Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Jambi

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1954 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PK-DPD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jakarta – Palembang – Jambi
MSN:
19279
YOM:
1943
Location:
Jambi
Jambi
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Jakarta via Palembang, the crew started the approach to Jambi Airport. After touchdown, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop and overran. While contacting a soft ground, the airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a muddy field. All 22 occupants were evacuates safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was poor technique on the part of the captain, in landing the aircraft too far down the slippery runway at an excessive speed. A contributing factor to the accident was an error of judgment on the part of the captain who failed to execute a missed-approach procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Limone Piemonte: 21 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1954 at 1750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16044
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rome – Lyon – Manston
MSN:
20510
YOM:
1944
Location:
Limone Piemonte
Piedmont
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rome-Ciampino Airport in the afternoon on a flight to Manston, Kent, with an intermediate stop at Lyon-Bron Airport. While cruising at an altitude of 8,500 feet over the Italian Alps, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane hit the slope of a mountain at 1750LT. As it failed to arrive in Lyon, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found a week later only in an isolated area located about 12 km west of Limone Piemonte, east of the Argentera Mountain Range. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 21 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and according to procedures. For unknown reason, the altitude mentioned on the flight plan was 8,200 feet, which is insufficient to pass over the Alps. A gap of 13 degrees was also noted on the heading (flight path), maybe due to the fact that the crew mistook the Poretta and Bastia beacons, close to each other. Also, it was noted that a wind was blowing at 45 knots from the southwest, which probably contributed to deviate the aircraft from the prescribed flight path.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off Hua Hin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
B-811
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
18947
YOM:
1943
Location:
Hua Hin
Prachuap Khiri Khan (ประจวบคีรีขันธ์)
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a sea supply mission on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command attempted a turn to the left when the left wing hit the water surface, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea few km off Hua Hin. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong evaluation on part of the flying crew who misjudged the distance with water surface during a low-level supply mission.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Skardu

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
AP-AAF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Skardu – Rawalpindi
MSN:
4562
YOM:
1942
Location:
Skardu
Gilgit–Baltistan (گلگت – بلتستان)
Country:
Pakistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, an engine failed when the undercarriage has just been raised. The airplane stalled and belly landed, skidded for dozen yards, overran and came to rest. All 11 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Bangkok: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
L2-10/96
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15842/32590
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, while climbing, the starboard engine failed. The pilot attempted to return for an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 500 meters from the runway threshold. Four passengers were killed while 14 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Guatemala City

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AJA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11874
YOM:
1943
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and elected to return for a safe landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed onto three houses located past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed while all ten occupants were injured. Fortunately, nobody was hurt on the ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Nagoya

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49083
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14899/26344
YOM:
1944
Location:
Nagoya-Komaki
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed in unclear circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL off Rio de Janeiro: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1954 at 2007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
19278
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport at the end of the afternoon, bound for São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. While descending to Congonhas, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions and decided to return to Santos Dumont. While approaching Rio, the left engine suffered severe vibrations and was shut down and its propeller was feathered. As the aircraft was too high on approach, the crew elected to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. Six passengers were killed while 24 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled and crashed during an attempt to go around when the power on the remaining engine was inadvertently reduced by the flying crew. It was reported that the crew was devolved by the loss of power on the left engine during the approach and that he was forced to shot it down. When the aircraft stalled, the distance from the water surface was insufficient to expect a recovery. A lack of reference to instruments on part of the flying crew and a lack of visibility were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Hanoi

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEIO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14815/26260
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hanoi-Gia Lâm
Hà Nội City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Gia Lâm Airport in Hanoi. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Greenland

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48460
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14276/25721
YOM:
1944
Location:
Greenland
All Greenland
Country:
Greenland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 306 km east of Thule AFB. The occupant fate remains unknown.
Subscribe to Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)