Crash of a Douglas RC-54V Skymaster in McCormick: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1979 at 0610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Tiburon Aircraft
Registration:
N8060C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10563
YOM:
1945
Location:
McCormick
South Carolina
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
24200
Circumstances:
By night, the crew was flying at low altitude in the region of McCormick to find a suitable area to land while completing an illegal smuggling flight. In limited visibility due to fog, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a prairie. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. The aircraft was carrying a load of 15,000 lbs of marijuana.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash while in traffic pattern-circling after the crew misjudged distance, speed, altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Ground fog,
- Visibility below minimums,
- Collided with trees on rising terrain near sod strip at daybreak.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Thompson

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
C-FQIX
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7476
YOM:
1944
Location:
Thompson
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Thompson Airport, the engine n°1 caught fire. The crew initiated a turn and was able to complete a safe landing. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was partially destroyed by fire. It was reported that the fire extinguisher system failed, causing the fire to spread to the entire left wing.
Probable cause:
Fire in engine n°1 after takeoff and failure of the fire extinguisher system.

Crash of a Douglas C-54S Skymaster in Mesa

Date & Time: May 15, 1979 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
N44905
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mesa - Chandler
MSN:
22159
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mesa-Falcon Field
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12127
Captain / Total hours on type:
4399.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Mesa-Falcon Field Airport, the crew started the rotation but the aircraft did not liftoff. It overran, struck a 10 feet high dirt bank, crossed a road where it hit a truck and eventually came to rest in flames in an orange grove. Both pilots, en route to Chandler-Stellar Airpark on a test flight, were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Collision with dirt bank on takeoff due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Failed to use the checklist,
- Gust locks engaged.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster near San Borja

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Kantuta - Trak Airways
Registration:
CP-1352
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10761
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Borja
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from San Borja-Capitan Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances about 48 km northeast of San Borja and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster near Tete: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
African Lux
Registration:
9Q-CAM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10441
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tete
Tete
Country:
Mozambique
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Harare to Zaïre. While overflying the Tete Province, the airplane was shot down by Mozambican Forces and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Mozambican Army Forces while overflying the west part of Mozambique (Tete Province).

Crash of a Douglas VC-54D-10-DC in Roi-Namur

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72650
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Roi-Namur - Kwajalein
MSN:
10755
YOM:
1945
Location:
Roi-Namur
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a short positioning flight from Roi-Namur Airport (north part of the Kwajalein atoll) to the main airport of Kwajalein located on the south part of the same atoll. During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. The left wing was broken in two and the aircraft was later removed from water but declared as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the 16 occupants.

Special thanks to US Army Louis D. Sutton, PIC on the following US Army C-54 that should takeoff immediately after the accident one, for his testimony.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-1-DO Skymaster near Monroe Station

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1977 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Interamerica Air Lease
Registration:
N174DP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ponce - Miami
MSN:
27263
YOM:
1944
Location:
Monroe Station
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Ponce on a flight to Miami. The crew attempted to land on an unsuitable terrain located north of Monroe Station, while completing an illegal smuggling flight. Upon landing on muddy ground, at least one landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of 1,700 kilos of marijuana was found on board.
Probable cause:
Gear collapsed upon landing on an unsuitable terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Stolen or unauthorized flight,
- Wet, soft ground,
- Overload failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in San Borja

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1208
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10651
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, one of the left engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the left and then collided with a parked DC-3. Both aircraft were destroyed and all seven occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, the reaction of the crew to an emergency situation was inefficient due to a lack of coordination.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster near Trujillo: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-247
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Trujillo - Tarapoto
MSN:
7462
YOM:
1944
Location:
Trujillo
La Libertad
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 02 at Trujillo-Capitán Carlos Martinez de Pinillos Airport, while climbing, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Pintado located 25 km north of the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later in a rocky area and all 24 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-15-DO Skymaster in Vejer de la Frontera: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1976 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
T.4-11
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Getafe - Las Palmas
MSN:
27344
YOM:
1944
Location:
Vejer de la Frontera
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Getafe Airbase in Madrid and Las Palmas-Gando Airport, carrying officers of the Spanish Army and family members. En route, an engine caught fire and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Vejer de la Frontera. 12 occupants were killed while 20 others were injured.
Probable cause:
An engine caught fire in flight.
Subscribe to Douglas C-54 Skymaster