Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Kiangwan: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
48
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kiangwan
MSN:
16238/32986
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The descent was started in poor visibility due to thick fog. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the roof of a house and crashed 3 km short of runway threshold. All 11 occupants of the airplane were killed as well as one person into the house.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A on Mt Cuyapaipe: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1946 at 1919 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC45395
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Holtville – San Diego – Long Beach – Los Angeles
MSN:
11642
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
WA044
Location:
Mt Cuyapaipe
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
3521
Captain / Total hours on type:
2500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2658
Copilot / Total hours on type:
861
Aircraft flight hours:
3699
Circumstances:
While cruising at the altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew informed ATC he just overflew Mt Laguna and then reduced his altitude when the aircraft, at a height of 6,120 feet, hit the east slope of Mt Cuyapaipe. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire, and all 12 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 75 feet below the summit.
Photos: Craig Fuller and Brad Gray.
http://www.AviationArchaeology.com
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the conduct of the flight at an altitude which would not clear obstructions, due to an error by the pilot in determining his position with respect to Laguna Mountain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-194D in Lons-le-Saunier

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGBE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Northolt – Geneva
MSN:
2022
YOM:
1938
Location:
Lons-le-Saunier
Jura
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute to Geneva and while flying over the Jura, the crew encountered thick fog and lost his orientation. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Lons-le-Saunier. On landing, the aircraft skidded for several yards and eventually hit a tree that penetrated the cockpit and seriously injured the captain. All other occupants were transferred to Geneva by bus and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 near Perote: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1946 at 0820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Empresa Commercial Aéreas de Veracruz
Registration:
XA-FOZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mexico City – Veracruz
Location:
Perote
Veracruz
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cofre de Perote located southeast of Perote, State of Veracruz. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 15 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A near Lebec: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1946 at 0341 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC18645
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lethbridge – Salt Lake City – Las Vegas – Burbank
MSN:
11662
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
WA023
Location:
Lebec
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
4886
Captain / Total hours on type:
4060.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3488
Copilot / Total hours on type:
298
Aircraft flight hours:
6229
Circumstances:
At 0324LT, the crew informed ATC about his position at 9,000 feet vertical to Newhall and six minutes later, he obtained the permission to descend. At 0341LT, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt White located 14 miles south of Lebec and disintegrated on impact. All 11 occupants were killed. It appears that at the time of the accident, the aircraft was off track to the east by ten miles due to strong west winds, and it hit the mountain 75 feet below the summit.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in making an instrument letdown without previously establishing a positive radio fix. This action was aggravated by conditions of severe static, wind in excess of anticipated velocities, preoccupation with an unusual amount of radio conversation, and the inoperative Newhall radio range.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-454 in Meridian

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1946 at 1717 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC20750
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Worth – Dallas – Shreveport – Monroe – Jackson – Meridian – Birmingham – Atlanta
MSN:
4993
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
DL010
Location:
Meridian-Key Field
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3725
Captain / Total hours on type:
3100.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3207
Copilot / Total hours on type:
301
Aircraft flight hours:
8819
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Jackson at 1630LT bound for Meridian and the crew obtained the permission to continue at an altitude of 3,000 feet in IFR mode. The approach to Meridian was started in the following weather conditions: ceiling 800 feet, overcast, visibility 3 miles, thunder storm, light rain showers, surface wind northeast 10, thunder storms overhead moving east-northeast, frequent vivid lightning all quadrants. The aircraft was seen to make contact with the runway within the first 1,000 feet, however. it continued rolling down the entire length of the runway with little apparent deceleration. Its forward motion continued beyond the end of the runway and up the western slope of a ditch adjoining the highway adjacent to the airport. on striking this ditch, the aircraft left the ground and bounced over the highway, coming to rest with its nose extended partially over a railroad right-of-way. All 22 occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the poor judgement of the pilot in landing on a wet runway under conditions of varying winds without ascertaining visually the direction of the wind. A contributory factor was the error of the company radio communicator in transmitting the wind direction.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Anchorage

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Arnold Air Service
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage – Seattle
Location:
Anchorage
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Anchorage runway had been cleared with snow for a distance of 3200 feet and width 30 feet. The copilot was instructed to hold the throttles and keep them from retarding on takeoff. As the aircraft ran into snow with the left wheel the pilot removed his hands from the throttles to use trim tabs. As the aircraft became airborne the throttles retarded because the co-pilot neglected to hold them. Full power was added, but it was too late since the aircraft stalled and crashed back into the runway.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19461109-0

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Manila

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Far East Air Transport
Registration:
PI-C92
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12672
YOM:
1944
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-228D in Rio Doce: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1946 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PCH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Belo Horizonte – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
4087
YOM:
1941
Location:
Rio Doce
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The airport of Belo Horizonte-Pampulha was closed all day to traffic due to heavy rain falls and reopened in the afternoon. About thirty minutes into the flight, bound for Santos Dumont Airfield in Rio de Janeiro, the crew encountered poor visibility with a low cloud base. While flying at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Rio Doce, killing all 25 occupants.
Subscribe to Douglas DC-3