Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

In flight, all crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture. The aircraft was destroyed but all occupants were safe.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-2 near Malakal

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-BNB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

MSN:

4098

YOM:

1941

Location:

Malakal

Upper Nile (أعالي النيل)

Country:

South Sudan

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed 10 km south of Malakal and came to rest. Two passengers were slightly injured while all other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Dalry: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

K-14

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

14712/26157

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the region of Dalry. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D Skytrain in Kelly AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49258

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Kelly - Davis Monthan

MSN:

15074/26519

YOM:

1944

Location:

Kelly AFB (ex Brooks Field, San Antonio)

Texas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Kelly AFB, an engine failed. The aircraft passed over few houses, stalled and crashed in a cotton field. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were rescued, some of them injured. The aircraft was written off. The crew was enroute to Davis Monthan carrying the members of a baseball team taking part to a tournament.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Caracas: 27 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1947 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

YV-ALO

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cumaná – Caracas

Location:

Caracas

Caracas Federal District

Country:

Venezuela

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to La Carlota Airport in Caracas, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 40 km east of Caracas. All 27 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK near Decaturville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

44-76231

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

15815/32563

YOM:

1945

Location:

Decaturville

Tennessee

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located about 5 miles west of Decaturville. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Palm Beach

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

International Air Freight

Registration:

N52710

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

19095

YOM:

1943

Location:

Palm Beach County Park-Lantana

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after rotation, the right engine failed. As the crew failed to feather the propeller, the aircraft stalled and crashed into a lake near the airport. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Gimbat Station

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Q-12

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sydney – Jakarta

MSN:

13210

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the twin engine aircraft was hot by lightning. The electric systems failed and radio and navigation failed. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a uninhabited area and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Hit by lightning.