Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Jack Lenhardt
Registration:
N98H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20061
YOM:
1944
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight when he was forced down by Colombian Air Force. The aircraft crash landed near Villavicencio. Both pilots were arrested and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced down by Colombian Air Force during an illegal flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Santa Elena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TG-AKA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13327
YOM:
1944
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After touchdown on a gravel runway, the left tire burst. Control was lost and the airplane veered off runway to the left. The left engine struck the ground, causing a propeller blade to detach and to struck the cockpit. The airplane rolled for few meters then came to a halt. Three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the captain was killed after being struck by the propeller blade.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Narsarsuaq

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
New Jersey Airlines - NJ Airlines
Registration:
N723A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4395
YOM:
1942
Location:
Narsarsuaq
Kommune Kujalleq
Country:
Greenland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The right main gear failed upon landing. The airplane veered to the left and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was not repaired.

Explosion of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Massawa

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AAP
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Massawa - Teseney
MSN:
13181
YOM:
1944
Location:
Massawa
Southern Red Sea
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
36541
Circumstances:
The crew was taxiing at Massawa Airport and was approaching the end of the runway for departure when the tail wheel rolled over a landmine. The airplane exploded and was almost cut in two. A fire erupted and while four occupants were able to evacuate the cabin, the copilot was forced to jump out of the cockpit through his window. Falling down on the ground, he broke a foot. The airplane was destroyed. There were on board three crew members and two passengers, a security officer and a loadmaster.
Probable cause:
Exploded after rolling on a landmine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yoro: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1977 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
301
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yoro - Tegucigalpa
MSN:
6096
YOM:
1942
Location:
Yoro
Yoro
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the left engine failed and caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a mountainous terrain located few km from the airport. 25 occupants were killed while 15 others were injured. All passengers were employees of local companies travelling with family members.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Mitú

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas Orientales (LAOS Colombia)
Registration:
HK-166
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12560
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley
Vaupés
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport. Six occupants were seriously injured while four others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Bangkok

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
L2-11/96
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Udon Thani - Bangkok
MSN:
16944/34203
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Don Mueang Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field located in Lam Luk Ka, about 15 km east of the airport. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Bangkok: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed on the tarmac, colliding with a parked Royal Thai Force Fairchild C-123K Provider registered L4K-2/16. Both airplanes were destroyed. While the C-123 was empty, five people on board the C-47 were killed, seven others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Condoto

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Taxi Aéreo Nacional
Registration:
HK-1511E
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Condoto - Cali
MSN:
6138
YOM:
1942
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Condoto-Mandinga Airport, the right engine failed. The crew completed an emergency landing in a swampy area and upon touchdown, the right engine separated and struck the cockpit, injuring the copilot. All other occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Mendoza

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TC-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19796
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mendoza-El Plumerillo
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed after the left engine failed on takeoff. The aircraft was almost destroyed and all occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on takeoff for undetermined reasons.
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