Dibrugarh-Mohanbari | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following a supply mission, the aircraft departed Kargong-Mechuka Airport (Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground) at 1400LT on a flight to Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while flying an altitude of 12,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Rinchi located near the village of Tato. The wreckage was found a day later about 25 km southeast of Mechuka. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Mohanbari: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965 at 1258 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

VT-AUQ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

19431

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12800

Captain / Total hours on type:

12600.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3200

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2800

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a supply drop mission. While cruising at low height some 37 km north of Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airport, Assam, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The aircraft crashed as a result of complete loss of control experienced by the pilot, after a sleeping bag, ejected as part of an air drop consignment, got lodged and ballooned over the port tail plane.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL near Saku: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1959 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

VT-DGP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mohanbari – Along

MSN:

9549

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Eleven minutes after he departed Mohanbari-Dibrugarh Airport, the pilot reported his position to ATC. Shortly later, the airplane struck a mountain and crashed near Saku. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to an error of navigation on the part of the pilot. He entered a wrong valley and without proper assessment of the performance of his fully-loaded aircraft in the space available attempted to make a steep insufficient to effect a recovery from the stall.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

HJ243

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Brahmapoutre River, few km from the airfield. All occupants from the 11th Squadron were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Dibrugarh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1959

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Jokai Assam Tea Company

Registration:

VT-ARY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6681

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL near Damroh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1958 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

VT-COJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mohanbari – Damroh

MSN:

10051

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7131

Captain / Total hours on type:

6833.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2115

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1797

Aircraft flight hours:

12576

Circumstances:

The aircraft took off from Mohanbari at 0902 hours Indian standard time for a supply dropping sortie to Damroh. It was in contact with Mohanbari at 1028 hours when it was over Pasighat awaiting the weather to clear over Damroh. There was no further contact. At about 1345 hours the Duty Officer, Jorhat Control Tower received a message from Assistant Political Officer, Damroh that the aircraft had crashed at 1100 hours and four crew had been killed. In all there had been 3 flight crew and 4 ejection crew aboard the aircraft. One of the three seriously injured survivors died subsequently. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

While manoeuvring at a low height in mountainous terrain during a supply dropping mission the port wing grazed the side of a hill thus causing the aircraft to slew and crash. A contributory factor might have been the mismanagement of the fuel system which caused temporary loss of engine power and height.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dibrugarh - Dibrugarh

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed near Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase while performing a local training flight. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-5-DO Skymaster in Chhukha: 44 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1945 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

45-0528

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Karachi – Dibrugarh

MSN:

35981

YOM:

1945

Flight number:

USAF28A

Location:

Chhukha

Country:

Bhutan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising by night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft hit with its right wing some trees and crashed in a dense wooded area. The wreckage was found a month later and all 44 occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Cpl James R. Bell,
Sgt Harold F. Benjamin,
S/Sgt Herman E. Beyer,
Sgt Charles H. Burkhardt,
Sgt Adrien D. Cambron,
Sgt Adam T. Diamont,
Pfc Samuel H. Doolan Jr.,
Cpl William J. Fisher,
F/O Francis P. Fisk,
Sgt Richard K. France,
Sgt Warren L. Frank,
F/O Charles M. Fulton,
F/O Philo A. Goodrich,
F/O Frederick C. Grainger,
S/Sgt Spencer R. Gunn,
S/Sgt Robert G. Harrigan,
Pfc George L. Hassell,
Sgt Hillery E. Howell,
Sgt James F. Huff,
F/O Howard F. Hulslander Jr.,
Sgt Joseph A. Jenkins Jr.,
F/O Harry E. Jones,
Cpl Nathan Kramer,
Pfc Kee Kui,
Cpl Iradell Lee,
T/Sgt Ralph J. Luca,
Sgt Roger C. Mallard,
2nd Lt Theodore A. Marshall,
S/Sgt James E . McGee,
Pfc Beverly A. McHenry.,
Sgt William F. Miller,
Sgt Frank L. Moser,
S/Sgt Daniel F. O'Callaghan,
Sgt William T. O'Hara Jr.,
Sgt William Occhialini,
Pfc Robert E. Osborne,
F/O John S. Owens Jr.,
Pvt Joseph N. Peloquin,
F/O Euei Ratliff,
Cpl Chester E. Ross,
Cpt Warren A . Roth,
S/Sgt Paul D. Selanders,
Sgt Thomas C. Setzer,
Sgt Robert L. Smith.

Probable cause:

It appears that the pilot did not follow the assigned airway and flew a direct route from Karachi to Dibrugarh. Due to low visibility caused by night, he was unable to distinguish the mountains and natural obstacles. The accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CK near Dibrugarh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-47003

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 56 km northwest of Dibrugarh, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/O Clyde C. Finley,
T/Sgt Donald Frega,
2nd Lt Arthur H. Rogers.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK near Ledo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-24366

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Dibrugarh - Dibrugarh

MSN:

10228

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase for a search mission. While flying in a mountainous area near Ledo, the aircraft hits trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Walter J. Clemans,
T/Sgt Louis Levy,
1st Lt Michael F. Marcucellio.

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