Zone
Assam

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dali: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
102
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
20805
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying the Dali Lake, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It lost height, hit obstacles and eventually crashed in a cemetery overhanging the city of Dali. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Dali: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1944 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chanyi – Dinjan
MSN:
19076
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Dali. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The last radio contact was heard at 1750LT while the aircraft was about 20 miles north of Dali Lake.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 near Dinjan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
56
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan – Kunming
MSN:
4881
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dinjan
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The flight was initiated in heavy rain falls. After take off, while climbing, both engines lost power and the aircraft lost height before crashing on Mt Digboi located in the Naga mountain range, few miles from the Dinjan Airport. The wreckage was spotted a day later and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Both engines lost power during climb, most probably because the fuel was contaminated by water. The accident occurred in heavy rain showers.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Dinjan

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
80
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
9761
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dinjan
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Dinjan Airport in foggy conditions, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a paddy field few hundred yards short of runway. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Both engines failed on approach because the fuel selector was positioned on an empty tank.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Sadiya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
101
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dinjan – Suifu
MSN:
20803
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sadiya
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Dinjan Airport, the crew encountered heavy rain falls due to stormy weather. The captain decided to return to Dinjan but lost his orientation due to poor visibility. He reduced his altitude, most probably to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located some 30 km west of Sadiya. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
According to investigations, both wings separated in flight and were found few hundred yards from the main wreckage. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was not on the prescribed flight path and encountered severe thunderstorm activity before crashing into a wooded area.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Burma: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93349
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dinjan - Myitkyina
MSN:
13251
YOM:
1944
Location:
Myanmar
All Myanmar
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a supply mission to the troops in Burma. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere between Dinjan and Myitkyina, most probably in the north Burmese jungle. No trace was ever found.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Dinjan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-60993
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26868
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dinjan
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While descending to Chabua AFB, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Dinjan. At least one crew member was killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Hopin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15403
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Dinjan
MSN:
19869
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hopin
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located some 40 km northwest of Hopin, Myanmar, while on a supply mission. Five crew members were killed while the sixth was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Kunming: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
85
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
18902
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While approaching Kunming-Wujiaba Airport, the aircraft descended from 16,000 to 6,000 feet when it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames few km from the airport. All six occupants were killed.
Source: www.cnac.org
Probable cause:
The jack pad had been removed from the right wing root. This left 4 large holes directly under the fuel tanks and directly in line with the exhaust. When the pilot cut the throttles to descend, the flame only went as far back as the holes. There the flames went up around the fuel tank, igniting the fumes and blew the wing off.
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