Crash of a Douglas C-49-DO near Galax: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1947 at 0138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NC88872
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem
MSN:
3274
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
EA665
Location:
Galax
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
3511
Captain / Total hours on type:
1939.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1560
Copilot / Total hours on type:
326
Aircraft flight hours:
7680
Circumstances:
While cruising at the altitude of 2,500 feet in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Galax. A passenger was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in attempting a let-down without having positively determined the position of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the erroneous navigation of the pilot which on at least two occasions led him to believe that he was farther south than he actually was.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-49A-DO off Tacloban: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1945 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CDC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manila – Tacloban
MSN:
3282
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tacloban
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The approach to Tacloban was performed in poor weather conditions. The aircraft landed hard and after touchdown, the captain decided to go around, increased power on both engines, pull up the control column and attempted a go around. The aircraft climbed to a height of 200 feet, passed few meters from the control tower, continued over the sea and eventually crashed into the sea about a mile offshore. Rescue teams arrived on the scene about five hours later and a passenger was rescued while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Tacloban were considered as poor with heavy rain falls, strong winds and low visibility due to night. Fuel reserve were sufficient to divert to another airport and the crew underestimated the situation and continued the approach despite the low visibility and poor weather. Following this tragedy, night operations will be prohibited on Philippines airports for USAAF.

Crash of a Douglas C-49H on Hord Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1945 at 0518 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-83228
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane - Horn Island
MSN:
1941
YOM:
1937
Location:
Horn Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The descent to Horn Island-Higgins Field was attempted by night and low visibility. On approach, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area near the airport, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
F/O William Ernest Clarke, pilot,
W/O James Hillman Hornbrook, copilot,
F/Sgt Neville Tasman Browne, flight engineer,
W/O Alfred Henry Gidley, radio operator.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Memphis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1944 at 1009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1976
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6316
YOM:
1942
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
9.00
Circumstances:
Just after lift off from runway 17, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right, stalled and crashed on a storehouse. Three passengers were killed while all three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The loss of control was caused by a failure of the right engine shortly after take off. It is also confirmed that the pilot had just nine flying hours on this type of aircraft and that he had never been officially checked.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Mines AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1944 at 2124 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1982
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McClellan AFB - Mines AFB
MSN:
5000
YOM:
1942
Location:
Mines AFB
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Aircraft left McClellan AFB in Sacramento at 1830LT bound for Mines Field in Los Angeles. Pilot started the approach in good weather conditions but encountered patches of fog on final approach to runway 07L. Due to insufficient visibility, he decided to go around when the aircraft hit power cables. In stalling condition, aircraft hit trees and other electrical cables before crashing on an allotment located near the airport. Both pilots and one people on ground were killed as three other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Rosecrans AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1943 at 2028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1980
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rosecrans - Rosecrans
MSN:
6263
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rosecrans AFB
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Rosecrans AFB in the afternoon to complete a training flight. While returning to its in a stormy weather, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames few miles from the airbase located in the vicinity of Saint-Joseph. A crewman survived while six other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, there was a cold front with severe turbulence.
Crew:
Pfc John H. Cooley,
2nd Lt Lloyd Henry Crapenhoft,
1st Lt Rudolph R. Jugo,
Pfc William J. Poppal,
Pfc W. T. Raber,
Pfc W. C. Robinson.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in severe turbulence.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Hampstead: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1943 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1971
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4995
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hampstead
New Hampshire
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in Hampstead, killing all five occupants.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles R. Appier,
2nd Lt Robert W. Barron,
Pfc Robert A. Bell,
Pfc Conroy Newcomb.

Crash of a Douglas C-49K into the Biscayne Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-2009
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6334
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biscayne Bay
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Biscayne Bay, killing both pilots. Other source reports the aircraft crashed in Long Beach, California, on February 20, 1945.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D in Grande Rivière: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7717
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Losey - Willer
MSN:
4142
YOM:
1941
Location:
Grande Rivière
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Losey AFB (Porto Rico) to Willer AFB, Trinidad. While approaching its destination, the aircraft hit a mountain located five miles south of Grand Rivière and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-49F-DO near Del Valle AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-56628
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Del Valle - Del Valle
MSN:
2255
YOM:
1940
Location:
Austin-Bergstrom
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances ten km northeast of Del Valle AFB, near Austin. All five crew members were killed. Del Valle AFB was renamed Bergström AFB one month later.
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