Douglas DC-4

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

Registration:

HB-ILA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

South Darfur (جنوب دارفور)

Schedule:

Geneva – Dakar – Niamey – Khartoum – Mecca

MSN:

43072

YOM:

1946

Location:

Tora Tonga

Country:

Sudan

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a positioning flight from Geneva to Mecca with intermediate stop at Dakar, Niamey and Khartoum, carrying a crew of ten and two Swiss journalists. While overflying Sudan by night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Djebel Marra. The wreckage was located few hours later. The airplane was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The fact that the aircraft progressed actually at an average ground speed of at least 200-205 knots while the crew believed they were proceeding with no more than 175-178 knots as estimated before takeoff,
- That a slight directional difference of 2 or 3 degrees may have existed between the calculated track and the actual flight path,
- That these two navigation inaccuracies could build up during a flight of 2,5 hours and could eventually result in a position error of about 70 NM to the west and about 30 NM to the south,
- That for reasons unknown to the Board the position report given for 1906Z and apparently established on the base of an astronomical fix must have been inaccurate and that the crew were, therefore, not able to be conscious of the discrepancies between the dead-reckoning and their actual position,
- That the aircraft flying at 8000 feet hit a slope of the Djebel Marra mountains four minutes before the crew expected to be overhead the El Fasher beacon where they would have begun the climb to 12000 feet and when, in their belief the aircraft should have been still more than 60 NM away from these mountains.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Taipei: 18 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42919

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Taipei – Bangkok

MSN:

42919

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was on its way back to Bangkok, carrying the Royal Thai Air Force Chief of Staff and several officials. After takeoff, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Wuzhi located 8 km northeast of the airport. All 18 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 near Jérez del Marquesado

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

56521

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Naples - Rota

MSN:

10835

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the four engine aircraft belly landed in a rocky area located in the Sierra Nevada, about 12 km from Jérez del Marquesado, Andalusia. All 24 occupants were rescued while the aircraft named 'Ciudad de Madrid' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near Cochabamba: 59 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1960 at 0720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-609

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cochabamba – La Paz

MSN:

10510

YOM:

1945

Location:

Cochabamba

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 9,000 feet, the captain informed ATC that an engine exploded. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Laguna Huanacota, about 13 km south of the airport. A young girl aged two was seriously injured while all 58 other occupants were killed. While being evacuated to the hospital, the only survivor died from her injuries.

Probable cause:

Investigations believe it is probable that the engine would have exploded due to its excessive contribution. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was greater than the maximum allowable take-off weight, which remains a factor contributing to the engine explosion.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Beyrouth: 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

YA-BAG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

London – Frankfurt – Beirut – Tehran – Kandahar – Kabul

MSN:

18367

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

FG202

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from London to Kabul with several intermediate stops. The stopover at Beirut was longer than expected because few technical issues were noted after the airplane landed from Frankfurt. The departure from Beirut was postponed for 20 hours. Two minutes after departure from runway 18, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Aramoun located about 5 km south of the airfield and burst into flames. Three passengers were seriously injured while all 24 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to a combination of:
- A navigational error in that the pilot did not right turn out as early as he should have, either because he forgot or because he was distracted by some unusual occurrence,
- A fire indication (or possibly a fire) in the number one engine which induced the pilot to start fire emergency action with a resulting reduction in the rate of turn and the rate of climb.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Mercedes: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1959 at 0415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N88900

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Salvador – Miami

MSN:

10504

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Christened 'Clipper Fearless', the airplane departed San Salvador-Ilopango Airport with a delay of five hours due to loading issues. While cruising by night on a cargo flight to Miami, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient and that he was not following the assigned route when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Mercedes. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane was off course by 37 km at the time of the accident. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of this deviation.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 on Cerro Baco: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1959 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-135

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bogotá – Quito – Lima

MSN:

10418

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

AV667

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft departed Quito Airport at 1548LT bound for Lima, Peru. At 1845LT, the crew reported his position and gave his ETA at Lima Airport at 2011LT. While cruising at an altitude of 9,200 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Cerro Baco located about 12 km northwest of Huaricanga. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 14 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The aircraft was not following the assigned route at the time of the accident, maybe due to a navigation error or a malfunction of one or more instruments.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Belém: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1958 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

PP-LEQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Manaus – Belém

MSN:

10544

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

When transmitting its position to SBBE (Belém-Val-de-Cans) tower, over "Piranha" reporting point, the aircraft reported it was descending on "night time visual". Failing to obtain subsequent contact with the aircraft, the tower asked a Catalina aircraft, flying over SBBE at the time, to proceed to the above mentioned reporting point in order to check what had gone wrong. The accident was then discovered. Six crew members and four passengers were killed and one passenger was seriously injured. It appears the aircraft crashed in the Maraso Bay off the Carnapijo Island.

Probable cause:

In spite of every effort by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission, it proved impossible to establish the cause of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Rio de Janeiro: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-LEM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: