Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

17241

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Naples – Luqa

MSN:

43343

YOM:

1944

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After takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a farmland. Three passengers and one worker on the ground were killed while 17 other occupants were injured. US Navy personnel and family members were on their way to Malta.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by an engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Port-au-Prince

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Haiti Air Force - Corps d'Aviation Haïti

Operator:

Registration:

5878

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

MSN:

16881/34137

YOM:

1945

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Just after takeoff, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a wasteland. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Silchar: 24 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CGI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Calcutta – Agartala – Silchar – Imphal

MSN:

20176

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

While descending to Silchar Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy turbulences. The airplane nosed down and eventually crashed in a field located 56 km west of Silchar Airport. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Structural failure occurred while the aircraft was flying through a thunderstorm. The failure originated in the port centre section and was due to loads which exceeded the ultimate design value for the structure. It was not possible to establish whether the pilot adopted the correct procedure for flying in turbulence.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK near Tobu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1959 at 1410 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CYH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Jorhat - Noklok - Jorhat

MSN:

12493

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Jorhat-Rowriah Airport on a supply-dropping mission to Noklok. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew informed ground he was returning to Jorhat. Shortly later, while cruising in low visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Naga Mountain Range. The wreckage was found near Tobu and two passengers were rescued while five other occupants were killed. The airplane was demolished.

Probable cause:

The aircraft crashed during an attempt by the pilot to clear high terrain under poor visibility conditions. He had previously descended to a low altitude in order to determine his position.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HJ243

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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While approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Brahmapoutre River, few km from the airfield. All occupants from the 11th Squadron were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL near Prado: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1959 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2070

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro – Salvador

MSN:

13822

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

En route from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near Prado, south Bahia. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed, among them Major-Brigadier Dionisio Cerqueira de Taunay who was travelling with his wife and both children on behalf of the Ministry of Defense.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK on Mt Osorno: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1959 at 1349 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

952

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago – Punta Arenas

MSN:

12976

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

En route from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the aircraft struck the slope of the volcano Osorno (2,652 meters high). The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a Chilean Army helicopter two days later. All seven occupants were killed in the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK Dakota C.4 at Sungai Besi AFB

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1959 at 1615 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KJ810

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors: