Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Cuito Cuanavale

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6169
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luanda - Henrique de Carvalho
MSN:
42968
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Luanda to Henrique de Carvalho, the aircraft was hit by ground fire. The crew elected to make an emergency landing in Cuito Cuanavale. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3F in Seddon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1973 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AOI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Blenheim - Blenheim
MSN:
16966/34226
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
24261
Circumstances:
While completing a crop spraying flight, the pilot lost control of the airplane after the right wing detached in flight. The aircraft crashed in an open field and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by in-flight separation of the starboard wing due to a loss of structural strength brought about by extensive fatigue cracks in the lower centre wing wraparound and internal doublers inboard of Sta. 142, initiation and propagation to failure of the RH wing cracks being due to consistent overstress.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Beihan

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4W-ABJ
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed upon landing in unclear circumstances. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Madang

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNA
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16355/33103
YOM:
1945
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Madang Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of technical problems with the brakes.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-269 in Sumbawa Besar

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-ZDD
Flight Type:
MSN:
2123
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Sumbawa Besar-Sultan Muhammad Kaharuddin Airport. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-454 at Point Mugu NAS

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1972 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N31538
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Point Mugu - Burbank
MSN:
6317
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16280
Captain / Total hours on type:
8370.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Point Mugu NAS, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power and caught fire. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when control was lost and the airplane crash landed by the runway and came to rest. All three occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the fire extinguishing system was inoperative.
Probable cause:
Partial loss of power on one engine during initial climb due to material failure. The following factors were reported:
- Failure of the fuel system,
- Failure of the fire extinguishing system,
- Engine fire,
- Component failure of right engine fuel feed system,
- Failure of hydraulic line.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-107
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Paz de Ariporo – Arauca – Saravena
MSN:
11723
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
AV630
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in the Las Palomas Mountain Range: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1972 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1341
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villavicencio – Yopal – Trinidad – Orocué – Las Gaviotas
MSN:
11716
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
At 0620LT, an Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-107 departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport on flight AV630 to Saravena via Paz de Ariporo and Arauca with 18 passengers and a crew of three on board. Two minutes later, at 0622LT, a second Avianca Douglas DC-3A registered HK-1341 departed the same airport on a service to Las Gaviotas via Yopal, Trinidad and Orocué with 14 passengers and a crew of tree on board. While cruising by night over the Las Palomas Mountain Range, both aircraft collided and crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 75 km north of Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Kompong Som

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XW-PHW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on runway 21 at Kompong Som Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. Both pilots were unhurt and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the the hydraulic system pressure showed 700 psi instead of 800-1050. Also, the pressure of the braking system was showing 600 psi instead of 600-800.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Dhaka: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dhaka - Dhaka
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Dhaka Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all five crew members who were completing a local training flight.