Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Mairang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AUJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guwahati – Calcutta
MSN:
19149
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mairang
Meghalaya
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
In cruising altitude, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Khasi Mountain Range, near Mairang, about 60 km south of Guwahati. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The port wing failed in the air due to an upload as a result of being subjected to loads greater than those for which it was designed.

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

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAE503
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Catamayo (ex Camilo Ponce Enríquez)
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Catamayo Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames, killing both pilots, Col Ernesto Delgado Mosquera and Cpt Galo Torres Moreano.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Da Nang: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BEFG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huế - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
19105
YOM:
1943
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames few km from the airfield. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DK in Salvador

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AJA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
11844
YOM:
1943
Location:
Salvador
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Salvador Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to return for an emergency landing when during the last turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards from the runway threshold. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine failure was not determined with certainty. However, the reaction of the crew was inappropriate as he failed to feather the propeller on the right engine, which increased drag and contributed to the stall of the airplane.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Katowice

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
SP-LCH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9106
YOM:
1943
Location:
Katowice
Silesian Voivodeship (Śląskie)
Country:
Poland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL Skytrain in Cagayan de Oro

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16217
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20683
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cagayán de Oro-Lumbia
Misamis Oriental
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the airplane was too low and crashed short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Valkenburg AFB

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
X-1
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Valkenburg - Valkenburg
Location:
Valkenburg AFB (Leiden)
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Valkenburg AFB, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and belly landed in a field pas the runway end. It slid for several yards and eventually came to a stop with both engines sheared off. The left propeller went through the cockpit and severely damaged the fuselage. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the stall was the consequence of an excessive accumulation of ice on wings.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47A in Paris-Orly

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93722
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13665
YOM:
1944
Location:
Paris-Orly
Val-de-Marne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK near Lai Châu: 18 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
F-OAFR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
15283/26728
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lai Châu
Lai Châu Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While cruising, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded area located near Lai Châu, killing all 18 occupants.
Probable cause:
According to the French-Indochina Authorities, the crash was caused by the explosion of a bomb.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Cagliari: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1953 at 1144 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
I-LAIL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cagliari – Rome
MSN:
4308
YOM:
1941
Location:
Cagliari
Sardinia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its takeoff from Cagliari-Elmas Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the Mt Sinnai located 15 km northwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by the failure of the left wing which detached in flight from its root. It is believed that the loss of the left wing was caused by a structural failure due to the wrong attitude of the aircraft. Nevertheless, investigations were unable to establish if this was the result of a fault on part of the flying crew or if the aircraft encountered strong downdrafts or turbulences.
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