Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

6843

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14164/25609

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed and caught fire. The crew completed an emergency near a road in the region of Bloemfontein. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Flores: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)

Schedule:

Flores – El Naranjo

Location:

Petén

Country:

Guatemala

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Flores-Santa Elena Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the shore of lake Petén Itza. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-DK in Pickle Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1987 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

C-FADD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Big Trout Lake - Pickle Lake

MSN:

14879/26324

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

20284

Circumstances:

Douglas DC-3C C-FADD was returning to Pickle Lake from Big Trout Lake following delivery of a cargo of fuel. This was the third similar and last operation of the day. As the aircraft approached Pickle Lake, the pilot informed the company dispatch office that, prior to landing, he intended to carry out some local training for the benefit of the co-pilot who was scheduled to be upgraded to captain status the following month. The captain, a company training pilot, occupied the right seat. The aircraft entered a west to east holding pattern at the airport's NDB, descending in stages from 8,500 feet asl to 2,700 feet asl, the appropriate altitude for an instrument approach. The pilot transmitted that they would execute an NDB approach and subsequently reported during the procedure turn inbound to the airfield. About three minutes later, two other pilots flying in the vicinity observed the aircraft in a descent with the left wing folded upwards. The aircraft continued descending in an inverted attitude until it struck the ground.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the left wing failed under normal flight loads as a result of a fatigue crack in the centre section lower wing skin. Anomalies in the radiographs taken during mandatory non-destructive testing inspections were not correctly interpreted.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK in Bahía Negra

Date & Time: May 7, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2008

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

17113/34380

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL near Guarita: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1987 at 2330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aero Express - USA

Registration:

N49454

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

10177

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

At 0939LT, the airplane departed Guatemala City Airport, supposedly on a test flight to El Estor. After takeoff, the crew informed ATC he wanted to return to Guatemala City but this was the last radio contact. The airplane continued to the east and in the evening, while flying over the Honduran airspace without clearance, the crew failed to respond to ATC calls when the aircraft was shot down by a Honduran Air Force fighter. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed on a hilly and wooded terrain. All three occupants were killed. Honduran Authorities suspected the aircraft to perform an illegal smuggling flight. At the time of the accident, the aircraft registration was false: HK-303.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the pilot of a Honduran Air Force fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK at Edinburgh AFB

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A65-114

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

16712/33460

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface. On impact, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair and later transferred to the South Australian Aviation Museum in Port Adelaide.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Rosita: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Location:

Rosita

Country:

Nicaragua

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Rosita. Both pilots were killed. It is possible that the aircraft may have been shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Maputo: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

7312

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Maputo - Harare

MSN:

9492

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Maputo Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed. Five occupants were injured while 17 others were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Kayseri

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1986 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-16395

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site: