Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster near Chipaque: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1976 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HK-172
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogotá - La Macarena
MSN:
10280
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chipaque
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While flying in clouds, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain (3,540 metres high) located about 30 km east of Chipaque, in an area located in the west part of Meta. The wreckage was 800 metres below the point of impact, in a canyon. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster near Pleiku: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1975 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
XV-NUJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vientiane - Saigon
MSN:
10701
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pleiku
Gia Lai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet en route from Vientiane to Saigon, the crew informed ATC about his position over PE5 on the G67 airway when contact was lost. The airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located about 25 km southwest of Pleiku. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants have been killed, among them a Swiss citizen in charge of the medical missions of the Red Cross in Vietnam.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft has been shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Douglas C-54P Skymaster at Davis Monthan AFB

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975 at 1358 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Transvall Corporation
Registration:
N39AP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Davis-Monthan - Barstow-Daggett
MSN:
10430
YOM:
1944
Location:
Davis-Monthan AFB
Arizona
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
6409
Captain / Total hours on type:
20.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Davis Monthan AFB, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Collision with wires,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Gust locks engaged,
- Operational supervisory personnel: inadequate supervision of flight crew,
- Unqualified person operated aircraft,
- Airport conditions,
- Checklist: failed to use,
- Downwind,
- Mechanic acting as copilot,
- 3,060 feet soft dirt strip.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on Mt de la Muerte: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
799
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tegucigalpa - Howard
MSN:
10815
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt de la Muerte
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport to Howard AFB in Panama City, while cruising in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt de la Muerte located about 54 km southeast of San José, Costa Rica. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located on 16 May 1975 in an isolated and mountainous area.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in An Lộc: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1974 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Air Cambodge
Registration:
B-1801
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phnom Penh - Hong Kong
MSN:
10529
YOM:
1945
Location:
An Lộc
Bình Phước Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Phnom Penh to Hong Kong, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near An Lộc. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kisangani

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Zaire Air Force - Force Aérienne Zaïroise
Registration:
9T-THZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10446
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kisangani
Orientale
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Kisangani Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in Battambang

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
B-1811
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10302
YOM:
1944
Location:
Battambang
Battambang
Country:
Cambodia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at Battambang Airport. There were no injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ground explosion of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Huê: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
XV-NUM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Qui Nhơn – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
7469
YOM:
1944
Location:
Huế
Thừa Thiên–Huế Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Qui Nhơn Airport for Đà Nẵng, a hijacker ordered the crew to divert to Đồng Hới. The captain stated that a fuel stop was necessary at Đông Hà Airport but he flew directly to Huê. When the hijacker realized he was tricked, he detonated explosives in the front part of the cabin. Three passengers were killed while several other occupants were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Partially destroyed by hand grenade after being hijacked.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Bolivia: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1974 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
TAM-52
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Santa Rosa - La Paz
Location:
Bolivia
All Bolivia
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude between Santa Rosa and La Paz in poor weather conditions, the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress call. SAR operations were initiated but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 24 occupants was found. It is believed the aircraft crashed in an isolated mountainous area following a possible navigation error due to poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Buon Ma Thuot: 62 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1973 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
XV-NUI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saigon – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
22174
YOM:
1945
Location:
Buôn Ma Thuột
Đắk Lắk Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
62
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Saigon to Đà Nẵng, the four engine aircraft disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress message. The wreckage was found few hours later about 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thuột and all 62 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. An explosion from an unknown origin occurred in the cargo hold, between both wings, causing a brutal decompression of the cabin and the explosion of the airplane. The assumption that the detonation was caused by an explosive device was not ruled out.
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