Crash of a Douglas C-47D on Mt Fuji

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-77094
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
16678/33426
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Fuji
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on the slope of Mt Fuji. Both crewmen were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II into the Atlantic Ocean: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
53-0021
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
44316
YOM:
1953
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
While cruising from Iceland to the US, the crew informed ground about engine problems and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft about 385 km southwest of the Icelandic coast. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed into the ocean and all 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in Ushuaia

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
4-T-2
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10301
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ushuaia
Tierra del Fuego
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Ushuaia Airport, lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft registered 4-T-2 (ex 0277/CTA-5) was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Rascafría: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15130
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
19596
YOM:
1944
Location:
Rascafría
Madrid
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the airplane struck a hill located 8 km south of Rascafría. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-2 on Mt Sunol Ridge: 40 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1956 at 1342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
39116
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Camp Pendleton – El Toro – Alameda – Hickam
MSN:
18331
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Sunol Ridge
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed El Toro Airbase at 1030LT Bound for Alameda NAS on behalf of the Marine Transport Squadron 152. On board were United States Marines from Camp Pendleton en route to Hickam Field, and five crew members. While approaching his destination, the captain was instructed to follow a 30 minutes holding circuit. At 1342LT, while descending at an altitude of 3,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the pilot started the approach when the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sunol Ridge located about 21 miles southeast of Alameda Airbase. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 40 occupants have been killed. It was reported that the airplane hit the mountain about 200 feet below the summit.
Crew:
Maj Alexander Watson, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas E. Straughan, copilot,
M/Sgt Donald J. Down, navigator,
S/Sgt Terrell M. Young, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Harry E. Knight, radio operator.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision with the mountain was the consequence of several errors and omissions on part of the flying crew who neglected approach procedures and wrongly interpreted some signals transmitted by local beacons. This caused the crew to start the descent prematurely and the aircraft to drift off course by six miles to the northeast at the time of the accident. Low visibility due to clouds was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Saigon

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VX483
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tan Son Nhât Airport, while climbing, an engine lost power and some blades detached. Suffering an asymmetric thrust, the airplane stalled and crashed in a grassy area. All three crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Propeller blades failure and loss of engine power after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Dirfi: 17 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Mt Dirfi (Dirphys)
Central Greece / Στερεά Ελλάδα
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The crew left Elefsis AFB in Athens with military personnel, taking part to an evacuation mission following heavy snow falls. While cruising over the Skopelos Island, the crew reported unexpected problems and elected to return to his base. Few minutes later, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Dirfi (1,743 meters high) located in the center of the Evia Island. All 17 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune in Delta Amacuro

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
122466
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Patuxent River - Little America
MSN:
126-1097
YOM:
1947
Location:
Delta of Orinoco National Park
Delta Amacuro
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Patuxent River NAS bound for Antarctica, taking part to a SAR mission after a US Navy UC-1 Otter was missing since February 3. While approaching the Venezuelan coast, the right engine failed. The captain elected to divert to Piarco Airport in Trinidad & Tobago when the left engine failed shortly later. While 15 miles off shore, he decided to reach the coast and eventually completed an emergency landing in a uninhabited area located in the north side of the State of Delta Amacuro. On touchdown, the aircraft struck trees, lost its both wings and came to rest, broken in two. All eight crew members were rescued and evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
2056
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Santa Cruz
MSN:
19055
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Galeão
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport, enroute to Santa Cruz AFB, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that were raised but could not be lowered again. In such conditions, the captain decided to return to Galeão Airport for a safe landing. The aircraft belly landed and skidded for dozen yards before coming to rest on the runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Technical difficulties with undercarriage.

Crash of a Casa 352 in Zaragoza: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Casa 352
Operator:
Registration:
T.2B-215
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid – Valladolid – Soria – Zaragoza
MSN:
106
Location:
Zaragoza
Aragon
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Madrid-Getafe on a routine flight to Zaragoza with intermediate stops at Valladolid-Villanubla Airport and Soria. While approaching Zaragoza-Valenzuela Airport by night (evening), the three engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few km from the airfield. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt D. Carlos Escat Fajardo,
Lt D. Carlos Amat Fernandez,
Br. D. Jaime Pérez, pilot,
Sgt Sr. Navarro, radio operator,
Cpl Sr. Cerezo,
Sr. Cañada,
Sr. Sanjuán.
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