Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Operator:

Registration:

KP-2

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20741

YOM:

1944

Location:

Lualaba

Country:

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Bound for Kolwezi, both engines failed simultaneously in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in Lualaba, northeast of Kolwezi and came to rest in a prairie. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. It has the dual registration KP-2 & OT-CWB.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2051

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont

MSN:

13109

YOM:

1944

Location:

Rio de Janeiro

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, a hydraulic failure occurred, forcing the crew to reject takeoff. An emergency braking procedure was attempted but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and plunged into the bay of Guanabara. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft sank five minutes later.

Probable cause:

Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in San Andrés: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1953 at 1316 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

XH-TAR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Pedro Sula – San Andrés

MSN:

13817/25262

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The flight which departed from San Pedro Sula Airport on an extra flight with cargo for the San Andrés Mine, took off at 1242LT. The load was properly distributed with the centre of gravity on take-off, within the authorized limits. At 1316LT, following the first and only attempt to land at San Andrés Aerodrome, the aircraft crashed into a nearby mountain approximately 5 kilometers from the aerodrome. Fire broke out on impact and the aircraft and cargo were completely destroyed. The three crew, who were the only parsons on board, were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine when the pilot wished to obtain maximum power from both engines after a missed landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL off Rio de Janeiro: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2049

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

13862

YOM:

1943

Location:

Rio de Janeiro-Galeão

Rio de Janeiro

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training sortie at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. In flight, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Guanabara Bay, off the island of Boqueirão. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Campo Grande

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1953 at 2000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-YQK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

São Paulo – Presidente Prudente – Campo Grande

MSN:

4732

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Campo Grande Airport was started in poor weather conditions with low clouds, rain falls and turbulences. On final, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned and during the third attempt, the aircraft was too low, hit the ground and crashed in a field located 6 km short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

The pilot decided to continue the third approach at a too low altitude in gusty winds, below the minimum prescribed altitude. Poor weather conditions were considered as a contributory factor, as well as the fact that the ground lighting system was insufficient, especially in adverse weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Sharjah: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1953 at 0237 LT

Type of aircraft:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

Registration:

AP-AAD

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Karachi – Sharjah – Bahrain – Jeddah

MSN:

9143

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after a night takeoff from Sharjah Airport, while climbing, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in a desert area located near the runway end. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were rescued. All passengers were Pakistan pilgrims flying from Karachi to Jeddah. At the time of the accident, the copilot was seating in the left hand seat and the captain in the right hand seat.

Probable cause:

The accident resulted from a loss of control of the aircraft by the first officer shortly after taking off on a dark night when instrument flying was necessary. This loss of control was due to the inability of the first officer to fly on instruments. The responsibility for the accident is attributed to the captain for failing to supervise the piloting of the aircraft by the first officer.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL in Hanoi

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Vietnamese Government

Registration:

F-VNAD

Flight Type:

Government

Site:

MSN:

9339

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Hanoi.

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

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

6846

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14671/26116

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Rand Airport. Both pilots were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Stavanger: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48803

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site: