Crash of a Douglas C-49J near Woodland Park: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1989
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
6344
YOM:
1943
Location:
Woodland Park
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a training flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Woodland Park. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Vencil C. Bohling +2.

Crash of a Douglas C-49K near Tuchodi Lakes: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-2004
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Fort Nelson - Fort Simpson
MSN:
6329
YOM:
1942
Location:
Tuchodi Lakes
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fort Nelson on a flight to Fort Simpson, carrying seven passengers, four crew members and a load consisting of military payroll for 200,000$ and gold. While cruising over the Northern Rockies, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Tuchodi Lakes. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the airplane was found. The wreckage was spotted 5 years later in 1948 in an isolated area, partially covered by landslide, some 120 km southwest of Fort Nelson. The remains of all 11 occupants were recovered.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles J. Atwood Jr.,
Pfc Rowell B. Clark,
Pfc Claude Harold Danks,
Lt Col Anthony Robert Mensing Jr.,
Sgt Allie J. Said,
Sgt Sam M. Schilsky,
Pvt Russel J. Shepherd +4.

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO near Austin

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-56614
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Austin-Del Valle - Austin-Del Valle
MSN:
1948
YOM:
1937
Location:
Austin
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Austin-Del Valle Airbase on a local training flight. En route, the crew encountered technical problems with one or more engine and attempted an emergency landing 50 km northwest of the airbase. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties. Austin-Del Valle AFB was renamed Bergstrom AFB two months later.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D near Waller AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7718
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4143
YOM:
1941
Location:
Waller AFB
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At least one crew member was killed when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances north of Waller AFB, some 10 km east of Piarco Airport.

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO in Tezpur

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
LR235
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1949
YOM:
1937
Location:
Tezpur
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tezpur Airport, one of the engine failed. The crew elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. In marginal weather conditions (drizzle and low ceiling), the pilot made a belly landing in a field where the airplane collided with a clump of bamboo before coming to rest. All five crew members escaped unhurt. The airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-49-DO in Popondetta

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7685
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3270
YOM:
1941
Location:
Popondetta
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Popondetta. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D-DO in Memphis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-68860
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3285
YOM:
1941
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Memphis Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-49H in Allahabad

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
LR232
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4130
YOM:
1941
Location:
Allahabad
Uttar Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Allahabad and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas C-49E in Chicago: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-43619
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sedalia - Chicago
MSN:
1494
YOM:
1935
Location:
Chicago-Midway
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
On final approach to Chicago-Midway Airport following a flight from Sedalia AFB, the airplane crashed and burned. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles A. Dafoe,
1st Lt Walter Jackson,
2nd Lt Walter L. Cravey,
2nd Lt Richard A. Roper,
2nd Lt Paul A. Stenz,
2nd Lt William J. Tichy Jr.,
2nd Lt Clarence J. Tompkins,
S/Sgt Max L. Bybee,
Sgt Francis A. Kokenge.

Crash of a Douglas C-49E in Premier: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1942 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-56093
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Battle Creek – Cincinnati – Florence
MSN:
1976
YOM:
1937
Location:
Premier
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
While approaching Cincinnati-Lunken Field Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew made three attempts to land without success. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft speed was too high and it hit hard the runway surface. The captain increased engine power and decided to continue to Florence, South Carolina. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm and turbulence), the aircraft banked left and right and eventually went out of control. From a height of 250 metres, it lost successively part of its wings and elevators, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 21 occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Sgt Salvatore T. Barone,
S/Sgt Anthony W. Belcher,
Pvt Elmer Jesse Campbell,
Pvt Edward F. X. Carr,
S/Sgt Russell A. Carter,
S/Sgt Archie W. Champlin,
S/Sgt Joseph S. Cholewa,
S/Sgt Leo T. Colburn,
S/Sgt Horace M. Dickson Jr.,
Pvt Elmo G. Edmonds,
Pfc Lester S. Erickson,
S/Sgt George R. Eversull,
2nd Lt Walter Roy Faught Jr.,
2nd Lt Harry Ellsworth Haney,
2nd Lt Edwin Aaron Harness,
Cpl Claudius William Haywood III,
Pfc Denver W. Koeppe,
Cpl Kermit S. Masters,
S/Sgt Leon Anshelm Olin,
Pvt Chester F. Peterowski,
Cpl Bartola P. Purpura.
Probable cause:
According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. For undetermined reasons, the captain decided to continue the flight to Florence following a missed landing at Cincinnati Airport. Due to a heavy landing, the wings' and elevators' structure was slightly damaged and moderate to severe turbulence in the region also contributed to the wings' and elevator' structural weakness. Poor discipline and judgment is also reproached to both pilots as they should complete the landing procedure at Cincinnati and perform an inspection of the aircraft, which was not performed. Eventually, accumulation of ice on carburetors associated to a certain torsion during the hard landing was considered as a contributory factor as the carburetors did not work properly during the last segment of the flight.
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