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Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota IV on Lantau Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN366
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hong Kong - Hong Kong
MSN:
15987/32735
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lantau Island
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a test flight with a crew of three on board and one officer of the Hong Kong Police. While returning to Kai Tak Airport in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft was passing over the Lantau Island at an altitude of 2,900 feet when it hit the slope of a shrouded mountain. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to be at an insufficient altitude to clear the mountains located on Lantau Island. Poor visibility due to clouds was then considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II off RAF Saint Eval: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
X7282
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Eval - Saint Eval
Location:
Saint Eval AFB
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a solo training sortie from RAF Saint Eval. While flying about 15 km north of the airbase, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (224th Squadron):
F/O Thomas William Goodschild.

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
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Abu Musa Island
Hormozgān
Country:
Iran
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 an Avro 683 Lancaster III in RAF North Luffenham: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
NG437
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
North Luffenham AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height and was in a constant stall attitude, with nose up and tail down. The captain increased engine power but the aircraft lost height, hit the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (1653 HCU):
Sgt Anthony Fredrick Barnard Blaikley,
W/O Reginald Thomas Nutting,
Sgt Anthony Bone,
F/Sgt Frank Keighley Dexter,
F/Sgt Alexander John Rossiter,
F/Sgt Alfred Albert Willis Thomas,
Sgt Thomas Edward Valler.
Probable cause:
The pilot was completing his first flight on this aircraft as a captain and probably put the elevators in a wrong setting at takeoff.

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
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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:
Yangon
Yangon Region
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 an Avro 683 Lancaster X in Chalford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
KB705
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Aston Down - Aston Down
MSN:
37006
Location:
Aston Down AFB
Gloucestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Aston Down, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous failure of all four engines. The crew, who was completing a training mission, attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Chalford, some 1,3 mile north of the airfield. Both crewmen were killed.
Crew (428th Squadron):
S/L Reggie Heber Thomas, pilot,
F/Sgt Ronald Lester Gray, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
The crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not follow the pre-departure checklist. On rotation, the power switches have been at OFF position, causing all four engines to stop.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DL Dakota III in Radcliffe-on-Trent

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FD828
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9190
YOM:
1943
Location:
Radcliffe-on-Trent
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training sortie and enroute, lost his orientation. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing an the aircraft crash landed in a prairie and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped unhurt.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing required after a loss of orientation on part of the crew.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax B.III off Gibraltar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.61 Halifax III
Operator:
Registration:
PN387
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar – London
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Gibraltar, controls jammed. Eight crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the sea some 6 miles off the Trinity Lighthouse. These eight crewmen plus another one were found alive while four others were killed.
Probable cause:
Controls jammed on takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota IV in Jakarta

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ951
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14798/26243
YOM:
1944
Location:
Jakarta-Kemayoran
City District of Jakarta
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the aircraft encountered strong crosswinds. Directional control was lost and brakes failed as well. The captain then decided to raise the undercarriage in order to stop the airplane as quick as possible. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Loss of directional control on landing due to strong crosswinds. Failure of the brake systems after touchdown.
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