Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Tungurahua: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1949 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Mt Tungurahua
Tungurahua
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Descending to Ambato Airport in poor weather conditions, while at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of the Tungurahua volcano located 31 km southeast of the airport. All thirteen occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16396
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Ponta Delgada – Saint John’s
MSN:
20862
YOM:
1944
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft about 500 km southeast of Saint John's. The airplane crashed near a US Coast Guard ship. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Beechcraft CT-128 Expeditor in Serpentine River: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
1425
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chatham – Ottawa – Presque Ile
Location:
Serpentine River
New Brunswick
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Serpentine River, northwest of New Brunswick while performing a flight from Ottawa to Presque Ile, Maine. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Wg Cdr Beverly Beck,
Sq Ldr Frederick William Darnell,
Wg Cdr John Harry Drury.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Gütersloh

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW188
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wunstorf – Lyneham
MSN:
MW188
YOM:
1945
Location:
Gütersloh
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wunstorf AFB, the crew informed ground that the tire on the left main gear burst and decided to divert to Gütersloh Airport for an emergency landing. On touchdown, the left main gear collapsed, the aircraft skidded for several yards and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear on landing due to the bursting of the tire during the last takeoff procedure.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Canso into the Ushuaia Bay

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Canso
Operator:
Registration:
0239
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
21996
YOM:
1943
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Ushuaia Bay. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Maymyo

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
UB-332
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Pyin Oo Lwin-Anisakan (Maymyo)
Mandalay Region
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Cajamarca: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1949
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
657
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Cajamarca
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Cajamarca while performing a flight from Madrid AFB. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1949 at 1439 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
64028
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kwajalein - Johnston
MSN:
2098
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Kwajalein to the Johnston atoll, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and the captain decided to make an emergency landing into the ocean about 608 miles southwest of the Johnston atoll. The crew was rescued nine hours later and the Catalina was destroyed by gunfire and sank.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Lowry AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-47446
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7854
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Lowry AFB, the twin engine aircraft crashed in flames onto a military installation located 7 miles northeast of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Naha: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77335
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
32731
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naha
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Naha Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.
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