Crash of a Douglas DC-4 on Mt El Tablazo en Supatá: 53 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1947 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
C-114
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
London – Barranquilla – Bogotá
MSN:
10439
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt El Tablazo en Supatá
Cundinamarca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
53
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Bogotá-Techo in poor weather conditions with clouds and fog. At an altitude of 10,500 feet, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt El Tablazo en Supatá located about 42 km north of Bogotá. The aircraft crashed and disintegrated. All 53 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded in clouds and the aircraft hit the mountain about two meters below the summit. Up to date, this accident was the worst in civil aviation history.
Probable cause:
The crew started the descent prematurely, neglecting the minimum prescribed altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Los Angeles

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
N30050
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10450
YOM:
1944
Location:
Los Angeles
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft landed on a wet runway. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest 200 feet further on. All 45 occupants were uninjured and quickly disembarked while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to severe damages to the fuselage.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach well above the glide. At the time the aircraft passed over the runway threshold, its speed was 115 knots and his altitude was 75 feet. Due to a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft was too high and too fast, and then landed too far down the runway, well after the touchdown zone. In such a situation, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance available, especially on a wet runway. Considering that all safety conditions were not combined, the pilot should have taken the decision to initiate a go around.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Cheyenne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1946 at 0433 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
NC30051
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Cheyenne – Chicago
MSN:
10471
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
UA028
Location:
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12573
Captain / Total hours on type:
2425.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3551
Copilot / Total hours on type:
831
Aircraft flight hours:
3077
Circumstances:
An approach from the west was then decided on by the Captain as visibility there had been fair. The First Officer contacted the tower and was cleared to land on Runway 12 (to the southeast). While headed west the Captain started a gradual left turn at the western boundary of the field, continued it for a short time and then entered a right turn in an attempt to line up with and land on Runway 12. This right turn was continued at an altitude of some 200 feet above the ground with, wheels down, 15 degree of flap and airspeed of approximately 120 mph (once as low as 110 mph). The Captain instructed the First Officer, who occupied the right hand pilot seat, (on the low and field side of the turn) to "sing out" when he saw the field. When the First Officer did see it he said "There's the field at 2 o'clock" (at a relative bearing of 60 degree). The Captain then leaned to the right to see the field himself and during this momentary diversion from the instruments enough altitude was lost to permit the right wing tip to strike the ground. The site was on rolling prairie approximately 20 feet higher than, and about 1 1/2 miles northwest of the Cheyenne Airport, on the U. S. Military Reservation of Fort Warren. At the instant of impact the aircraft was still in a right turn, banked approximately 15 degree and headed northeast. It came to rest about 700 feet beyond the point of first impact. A gasoline fire developed on the ground along the crash path and the right wing, which had been torn from the fuselage, was partly burned. Two passengers were killed while most of the other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
The Captain started a standard instrument approach to the Cheyenne Airport but did not follow through with the prescribed missed-approach procedure after descending below the minimum altitude. During the final attempt to land, the aircraft struck the ground with its right wing while in a right turn. The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of altitude during a turn preparatory to a final approach while the pilot was maneuvering in an attempt to land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near Gander: 27 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1946 at 0242 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
OO-CBG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Shannon – Gander – New York
MSN:
42986
YOM:
1946
Location:
Gander
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Shannon, the crew started the descent to Gander Airport by night and in poor weather conditions. Most probably in a way to establish a visual contact with the ground, the captain reduced his altitude and passed below the minimum safe altitude when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located 35 km from the airport. A crew member and 16 passengers were rescued while 27 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued the approach at an insufficient altitude and thus failed to follow the published approach procedures.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Mexico City

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
XA-FOW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mexico City – Los Angeles
MSN:
10493
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mexico City
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mexico City International Airport, the crew informed ATC that the aircraft caught fire and elected to return. The captain realized this was not possible and attempted an emergency landing in a field located few km from the airport. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All 47 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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