deviate from the prescribed route.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Rioja: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAP484
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rioja – Cajamarca
Location:
Rioja
San Martín
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rioja Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Debre Zeit

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
702
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15141/26586
YOM:
1944
Location:
Debre Zeit-Harar Meda
Oromia
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Debre Zeit-Harar Meda Airport located about 40 km southeast of Addis Ababa. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DL at Wiesbaden AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23356
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9218
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground and crashed 4 km short of runway threshold. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D at Yokota AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48603
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yokota - Yokota
MSN:
14419/25864
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yokota AFB (Tokyo)
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Yokota Airbase, killing all six crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Jeannine Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GKV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Seven Islands - Jeannine Lake
MSN:
13837/25282
YOM:
1944
Location:
Jeannine Lake
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a flight from Seven Islands to Jeannine Lake. Upon landing on an icy water, the airplane crashed in unclear circumstances. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while seven other occupants were injured. The airplane was lost.
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