Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Gemena

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBH
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43095
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 29 at Gemena Airport, during the last segment, the four engine airplane lost height and struck the ground 100 meters short of runway threshold. The airplane went out of control and crash landed. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft lost height on short final after being caught by downdrafts.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Gaborone: 78 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1974 at 0235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A2-ZER
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gaborone - Lilongwe
MSN:
27242
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
80
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
78
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the crew encountered problems with all four engines that lost power and backfired. Unable to gain sufficient height, the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames 3,600 meters past the runway end, two minutes after liftoff. A crew member and five passengers were rescued while 78 other occupants were killed. Most of the passengers were employees of South African Mining Company returning home.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all four engines lost power during initial climb due to fuel contamination. Investigations revealed that the aircraft was refueled with Avgas but confusion by ground personnel at Gaborone Airport caused Jet A1 to be transferred in an Avgas fuel tank. This caused the aircraft to be fueled with Avgas contaminated with 25-30% of Jet A1.

Ground fire of a Douglas DC-4 in Lago Agrio

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HC-ANP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22149
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
20413
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was destroyed by fire at Lago Agrio Airport. The mishap occurred in unknown circumstances at an unknown date during 1969. Some unofficial reports says the fire was intentionally set.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 into the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3821
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Halifax - Santa Maria
MSN:
10356
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
17500
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Halifax to Santa Maria, Azores Islands, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three crew members was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Antananarivo: 42 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1967 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5R-MAD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Antananarivo - Diego Suarez
MSN:
42991
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, one of the engine caught fire and exploded. The airplane stalled and crashed in a prairie located about 720 meters past the runway end. Three crew members and 39 passengers were killed, among them Albert Sylla, the Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs. The three crew members who were killed were Mr. Chevrier, captain, Mr. Turin, mechanic and Mr. Goirand, radio navigator.
Probable cause:
Explosion of an engine at a critical stage of flight, just after liftoff, caused the aircraft to stall. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Tamanrasset: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1967 at 2014 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7T-VAU
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Algiers – Ghardaïa – Hassi Messaoud – In Amenas – Djanet – Tamanrasset
MSN:
3065
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a flight from Algiers to Tamanrasset with intermediate stops in Ghardaïa, Hassi Messaoud, In Amenas and Djanet. It was scheduled that some tourists should embark at Djanet Airport but for unknown reason, no one embarked or disembarked at Djanet. While approaching Tamanrasset Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a mountain slope located 8 km from the airport and exploded. The wreckage was found about 300 meters below the summit and the aircraft was completely destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Four passengers were seriously injured (two Algerians and two Swiss) while all 35 other occupants were killed, among them Swiss and French tourists.
The Swiss citizens killed were:
Peter Messikommer,
Reinhard Wyss,
Hans Grieshaber,
Christina Grieshaber,
Wilhelm Leisinger,
Othmar Lienhard,
Fritz Matter,
Emma Holenstein,
Jacques Bachmann,
Werner Luethy,
Raymond Dorner,
Gilberte Dorner,
Anne-Marie Lombard,
Michel Sechy,
Mrs. Sechy,
Juerg Sechy.
Those who survived were:
Jacques Lombard,
Aurelio Fogacci.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1966 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá - Barranquilla
MSN:
42929
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
AV870
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3244.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1965
Circumstances:
Flight 870 was a scheduled domestic cargo flight from Bogotá-El Dorado International Airport to Barranquilla-Soledad Airport. The aircraft took off from runway 30 at 0315 hours local time. According to some witnesses it appeared to lift off with difficulty opposite the control tower and when it reached the airport boundary the crew announced that they were returning to land. The Control Tower asked why they were returning but received no reply. After the accident tower control personnel stated that during take-off the noise of the engines was louder than usual, as if more than one engine was overspeeding, and that when the aircraft started to turn they observed a sudden flash following which they lost visual contact with the aircraft. Shortly thereafter the aircraft struck some trees 400 m from the "San Ramón" property, in a field belonging to the "Laguna Vieja" estate, between the roads leading to Funza and Engativá. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Material failure consisting in fatigue failure of a number of teeth of the pinion of the governor control unit, which was jammed against the rack in the "up" position and therefore set for maximum rpm, thus causing the engine to overspeed. This would be in keeping with the fact that the dome ring was at maximum low pitch setting, i.e. high rpm and a runaway propeller on take-off. Was considered as a contributing factor the faulty supervision by the Company. This consisted in briefing the pilot-in-command of the aircraft to make a night flight when he was not qualified for DC-4s, since he was still undergoing training for conversion to L-759.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Stanleyville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1964 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-DEP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stanleyville – Kamina
MSN:
18384
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Aircraft flight hours:
48113
Circumstances:
The aircraft,was chartered by Air Congo and was carrying out a non-scheduled domestic flight Kamina - Stanleyville (now Kisangani) - Kamina. Eleven passengers embarked at Stanleyville and the aircraft started its take-off run at 1920 hours local time. After approximately 900 m the pilot suddenly saw, in the darkness, an empty fuel drum on the runway. In an attempt to avoid it, he veered left by braking violently on the left wheels. In spite of this manoeuvre, the nose wheel hit the drum. The forward part of the aircraft was lifted off the ground, aided perhaps by the pilot's manoeuvre in attempting take-off. By that time, the aircraft had attained a speed at which take-off would have been possible under normal conditions. Unfortunately, following the shock the drum bounced, fell back on the runway, bounced again and the aircraft in a nose high attitude caught the drum with the right stabilizer. Part of the stabilizer was torn away and fell on to the runway while the drum was tossed on to the edge of the clearway. The aircraft continued further, now deflected to the right by the unbalanced right stabilizer, which was probably completely distorted. The crew immediately retracted the landing gear. After being airborne about 500 m, the aircraft, out of vertical control, dived into the clearway at an angle of about 300, bounced up, fell back 50 m farther, skidded on its belly and finally came to a stop after a swing of 900 to the right. During that swing, the passengers in the rear of the cabin were thrown out of the aircraft through the torn-off cargo door and through the open cabin door. Fire broke out immediately after the aircraft came to a stop. The accident occurred on the north clearway of runway 28, about 150 m from the runway end. All three crew members and three passengers were killed, eight other occupants were injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was brought about by impact with a fuel drum which caused partial destruction of the.right elevator, thus rendering the aircraft uncontrollable in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Belém

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10506
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, at V2 speed, the crew decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest into trees. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on behalf of the crew who failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and started the takeoff procedure with the controls locked. The crew realized that the controls were still locked once the V2 speed was reached and immediately initiated an emergency braking procedure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Boston: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1964 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N384
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New York – Windsor Locks – Boston
MSN:
18379
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
SL012
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
814.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5824
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4340
Aircraft flight hours:
40233
Circumstances:
Slick Airways Flight 12, a Douglas C-54B-DC, N384, operating as a scheduled cargo flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, New York, to Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, with a stop at Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, crashed at 0821:35, March 10, 1964, while making an instrument approach to Runway 4R at Logan International Airport. The aircraft crashed in a lumberyard approximately 7,000 feet from the displaced threshold of Runway 4R and on the extended centerline of that runway. Boston weather at the time was: scattered clouds at 400 feet, overcast at 700 feet, surface visibility 1-1/2 miles in moderate sleet and fog, wind 050 degrees (.JPG">), 22 knots, gusts to 28 knots, temperature 32 degrees, dewpoint 32 degrees. The captain, first officer, and freight handler, the only occupants, were killed. The aircraft was demolished by impact forces and the ensuing fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was loss of balancing forces on the horizontal surface of the aircraft's empennage, due to ice accretion, causing the aircraft to pitch nose down at an altitude too low to effect recovery.
Final Report: