Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Khitokha: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-COI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
14037/25482
YOM:
1944
Location:
Khitokha
All Bhutan
Country:
Bhutan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed into a hill while on a cargo flight, killing all three crew members.
Probable cause:
It appears that the crew failed to take the appropriate measures to maintain a safe distance with the ground.

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:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Karachi – Dibrugarh
MSN:
35981
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
USAF28A
Location:
Chhukha
Chhukha
Country:
Bhutan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
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 Douglas C-47-DL near Sakden: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Calcutta – Jorhat
MSN:
6205
YOM:
1942
Location:
Sakden
Trashigang
Country:
Bhutan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Enroute from Calcutta to Jorhat, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located south of Sakden, Bhutan. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Morris Adoff,
Pfc John Barto,
1st Lt John J. Besone,
S/Sgt Murdoch M. McLaughlin,
Pfc Charles Perkel.
Passengers:
Cpt Earl E. Cunningham,
Cpt Lloyd F. Melichar.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Sakden: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15398
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lalmonirhat – Chabua
MSN:
19864
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sakden
Trashigang
Country:
Bhutan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Lalmonirhat to Chabua. The aircraft failed to arrive and SAR did not find any trace of the aircraft. Its wreckage was eventually found in an isolated, uninhabited and mountainous area located in the region of Sakden, in the east part of Bhutan. All three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was not on the right track to Chabua AFB.
Photos available on
http://www.miarecoveries.org/gal19_C47A-43-15398.html
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