Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Cairo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
TC-ACA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ankara – Cairo
MSN:
7352
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Cairo Airport, the airplane was too low and hit a sand dune and crashed. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO off Florianópolis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1951 at 1730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CCX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo – Curitiba – Florianópolis
MSN:
7341
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The approach to Florianópolis Airport was completed in heavy rain falls. On final, the pilot in command decided to attempt a go around and increased the power on both engines when the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. Three passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine during a go around procedure.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Jungshahi: 26 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1949 at 2150 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AP-ADI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lahore – Karachi
MSN:
4841
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The crew just started the descent by night to Karachi when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain (1,185 feet high) located about 80 km east of Karachi-Mauripur Airport, near the village of Jungshahi. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 26 occupants were killed. Two days after the tragedy, the Operator's AOC was suspended for an undetermined period of time.
Probable cause:
An error of navigation on the part of the pilot in that the aircraft was not as near to Karachi Airport as he reported it to be in his last "position report", which, had it been correct, would have placed the aircraft past the last range of hills. It is apparent, however, that the pilot continued to descend further after having reported last at 2,500 feet at 2147LT in contravention of the 'standard letdown procedure at Karachi Airport' which he was practicing. The lack of visibility caused by night was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in the Sierra Cristais: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CBX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
11658
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Hit a rocky peak located in the Sierra Cristais and crashed. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in Ulrichstein: 12 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1948 at 1325 LT
Operator:
Registration:
OY-DCI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Copenhagen – Frankfurt – Zurich
MSN:
7330
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While descending to Frankfurt-Main Airport in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ground that an engine failed and was forced to make an emergency landing as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Ulrichstein, about 70 km northeast of Frankfurt Airport. On impact , a wing was sheared off, causing a gaping hole in the cabin, allowing some of the passengers to quickly evacuate the aircraft. Nevertheless, all four crew members and eight other passengers were killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in Jammu

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
VT-ATI
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4922
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Jammu Airport, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-53B-DO near Puerto Araujo: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
C-108
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bogota – Barrancabermeja
MSN:
4829
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Crashed in a mountainous area located near Puerto Araujo. The wreckage was found a week later. All 17 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Grindelwald

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1946 at 1445 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-68846
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Vienna – Munich – Strasbourg – Dijon – Istres – Pisa
MSN:
11773
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After passing Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his orientation. The aircraft continued over Switzerland, avoid several peaks and eventually encountered katabatic winds. At a speed of 280 km/h, the aircraft lost height and crashed on the Gauli Glacier located about 10 km east of the Grindelwald winter station, at an altitude of 3,350 meters. One hour after the accident, the crew (who thought he crashed in the French Alps), sent a message that was received by ATC in Paris-Orly Airport and Istres-Le Tubé Airbase as well. French authorities made some calculation and deduced that the aircraft has crashed in the Swiss Alps and informed the Swiss authorities. Two days later, an officer based in the control tower of the Meiringen airbase located about 12 km north of the crash site received a message on his frequency as well and gave the alert. Skiers, helped with the crew of a RAF Lancaster and a USAAF B-29 were able to located the wreckage five days later. Suffering injuries due to their stay in negative temperatures, all 11 occupants were evacuated to local hospitals.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in Cleveland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1946 at 0330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
NC19947
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
MSN:
4873
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
UA404
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8340
Captain / Total hours on type:
967.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2268
Copilot / Total hours on type:
116
Aircraft flight hours:
11684
Circumstances:
The aircraft was heard southwest of the airport at 0327 and at this time Cleveland Tower cleared the flight to land on Runway 36-Left. At 0328 the air-craft was observed over the airport at an altitude of between 200 and 400 feet flying In a northeasterly direction. When approximately over the north boundary, the aircraft disappeared from view in what appeared to be a low cloud formation. At this time Cleveland Tower advised the flight that It was cleared to use Runway 36-Left, Runway 36-Right, or Runway 31, at the captain's discretion. The aircraft was next seen re-approaching the airport from the northeast in a right turn, during which turn the landing lights were switched on. In the latter part of the turn, a descent was established and this descent was continued in a northwesterly direction toward the dark, undeveloped area north of the airport. With the exception of the fact that the aircraft was heading toward an area not within the boundary of the airport, its appearance was that of an aircraft in a normal landing approach. When at an altitude of approximately 30 feet, the aircraft banked slightly to the left and, immediately thereafter it struck trees and high tension lines paralleling the north boundary of the airport. The aircraft veered sharply to the right and dived into the ground, coming to rest approximately 550 feet beyond the point of initial contact.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the foregoing, the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the error of the pilot in establishing an approach toward an area not cleared for landing as a result of having mistaken the end markers of Runway 23 for those of Runway 31. A contributing factor was the failure of the pilot to abandon his attempt to land at Cleveland Airport when confronted with weather conditions below the minimums prescribed for that airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in Jacksonville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1945 at 1656 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-15562
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Augusta - Morrison
MSN:
7357
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Augusta-Bush Field, Georgia, to Morrison AFB in West Palm Beach. Enroute, he encountered engine trouble and the captain elected to divert to Jacksonville Airport. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. A crewman was killed while the second occupant was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine trouble caused by fuel mismanagement on part of the crew.