Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 20 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
34032
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kodiak – Unalaska
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Kodiak to Unalaska, carrying a crew of five and fifteen members of a Navy football team. While cruising some 250 km from the destination, the crew informed ground he encountered strong head winds. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. All 20 occupants were killed.

Crash of a North American TB-25J-32-NC Mitchell near Kelso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1947 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
44-31316
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
McChord - Hamilton
MSN:
108-37391
Location:
Kelso
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left McChord AFB at 0212LT bound for Hamilton AFB located in Novato, California. About fifteen minutes into the flight, the left engine caught fire and smoke spread into the cabin. Two crew members bailed out when the left wing broke off. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located 15 miles east of Kelso. Both crew who bailed out were able to walk away and to find help while both pilots were killed in the crash.
Probable cause:
Fire on left engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Wuwei: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Urumqi – Lanzhou
Location:
Wuwei
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Urumqi to Lanzhou, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located in the region of Wuwei. The wreckage was found few days later and all 26 occupants were killed, among them one US and one British citizen.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster in EL Palomar AFB: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1947 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
T-44
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Palomar - Morón
MSN:
7463
YOM:
1944
Location:
El Palomar AFB
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the captain elected to rotate but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew attempted to make an emergency braking procedure but the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining runway, overran, hit several people who came to the airport to assist to the departure of the aircraft, crossed a road and came to rest in flames. Fourteen occupants plus three people on the ground were killed. Five other occupants plus eight people on the ground were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. The crew was on a flight to the nearby airbase of Morón to take part to the commemoration of the death of the Argentinian General José de San Martin in 1850. About 200 aircraft from the Argentinian Air Force were taking part to this event.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Saigon

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
476353
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15937/32685
YOM:
1945
Location:
Saigon
Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Oberröblingen

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93802
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
13754
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oberröblingen
Saxony-Anhalt
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed enroute, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Oberröblingen. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A LodeStar in São Paulo : 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
2004
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Campo de Marte – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
18-2366
YOM:
1943
Location:
Campo de Marte AFB (São Paulo)
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Campo de Marte Airbase, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. All occupants escaped injured while two people on the ground were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-1-DO Skymaster into the Sargasso Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
45-0519
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hamilton - Morrison
MSN:
35972
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sargasso Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Hamilton, Bermuda, bound for Morrison AFB located in Palm Beach, Florida. While cruising about 294 miles northeast of the Florida coast, the crew encountered severe weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Some debris were found but no trace of the six occupants who were considered as deceased.
Probable cause:
After considering all available facts and existing weather conditions, it is the opinion of the Accident Investigating Board at Morrison Field, Florida, that the aircraft encountered violent turbulence and the pilot lost control of the aircraft. It is possible that structural failure was a factor prior to contact with the ocean. No evidence of fire exists. There was no evidence of a ditching attempt and the debris found indicates that the crew compartment was torn apart on contact with the ocean. The last plotted position of the aircraft and the corresponding position of the frontal zone substantiates the weather assumption. Contributing factors to this accident were possible navigational error allowing aircraft to drift north of course to frontal zone and pilot error in that no apparent effort was made to circumnavigate the frontal weather.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota C.4 in Antananarivo

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ979
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14971/26416
YOM:
1945
Location:
Antananarivo
Antananarivo Province
Country:
Madagascar
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit the ground short of runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
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