Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Southbay

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Waggoner Aircraft
Registration:
N9025R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4498
YOM:
1942
Location:
Southbay
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while landing on wet and soft ground near Southbay, Florida. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Nosed down upon landing after the pilot selected and unsuitable terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 off Alexandria: 18 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Nile Delta Air Services
Registration:
SU-AZM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Alexandria - Um Barka
MSN:
14406/25851
YOM:
1944
Location:
Alexandria
Alexandria
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Alexandria Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Mediterranean Sea. All 18 occupants were killed, among them few American citizens. They were en route to the Um Barka Oil Field.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 into the Gulf of Mexico: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1978 at 1754 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Evergreen Air of Montana
Registration:
N74Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami - San Juan
MSN:
14508/25953
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gulf of Mexico
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Miami to San Juan, the airplane suffered a major electrical failure. The crew lost his orientation and flew to the west over the Gulf of Mexico. Eventually, the captain elected to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea about 125 miles south of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The crew of the merchant ship 'St Mary' was able to rescue three people while a crew member was killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was ditched after the crew became lost/disoriented following the failure of the electrical system. A forced landing off airport on water was completed after the airplane became low on fuel. The exact cause of the electrical failure could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-277C in the Atlantic Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1978 at 1243 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
N407D
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Havana
MSN:
2244
YOM:
1940
Flight number:
AAL902
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
15227
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport runway 09L at 1129LT on a positioning flight to Havana, Cuba, to pick up 21 US citizens. While flying over the Florida Strait at an altitude of 6,000 feet in relative good weather conditions, the crew encountered difficulties to maintain radio contact with Cuban ATC. Thus, messages were relayed by the crew of another airplane flying higher. Eight minutes after the radio contact was properly established, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended three days later, on Sep 24, as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Flores

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
TG-ATA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Flores-Mundo Maya (Santa Elena)
Petén
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off, the airplane suffered a bird strike. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swampy area located past the runway end. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Bird strike on takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3R off Cockburn Town: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Dominican Services
Registration:
N1546A
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
20191
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cockburn Town
All Turks and Caicos Islands
Country:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cockburn Town Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane caught fire and crashed into the sea. A crew member was killed while two other occupants were injured. The exact source of fire in the cabin remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in San Vicente del Caguán: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1978 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1351
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Neiva - San Vicente del Caguán
MSN:
42958
YOM:
1946
Location:
San Vicente del Caguán
Caquetá
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While descending to San Vicente del Caguán Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with low clouds. At an altitude of 6,800 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Granada covered by clouds. The aircraft was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Zouar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Air Tchad
Registration:
TT-EAB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
N'Djamena - Zouar
MSN:
9157
YOM:
1943
Location:
Zouar
Tibesti
Country:
Chad
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Zouar Airport, the twin engine airplane was shot down by a SAM-7 missile and crashed in a desert area. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Scabello, pilot,
Mr. N'Gama, navigator.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a SAM-7 missile.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-201D off Río Grande

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1978 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Aero Virgin Islands
Registration:
N15598
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - San Juan
MSN:
2258
YOM:
1940
Location:
Río Grande
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3107
Captain / Total hours on type:
965.00
Circumstances:
En route from Charlotte Amalie to San Juan, while flying along the east coast of Puerto Rico, the left engine failed. The crew was attempting to feather the propeller when the right engine lost power. The captain reduced his altitude and ditched the airplane about 1,000 feet of the Río Grande district. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and malfunction during normal cruise due to mismanagement of fuel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel starvation,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Inadequate supervision of flight crew,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft,
- Failed to use the checklist,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Both fuel selectors on the right main tank that was empty,
- Fuel available in the left main tank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Jimma: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1977 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tippi - Jimma
MSN:
6069
YOM:
1942
Location:
Jimma
Oromia
Country:
Ethiopia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
31338
Circumstances:
While descending to Jimma Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds, rain showers and limited visibility. At an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport and crashed. All five occupants were killed.
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