Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK off Sorong

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
X-3
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manokwari – Sorong
MSN:
15884/32632
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sorong-Jefman
Special Region of West Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Sorong-Jefman Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a cloud base at 500 feet. In such conditions, the crew was unable to locate the airport and decided to turn over the area to expect weather improvement. Due top fuel shortage and as the crew was unable to locate the airfield, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft east of the airport. All six crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Ditching caused by fuel exhaustion due to poor weather conditions at destination.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Col des Deux Bassins: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1962 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
204
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ouargla – Boufarik
MSN:
204
YOM:
0
Location:
Col des Deux Bassins
Médéa
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
358
Circumstances:
While approaching Boufarik AFB by night and poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Col des Deux Bassins, about 38 km southeast of Boufarik Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. Brand new, it was delivered in November 1961.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28A-1 in Kolwezi

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.28A/B
Operator:
Registration:
KA-016
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3016
Location:
Kolwezi
Lualaba
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Kolwezi-Kengere Airport during March 1962 (exact date unknown).

Crash of a Douglas R4D-8 in Osaka

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
12445
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43314
YOM:
1943
Location:
Osaka-Itami
Kansai
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing at Osaka-Itami Airport following technical problems in flight. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is reported the emergency situation was caused by a fuel contamination.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules near Alençon: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
55-0020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Evreux - Evreux
MSN:
3047
YOM:
1957
Location:
Alençon
Orne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a training exercise out of Evreux Airbase with five other similar aircraft. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Ecouves forest located 11 km north of Alençon. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj William J.Wilson,
Cpt Edward J. Vianco,
Cpt Vincent Stantucci,
1st Lt James S. Douglass,
1st Lt Stanley C. Hardin,
S/Sgt Alfred J. Knight,
T/Sgt Robert L. Conway,
T/Sgt Harold E. Kazee,
A1c Cecil Williams,
A1c Huey Green,
A1c Theodore Shedelbower,
A2c Stanley E. Royster,
A3c Gayle J. O'Grady,
Sp4 James Waples,
Sp4 Lee Taylor.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
TG508
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12
Location:
Thorney Island AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Thorney Island, during the last segment, the airplane was caught by downdraft and struck the ground. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off. The airplane slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Suffered downdraft on final approach.

Crash of a Convair T-29A on Babcock Peak: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Convair T-29
Operator:
Registration:
49-1931
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
198
YOM:
1950
Location:
Babcock Peak
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane left Amarillo Airport on a liaison flight with three crew members on board. While cruising northwest of Durango, Colorado, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a snowstorm. While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the airplane struck Babcock Peak. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually localized on May 18, 1962.
Crew:
Cpt Richard E. Bellamy, pilot,
Maj J. E. Lunsford, copilot,
S/Sgt E. L. Fairey, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain in a snowstorm.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Phon Sawan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
02
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Phon Sawan
Nakhon Phanom (นครพนม)
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
In flight, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Phon Sawan. Four crew members were killed while four others were rescued.
Probable cause:
Shut down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 near Cali: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1962 at 1007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Buenaventura – Cali
MSN:
680-454-124
YOM:
1958
Location:
Cali
Valle del Cauca
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Buenaventura Airport at 0940LT for 45 minutes flight to Cali, ETA 1025LT. En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Douglas SC-47A in Bảo Lộc: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15732
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Saigon – Đà Nẵng
MSN:
20198
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bảo Lộc
Lâm Đồng Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a leaflet dropping mission from between Saigon and Đà Nẵng. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Bảo Lộc, killing all nine occupants.
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