Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

FAC-1128

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Cali-Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (ex Palmaseca)

Schedule:

Cali - Cali

MSN:

4824

YOM:

1941

Location:

Valle del Cauca

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local post maintenance test flight at Cali-Palmaseca Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed on a farm near the airport. All four occupants were injured while there were no casualties on the ground.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D- DO Skytrooper in Cararú: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Transamazonica

Registration:

HK-772

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

11743

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to runway 29 at Carurú Airport, the captain decided to make a low pass to inspect the surface condition when the right engine started vibrating. The engine was shut down and its propeller was feathered. The crew initiated a right turn to land on runway 11 when the airplane lost speed, stalled and crashed about 500 meters short of runway. All three crew members and one passenger were killed while five other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine on final for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in the Mediterranean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Hemet Exploration

Registration:

F-BJBY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oran - Toulouse

MSN:

7390

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Radar and radio contacts were lost while the aircraft was flying over the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Oran to Toulouse. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned six days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. It is believed that the aircraft crashed into the sea south of Balearic Islands.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper in Sebring: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1978 at 0500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Caribe Air

Registration:

N25656

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4845

YOM:

1941

Location:

Sebring

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

280

Circumstances:

After a night takeoff from Sebring Airfield, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height. It struck ground obstacles and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Gust locks engaged,
- The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Aircraft improperly loaded,
- Pilot sel certificated,
- Elevator gust lock found in early part of crash path before break up.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Evansville: 29 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1977 at 1922 LT

Type of aircraft:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

Registration:

N51071

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Evansville-William H. Dress

Schedule:

Indianapolis - Evansville - Nashville

MSN:

4837

YOM:

1941

Flight number:

Air Indiana 216

Location:

Indiana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9100

Captain / Total hours on type:

4600.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1330

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

19777

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a charter flight from Indianapolis to Nashville with an intermediate stop at Evansville Airport, carrying members of the University of Evansville basketball team and associated personnel. Takeoff from runway 18 was completed in marginal weather conditions with mist and light rain. After rotation, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the left when the airplane struck two trees located to the east of the airfield. Then the aircraft rolled to the right and crashed about a mile southeast from runway 18 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 29 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

An attempted take-off with the rudder and right aileron control locks installed, in combination with a rearward centre of gravity, which resulted in the aircraft's rotating to a nose-high attitude immediately after take-off, and entering the region of reversed command from which the pilot was unable to recover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight crew to ensure that the passenger baggage was loaded in accordance with the configuration contained on the load manifest. Their failure resulted in a rearward centre of gravity that was aft of the optimum range, but forward of the rearmost limit.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Island Traders

Registration:

N692A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)

MSN:

7318

YOM:

1942

Location:

All US Virgin Islands

Country:

US Virgin Islands

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Landed hard at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport for unknown reason. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Đà Lạt

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

EM-3

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

11729

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight on behalf of China Airlines. After touchdown, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties to decelerate properly and as the end of the runway was approaching, he decided to make a sharp turn to the left when the airplane skidded and struck an embankment before coming to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D Skytrooper in Porto Marghera: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MM61832

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Flight number:

Argo 16

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Porto Marghera, near Venice. All four crew members were killed. They were apparently involved in a special mission on behalf of the Italian Secret Services.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Pivijay

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1972 at 1225 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Acme Leasing

Registration:

N39393

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site: