Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after a night takeoff from Singapore-Seletar Airport, while climbing to a height of some 200 feet, both left engines lost power. Heavily loaded and at low speed, the airplane stalled and crashed into the Seletar River. Thirteen occupants were killed while eight others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Poor coordination by the crew led the flight engineer to inadvertently reduce power on both left engines during the initial climb, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL on Mt Banahao: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16211

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20677

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Banahao, and was totally destroyed. Five passengers were seriously injured and evacuated while 19 other occupants were killed.

Ground accident of a Douglas C-54G-10-DO Skymaster in Tejgaon AFB

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

45-0618

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

37071

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taxiing in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit an obstacle and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Hobart Mills: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1946 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-1085

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Stockton – Sacramento – Ogden

MSN:

17088/34355

YOM:

1945

Location:

Hobart Mills

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying at an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft lost a part of its right wing and the empennage failed as well. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Donner State Park, west of Hobart Mills. All 26 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard K. Young, pilot,
1st Lt Louis N. Duesing, copilot,
Sgt Antone J. Esgro, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Lyle C. Dykes,
Richard O. Ehlers,
Cpt Donald A. Bride,
Raymond L. Schneider,
Lt L. S. Stark,
Floyd R. Sundgren,
Lt Col Clyde M. Taylor,
1st Lt Ervin P. Cue,
Maurice L. Bose,
Charles R. Branass,
Pvt Glenn P. Dickerson,
Cpl William T. Woodhouse,
Pasqual Iuluicci,
Melvin S. Van Riper,
Lt Frank W. Davis,
Ens Gino C. Caletti,
Stephen R. Kirsch,
Gerald P. Udell,
Robet A. McGee,
Lt John C. Shaw,
1st Lt James E. Milton,
2nd Lt Richard F. Simpson,
Pvt Willie B. Wilson.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by a structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII on Abu Musa Island

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 466 Wellington XIII

Operator:

Registration:

ME937

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Wellington flew over the ship christened 'SS Afghanistan' anchored off the island of Abu Musa to drop a message on board. Unfortunately in doing so, the pilot misjudged his height and struck the top of one of the ship's masts, carrying it away, and damaging the tail and rudder of his aircraft. After jettisoning its petrol, the plane made a belly landing on the island. The crew were uninjured and were taken to Sharjah the same days by launch. The airplane was later declared as written off.
Source:
http://www.adias-uae.com/publications/hellyergarey04.pdf

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Nankin: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Shanghai – Nankin

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Nankin Airport in poor weather conditions and low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and was destroyed by impact forces. All 20 occupants were killed, among them Lieutenant-General Dai Li, Chief of the Kuomintang (KMT) Army secret service.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Zirc: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48775

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Langenlebarn – Belgrade

MSN:

14591/26036

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew encountered poor weather conditions while approaching Zirc. Due to low visibility, the pilot did not realize that his altitude was insufficient. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded and mountainous area located 11 km northwest of Zirc. Three crew members were killed while a fourth occupant was seriously injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota IV in Singapore

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN614

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16513/33261

YOM:

1945

Location:

Singapore

Country:

Singapore

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

An engine failed during the takeoff roll. As the aircraft skidded on runway and was unable to stop or to rotate, the crew decided to raise the undercarriage. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota IV in Yangon

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN351

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

15965/32713

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On touchdown, a tyre burst. The aircraft skidded on runway and when an undercarriage collapsed, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Tyre burst on landing.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator in Kisarazu: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

65339

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Hit the slope of a mountain located near Kisarazu, killing all eight crew members. The aircraft was a PB4Y-1 version but delivered from the USAAF to USN with a B-24 Liberator serial number.