Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Andrews AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100999
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19462
YOM:
1944
Location:
Andrews AFB
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Andrews AFB, the aircraft was too low, hit a building and crashed. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero near Cerbaiola: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
Operator:
Corrieri Aerei Militari - CAM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rome – Varese
Location:
Cerbaiola
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt dell'Aretino located near Cerbaiola, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota C.4 near Cairo

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN426
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
16106/32854
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cairo
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, an engine failed. The crew tried several times to restart the engine that fell off shortly later. In such conditions, the crew elected to make an emergency landing in a desert area located about 40 km northwest of Cairo. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner Flying Boat off Qingdao: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84606
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Qingdao
Shandong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the Qingdao Bay, while climbing, the aircraft caught fire, exploded and crashed into the sea. A crew member was killed while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a JATO bottle just after rotation.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon in Signal Mountain: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1948 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Operator:
Registration:
32977
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Diego – Memphis – Chattanooga
MSN:
1331
Location:
Signal Mountain
Tennessee
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:
While descending to Chattanooga Airport by night, the seaplane hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Signal Mountain, north of Chattanooga. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ens Roger W. Whale,
Amm1 Kristian F. Anderson.

Crash of a Douglas A-26 Invader in Chelles-le-Pin

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay – Blida
Location:
Chelles-le-Pin
Seine-et-Marne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Vélizy-Villacoublay, an engine caught fire. The captain elected to return but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field located near the aerodrome of Chelles-le-Pin. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest in flames. All 15 occupants, most of them women and children flying back to Algeria, were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Uetersen

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN439
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16121/32869
YOM:
1945
Location:
Uetersen
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Uetersen in poor weather conditions, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in flames in a field short of runway threshold. All occupants were injured, the copilot more seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on final approach.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK near Dinalungan

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3558
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
16969/34229
YOM:
1945
Location:
Dinalungan
Aurora
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The starboard engine blew up about 480 km north of Manila. Flight was maintained on one engine but bad weather and turbulence forced the plane down to below 1,000 feet. At about 200 km from Manila, some personal baggage and mail were jettisoned. The crew eventually realized it was impossible to join Manila so decided to make a wheels up landing near Dinalungan. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all 12 occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK in Memphis: 20 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1947 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76366
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Paso – Memphis
MSN:
15950/32698
YOM:
1945
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On final approach to Memphis in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 4 miles short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the crash could not be determined with certainty. There was no explosion or fire on board prior to final impact.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Goose Bay: 23 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1947 at 0020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72572
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Goose Bay – Westover
MSN:
10677
YOM:
1945
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
One minute after a night takeoff from Goose Bay, while in initial climb, the pilot encountered serious difficulties to gain height, informed ground and elected to return. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 13,5 km north of the airport. Six occupants were seriously injured while 23 others were killed.
Probable cause:
It was snowing in Goose Bay when the crew made his technical stop. For unknown reason, the crew failed to request for a deice operation prior to departure and the takeoff procedure was started with 12 mm of snow on both wings and stabs. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient height after liftoff due to heavy weight, too much drag and loss of lift.
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