Crash of a DC-3 in Gainesville

Date & Time: May 16, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Strato Freight
Registration:
NC53011
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4276
YOM:
1942
Location:
Gainesville-Lee Gilmer
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The DC-3 cargo plane landed on a runway which was 4,200 feet long but the pilot made his approach too fast. Brakes were not used until within 300 feet of the end of the runway. The aircraft continued off the runway, down a rough incline and across a dirt road. It was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Source:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19470516-1

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Newark: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Union Southern Airlines
Registration:
NC53196
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Louisville – Newark
MSN:
19435
YOM:
1944
Location:
Newark
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was approaching Newark Airport for landing. The airplane was too far to the right for an approach to runway 06 and the tower controller radioed that he was in line for an approach to runway 28. The approach was then made to runway 28 which is 7,100 feet long with an additional usable 500 feet at the end. The approach was fast, however and contact was not made with the runway until within the last 2,000 feet. The aircraft continued off the runway and ran into a drainage ditch where a fire broke out, which was quickly extinguished.
Source:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19470504-0

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Shanghai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
B-141
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Location:
Shanghai-Longhua
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Shanghai-Longhua Airport, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an industrial area located near the airport. While both pilots were seriously injured, three people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Columbus: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1947 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC49657
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Macon – Columbus
MSN:
9066
YOM:
1943
Location:
Columbus
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
11091
Captain / Total hours on type:
1800.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2899
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 05, while at a height of 10 feet, the DC-3 was hit by a private Vultee BT-13 registered NC55312 and carrying one pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft climbed to a height of 150 feet and then stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot in the BT-13 to fly a standard left hand pattern in his approach to the airport and to Keep a diligent lookout for other traffic.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Masindi

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Pan African Air Charter
Registration:
ZS-AUK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Masindi
Western
Country:
Uganda
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed near Masindi and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Charleston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
US Airlines
Registration:
NC88804
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint Petersburg – Charleston
MSN:
9921
YOM:
1943
Location:
Charleston-Intl
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Charleston Airport, the crew was informed by ATC that he was misaligned. At this time, the aircraft was on the left of the glide and at an insufficient altitude. Shortly later, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,266 yards short of runway threshold. Both crew members were killed.

Ground accident of a Douglas DC-3A-197E in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC33646
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4125
YOM:
1941
Location:
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ground accident. Exact circumstances unknown. No casualties but aircraft written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-45-DL in League City

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Atlantic & Pacific Airlines
Registration:
NC59398
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9965
YOM:
1943
Location:
League City
Texas
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:
The pilot was performing a solo flight when both engines failed simultaneously. He was able to restart both of them but they failed again shortly later. In such situation, he decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in a field in League City and was written off. The pilot was unhurt.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Prague: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1947 at 1343 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OK-XDU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Prague - Prague
MSN:
13802
YOM:
1944
Location:
Prague-Ruzyne
Prague (Hlavní mesto Praha)
Country:
Czech Republic
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Prague-Ruzyne Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Kladno, northwest of the airport. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Jan Kuhl, pilot,
Josef Hainzel, pilot,
František Papácek, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Without giving any more details, Czech Authorities reported that the accident was caused by a faulty maintenance on part of ground technicians employed by the national company. Following this accident, all crew members followed a strike movement until February 18.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C-SIC3G near Lisbon: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1947 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAXQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris – Bordeaux – Lisbon
MSN:
13806/25251
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lisbon
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
1520
Aircraft flight hours:
130
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Paris Le Bourget Airport at 1045LT and Bordeaux-Mérignac at 1330LT. The crew started the descent to Lisbon Airport in poor weather conditions with low clouds and fog. While approaching from the west, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Peninha located in the Sintra Mountain Range, about 30 km west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the wreckage was found about 15 meters below the summit. A passenger was seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed, among them 8 members of the French Orchestra 'Ars Rediviva' directed by Claude and Claire Crussard.
Crew:
Oscar Porta, pilot,
Michel Eyquem, copilot,
René Montel, radio navigator,
R. Anglès, mechanic,
Anne-Marie Dupuy, stewardess.
Probable cause:
It appears that the radio guidance system at Lisbon Airport failed for about 15 minutes while the crew was approaching the city from the west. At that time, the visibility was reduced due to foggy conditions and the crew was unable to locate his position with certainty. Due to poor visibility and lack of ground assistance, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient.
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