Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Lima: 46 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1964 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
T-47
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Mendoza – Antofagasta – Lima
MSN:
3082
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez
Lima
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
While approaching Lima-Callao Airport by night, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The four engine aircraft was too low and struck a sand dune located 15 km short of runway threshold. Two children and a crew member survived while 46 other occupants were killed. The flight was operated by the Argentinian Air Force on behalf of the Correo Aéreo Militar al Exterior (CAME).
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the pilot-in-command continued the approach below the glide.

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou in Tân Hiệp: 15 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1964
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
61-2593
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tân Hiệp – Saigon
MSN:
71
YOM:
1962
Location:
Tân Hiệp
Đồng Nai Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew was able to feather the propeller and elected to return for an emergency landing. While turning to the left, the airplane stalled and crashed in a rice paddy field. All 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Upernavik

Date & Time: May 3, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
L-867
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Thule – Søndre Strømfjord
Location:
Upernavik
Qaasuitsup Kommunia
Country:
Greenland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Catalina operated on a trip from Air Station Værløse via Keflavik, Reykjavik, Mestersvig, Station North, Thule, Sonderstrom and back to Værløse. The flyinbg boat departed Værløse, Denmark on 20 April 1964. On 3 May 1964, en route from Thule to Sonderstrom, the airplane suffered an no. 1 engine failure. Due to the Catalina’s single engine performance, the captain decided to make a precautionary landing when they discovered open water about 10 km south west from Upernavik. The crew was later rescued by a USAF SA-16 and brought to Sonderstrom. Two days later the Catalina was damaged beyond repair by the ice which had crushed the it.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules at Ieshima AFB

Date & Time: May 2, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
56-0492
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3100
YOM:
1957
Location:
Ieshima
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the engine number one failed. The crew elected to abandon the takeoff procedure but due to asymmetric thrust, the airplane deviated from the centerline, veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a grassy area. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number during takeoff roll.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Bouar: 18 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
178
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bouar – Libreville
MSN:
178
YOM:
1959
Location:
Bouar
Nana-Mambéré
Country:
Central African Republic
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bouar Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane lost height and crashed in flames. 18 occupants were killed while 19 others were rescued, some of them were seriously injured. The victims were respectively 10 French, six Central Africans and two Chadians.
Probable cause:
It is reported the loss of control was caused by a strong gust of wind.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar off Pisa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1964 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
MM52-6036
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pisa – Grosseto
MSN:
11075
YOM:
1952
Location:
Pisa-San Giusto-Galileo Galilei (Arturo dell'Oro)
Tuscany
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Pisa-San Giusto-Galileo Galilei Airport, en route to Grosseto, the airplane lost height, struck the water surface and crashed into the sea few km off shore. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-2C Navigator near Mt Whitney: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft SNB-2 Navigator
Operator:
Registration:
29581
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Whitney
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a liaison flight, weather conditions worsened. In a limited visibility due to snow falls, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 7 miles southwest of Mt Whitney. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Tenerife: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
T.3-1
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El Gouera – Tenerife
MSN:
12164
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tenerife-Norte-Los Rodeos
Canary Islands
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from El Gouera to Tenerife-Norte-Los Rodeos, carrying 16 civilians and a crew of five. While approaching the airport from the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility when the airplane crashed on a mountain located in La Esperanza, south of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while 17 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar in Barrackpore: 22 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barrackpore – Bagdogra
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Barrackpore Airport, while climbing, the airplane exploded and crashed into the Hooghly River. All 22 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 near Banihal Pass: 13 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1964 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Srinagar – Udhampur
Location:
Banihal
Jammu and Kashmir
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
On a flight from Srinagar to Udhampur, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near the Banihal Pass. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 13 occupants was found. Mountaineers found the debris in an isolated area in May 1964.
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