Zone
Assam

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-45-DL in The Himalayas: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
82
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Calcutta - Dinjan
MSN:
9956
YOM:
1943
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with tail wind, low visibility, turbulence ans static so the pilots were unable to obtain any contact with the different radio stations. While flying at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the aircraft hit a mountain in the Himalayas and was destroyed on impact. All twelve occupants, among them 10 technicians of the national career, were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Tagap: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-32868
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dinjan - Tingkawk Sakan
MSN:
9094
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tagap
Sagaing Region
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to Tingkawk Sakan on a supply mission. En route, the aircraft went into a valley when the pilot encountered foggy conditions and low visibility. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. The captain was able to walk away for eight days before finding help and was later brought to hospital. SAR tried to reach the crash site but was unable to find any trace of the wreckage nor the four other occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Tezpur: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100614
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Calcutta – Dinjan
MSN:
19077
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tezpur
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances north of Tezpur. Ten occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL near Myitkyina: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23510
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Dinjan
MSN:
9372
Location:
Myitkyina
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a supply mission near Myitkyina, Burma, with a load of mortar shells on board. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded and hilly area located some 43 km northwest of Myitkyina. The wreckage and all 7 dead bodies were found in 2001. At the time of the accident, the weather was poor with low ceiling (100 feet), visibility a quarter mile and rain falls.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in China: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
90
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
19314
YOM:
1943
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft encountered turbulence, lost at least 1,000 feet, hit a mountain slope and was wrecked. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft lost 1,000 feet while cruising in turbulence and poor weather conditions, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). The pilot was completing this flight for the first time as a captain.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 near Kunming

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
51
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
4879
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Dinjan on a cargo flight to Kunming. While cruising some 100 miles from his destination, the crew torn off all communication systems so the Japanese forces based in the region were unable to catch any message. One hour later, while flying in poor weather conditions, the crew torn on the communication systems but the aircraft was off course. Crew tried to localize his position but after a flight of 11 hours and 25 minutes, was unable to locate the airport of Kunming so he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. While the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, all three crew were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Lijiang: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
75
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
9416
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lijiang
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to reduced his altitude to avoid an icing area. While cruising at low altitude in clouds, aircraft hit a peak with its left wing and crashed downwards on the slope of the mountains. The wreckage and both dead bodies were found seven months later.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dinjan

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
57
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4883
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:
0
Circumstances:
During takeoff run in Dinjan, aircraft failed to rotate, overrun, came to rest into trees in flames. All three crew were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
According to officials, pilots were distracted and did not prepare the flight correctly. Therefore, they increased the power of the engine for takeoff but did not decide whom would proceed to rotate.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Suifu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
83
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Suifu
MSN:
10159
YOM:
1943
Location:
Suifu
Sichuan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Suifu Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the airport. While flying below minimums, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit a rocky peak and crashed in a huge explosion less than 50 meters from the top of the mountain. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to officials, the accident was not caused by an error on part of the crew but by the fact that the authorities of the Suifu Airport failed to inform the company's operations that the main radio beacon of the airport has been relocated two days prior to the accident. Therefore, the crew continued the approach in reference to a radio beacon's position that was incorrect. Thus, the crew was following a wrong approach pattern. The lack of visibility caused by the poor weather conditions remains a contributory factor.
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