Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Hunting Surveys

Registration:

G-AMYW

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Ha'il - Ha'il

MSN:

16272/33020

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The C-47 was flying a survey line at 400 feet AGL when there seemed to be an oil leak in the no. 2 engine. The prop was feathered and power on the no. 1 engine was increased. The no. 1 prop ran away, causing drag on the engine. Attempts to unfeather the no. 2 engine again failed and the aircraft struck the ground.
Source: ASN

Probable cause:

The right engine appear to have been feathered unnecessarily and in too much of a hurry, having regard that the aircraft was only 400 feet above the ground. On increasing power on the left engine, the propeller became uncontrollable due to the failure of the propeller governor or the deficient screen in the oil strainer. It therefore, was necessary to feather it leaving the aircraft without any power causing an immediate forced landing.

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Hội An: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-76534

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng

MSN:

16118/32866

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a gunship support missions to outposts, the Spooky was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a dense wooded area, killing all seven crew members.
Crew:
Cpt William Hadley Hosea,
Cpt Herbert Charles Rice,
Cpt John Bishop Cabana,
S/Sgt John Larue Brim,
S/Sgt James Lewis Fields,
T/Sgt Guy Joseph Brungard,
A1C Robert Edwin Ruonavaara.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Castle AFB

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1967 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Amerine Turkey Breeding Farms

Operator:

Registration:

N54370

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

19220

YOM:

1943

Location:

Castle AFB

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5435

Captain / Total hours on type:

700.00

Circumstances:

While on a cargo flight, the crew informed ATC about a fire in the cabin and elected to divert to Castle AFB for an emergency landing. During the descent, the fire spread to the cargo compartment and the captain eventually decided to make an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane belly landed few miles from the airbase and came to rest in flames. While both crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Fuel leaking from the APU ignited in flight and set fire to the cargo stacked around the APU. Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the Company.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas AC-47D Spooky in Bien Hòa

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-48356

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14172/25617

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Bien Hòa Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was hit by enemy fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near the airport and while all seven crew members were rescued, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Bandar Abbas: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

EP-AEF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tehran – Bandar Abbas

MSN:

19289

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Bandar Abbas Airport, the airplane was too low for undetermined reason when it struck the ground and came to rest in flames few dozen yards short of runway. Eleven passengers were killed while 17 other occupants were evacuated. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47J in Phan Rang: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1967 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

99844

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cam Ranh Bay – Saigon

MSN:

16519/33267

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash in unknown circumstances near Phan Rang while completing an administrative service from Cam Ranh Bay to Saigon. All 25 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Leo Claude Hester,
Lt Cdr Robert George Kerr,
AN Francis Raymond Ferron,
ADR2 Cecil Leroy Chapman.

Crash of a Douglas RC-47P near Duc Phô: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-49201

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Nha Trang - Nha Trang

MSN:

15017/26462

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a reconnaissance mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed on a hilly terrain located 16 km south of Duc Phô. The wreckage was found two days later and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Ivel Doan Freeman,
Maj Leroy Preston Bohrer,
Cpt Roger Paul Richardson,
S/Sgt Prentice Fay Brenton,
T/Sgt Raymond Francis Leftwich,
A1C Chalres Dwayne Land,
A1C Daniel Cortez Reese.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Caravelas

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-ASS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site: