Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 in Anchorage: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1970 at 1446 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
N47
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Anchorage
MSN:
16407/33155
YOM:
1945
Location:
Anchorage-Merrill Field
Alaska
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:
10401
Captain / Total hours on type:
5000.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight. After takeoff from runway 24, while in initiale climb, the airplane suffered two consecutive stalls then banked left and right. It lost height and crashed in a huge explosion, killing both pilots.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to obtain/maintain flying speed and inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command. When control was lost, gear was down, flaps were 3/4 down and the rudder trim was positioned full left. The aircraft was observed entering three stalls, two stalls normal recovery.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3DST-318A near Đà Nẵng: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
B-305
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Saigon - Huê
MSN:
3251
YOM:
1940
Location:
Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Huê Airport, the crew was instructed by ATC to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport due to poor weather conditions. While approaching Đà Nẵng at low height, the airplane struck a mountain (970 meters high) located near the Cloud Pass, about 17 km north of the airfield. A passenger and three crew members were killed.

Ground accident of a Douglas DC-3C in Amsterdam

Date & Time: May 9, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUX
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Amsterdam - Brussels
MSN:
43088
YOM:
1947
Location:
Amsterdam-Schiphol
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Without clearance, the copilot released the brakes and began to taxi when the right propeller struck a ground power unit. The airplane was immediately stopped. There were no casualties but the airplane was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-178 in Ciudad Alemán

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
XC-CFE
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1551
YOM:
1936
Location:
Ciudad Alemán-General Miguel Alemán
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Long Tieng: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Xieng Khouang Air Transport
Registration:
XW-PGJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Long Tieng
Vientiane Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Long Tieng Airstrip, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck a hill and crashed. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Hetauda: 35 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AAP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Simara
MSN:
42956
YOM:
1946
Location:
Hetauda
Narayani
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 7,300 feet in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck a tree located on the top of a hill and crashed in flames near the Sambri River. All 35 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to low clouds and the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3B-202A in Malcolm Island

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1969 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
J. H. Logsdon
Registration:
N139D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Malcolm Island - Duluth
MSN:
2027
YOM:
1938
Location:
Malcolm Island
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12900
Captain / Total hours on type:
2655.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a charter flight from Malcolm Island to Duluth and the crew expedited the takeoff procedure to clear the runway for another aircraft who was scheduled to land. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 60-70 knots, the airplane began to swerve. It continued for about 1,500 feet before it veered off runway and came to a halt. All 25 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed the loss of control was caused by the fact that some of the locks were not removed before flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-191 in Manila

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C947
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Roxas City - Manila
MSN:
1909
YOM:
1937
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Manila Airport, the crew encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. The airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt 75 meters farter. All 31 occupants escaped without injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-216 in New Orleans: 16 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1969 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Avion Airways
Registration:
N142D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - New Orleans - Belize City
MSN:
1946
YOM:
1937
Location:
New Orleans-Louis Armstrong (Moisant)
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
15300
Captain / Total hours on type:
1600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
900
Aircraft flight hours:
7584
Circumstances:
William Jackson of Travel Associates leased DC-3 N142D from Avion Airways for the purpose of transporting sportsmen from Memphis to Belize. The aircraft departed Memphis at 04:36 on an IFR flight to New Orleans. At 06:35 the crew contacted New Orleans approach control: "... out of three point four for three thousand." The approach controller told the crew to maintain 3000 feet and proceed direct to the ILS outer compass locator. He gave the weather as "sky partially obscured visibility 1/16 fog and smoke, altimeter 30.00, runway 10 runway visual range less than 600 feet". The pilot elected to carry out the approach despite the fact that minimum visibility for an approach was 2400 feet and that the centerline lights were inoperative. After being given vectors for the runway 10 approach he decided to carry out a low pass and continue if runway lights became visible. Apparently the pilot continued the descent. The aircraft contacted the runway very hard 1198 feet past the threshold, bounced and after power was applied, the DC-3 struck the ground again 3100 feet further on. The airplane cartwheeled and caught fire.
Probable cause:
The controlled descent of the aircraft into known below minima weather conditions and the failure of the crew to discontinue the landing attempt upon reaching the decision height. Contributing to the cause are existing regulations which permit an approach to be initiated in conditions well below minima, lack of clarity in the regulations in describing missed approach procedures while following visual cues to the runway, misinterpretation by the crew of information received from the approach controller (in this case, the legality of landing in low visibility conditions), improper crew action at the time of initial runway contact , and poor crew judgement partially induced by fatigue, and the lack of management required for such an operation.
Final Report:
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