Supply | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew, James B. McGovern Jr. and Wallace A. Buford, were engaged in a supply mission to the French Army Forced in Ðiện Biên Phủ, carrying a load of artillery pieced. Enroute, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and one of the engine was lost. The crew decided to return to Hải Phòng-Catbi Airport but the aircraft lost height until it struck a ridge and crashed. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 on Mt Gunung Ledang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Valetta

Operator:

Registration:

WD160

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

489

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in marginal weather conditions on a supply mission, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Gunung Ledang (aka Mt Ophir - 1,276 meters high) located about 23 km south of the city of Gemas, in the Johor province. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Investigations were unable to determine the reason why the crew was flying at an insufficient altitude at the time of the accident. Nevertheless, it was reported that he was flying since several hours and that he was probably tired, which may contribute to the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 near Bertam: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Valetta

Operator:

Registration:

WD164

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

493

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a supply mission to the members of a police station located in an isolated area in the Bertam region. While flying at low height, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions when the aircraft crashed on a hilly and wooded terrain. The wreckage was found few days later and all eight occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL Skytrain in Cagayan de Oro

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16217

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

20683

YOM:

1944

Location:

Cagayán de Oro-Lumbia

Misamis Oriental

Country:

Philippines

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach, the airplane was too low and crashed short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-16-FA Flying Boxcar in Iwakuni AFB

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Registration:

49-0175

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10412

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Ust-Tareya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1952 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N591

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1 24 473 07

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

200

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft left Ust-Tareya Airport at 1025LT bound for a remote airfield located on an island on the Piasyna River, about 35 km from Ust-Tareya, carrying two passengers (among them a doctor) and four crew members. Upon arrival, the pilot (M. N. Tomilin) decided not to land on the airfield but close to the buildings of the GGU geological expedition. Due to strong cross winds and the difficulties of the terrain, he was unable to land and was forced to make a go around. After three unsuccessful attempts to land, he elected to go around again when the aircraft, with full flaps extended, encountered gusty winds and lost speed. The left wing stalled and the aircraft crashed in flames, killing all six occupants.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration and poor flight organization. The following factors were pointed out:
- Lack of discipline on part of the pilot-in-command who attempted to land in difficult conditions on an unprepared terrain while an existing airfield was close to his position,
- Wrong piloting techniques when the pilot-in-command elected to make a go around with full flaps extended,
- Insufficient speed which contributed, with strong winds, to the stall of the aircraft.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.2 in North Ice Camp

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings

Operator:

Registration:

WD492

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thule - Thule

MSN:

120

YOM:

1951

Location:

North Ice Camp

Northeast Greenland National Park

Country:

Greenland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left Thule Airbase on a supply mission to scientists based at North Ice Camp. After twelve dropping missions performed successfully, the pilot-in-command reduced his altitude to 50 feet and attempted an approach at a speed of 125 knots when he encountered white-out conditions. The airplane lost height, causing a wing to hit the ground. The aircraft crash landed 1,6 km south of North Ice Camp and came to rest. All 11 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Suwon

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48077

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13893/25338

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. All occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed near Suwon. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Saigon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh City District

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

In poor weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in a field in Saigon, killing four occupants and injuring 16 others.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 near Hulu Langat: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Valetta

Operator:

Registration:

VX540

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Lumpur

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a supply mission to the SAS troops in the Hulu Langat Forest Reserve. While flying at low height, the twin engine aircraft hit the top of a hill and crashed. All seven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

According to British Army Officials, the margin of error for operating such type of aircraft in a mountainous area with turbulences is extremely low. Moreover, its performances are limited if one of the engine is inoperative in such operations, which could have been the case here.