Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Shere

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1946 at 0845 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PH-TBO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam – Croydon
MSN:
13638
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft entered the London Control Zone when QBI conditions (compulsory IFR conditions) were in force. When the pilot estimated that he flew over the Croydon MF beacon, he had actually passed it two or three minutes earlier. He continued to fly on a westerly course for three or four minutes until receiving instructions that he was next to land, and that the landing direction was 120 degrees M. The aircraft then began to descend again and after receiving several QDM's the pilot turned on to the course for Croydon. The pilot levelled out at an indicated altitude of 1,200 feet and the undercarriage was lowered. Almost immediately after, whilst still flying in cloud, the aircraft struck the tops of trees and crashed. The pilot had set the altimeter to the sea level pressure instead of airfield pressure. Consequently the aircraft's height would be about 230 feet lower than that indicated by the altimeter.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19461106-0
Probable cause:
Flying into high ground in conditions of low cloud and poor visibility. This must be attributed to errors on the part of the pilot who, preparatory to landing at Croydon Airport in QBI conditions.
Failed to navigate his aircraft with sufficient degree of care to avoid high ground when descending through cloud.
During the descent misinterpreted the height of the aircraft as indicated by his altimeter.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Moscow: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1946 at 1855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4207
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vilnius – Moscow
MSN:
184 209 08
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1290
Circumstances:
On approach to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, the crew was instructed to stack over the area due to poor weather conditions. Four times, the pilot attempted to land, but was forced to make a go around. After 75 minutes, the pilot informed ATC he was short of fuel and was assisted because one of the radio-compass was out of service. On final approach, both engines failed simultaneously and the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was written off. Most of the passenger were flying to Moscow to take part in celebrations of the October Revolution.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Moscow: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1946 at 1830 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L946
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Riga – Moscow
MSN:
14572/26017
YOM:
16
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
1675
Circumstances:
On approach to Moscow, the crew was instructed to stack over the airport due to poor weather conditions. More than two hours later, the crew informed ATC that he was short of fuel and received the permission to attempt to land. On final approach, by low visibility due to foggy conditions, the captain was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. The airplane climbed to a height of 15 meters and then stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 700 meters short of runway threshold. Thirteen passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were injured. Most of the passenger were flying to Moscow to take part in celebrations of the October Revolution.

Crash of an AAC.1 Toucan in Saint-Léger-la-Montagne : 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1946 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-BCAD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Paris – Toulouse
MSN:
284
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
While approaching Limoges, the crew requested to ATC if there was any icing conditions in the area, and it was reported that icing could be encountered between the altitude of 1,000 and 1,200 meters. Few minutes later, while flying at this altitude, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located in Saint-Léger-la-Montagne. Three wounded passengers were evacuated while 21 other occupants, among them all three crew members, were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Mathurin, pilot,
Mr. Couvidou, radio navigator,
Mr. Virly, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an excessive accumulation of ice on all fuselage, wings, stabs and tail.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashauz

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1946 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4278
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Tashauz
MSN:
184 229 07
YOM:
4
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
869
Circumstances:
During the last segment, while at a height of 10 meters, the crew reduced power on both engines when a fire erupted on the left wing. The pilot in command completed the landing and after touchdown, made an emergency brake procedure. When the aircraft came to a halt, all 16 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were unhurt. The aircraft burnt for about 12-14 minutes and was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the person in charge to refuel the aircraft in Ashgabat Airport failed to properly close the left fuel tank cap. This was possible because the fuel filter was not correctly set in the fuel line. This led fuel to leak in flight and on approach, the fuel spilled along the wing root, over the wing and eventually caught fire while in contact with high temperature elements of the left engine.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-14 LodeStar in Catanduva

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PBQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2115
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to make an emergency landing in Catanduva four days prior to the accident, while flying in stormy weather. The aircraft was repaired but crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Laramie: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1946 at 0057 LT
Registration:
NC38942
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oakland – Cheyenne – Newark
MSN:
12971
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
3222
Captain / Total hours on type:
840.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1500
Aircraft flight hours:
1861
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew was informed that weather conditions in Cheyenne were poor and was rerouted to Laramie. Unfortunately, upon arrival, weather conditions were not so good with light snow and a visibility of two miles. The captain decided to attempt to land but was unable to locate the airport and passed over without seeing it. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 75 feet and in a left bank of 70°, the aircraft hit the ground with its left wing, crashed and burned. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the above, the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in maneuvering the aircraft at a dangerously low altitude under extremely adverse weather conditions in an attempt to land. A contributing factor was the negligence of the pilot in planning a flight into an area in which adverse weather conditions were forecast without making adequate provisions for a suitable alternate airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Yoro: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
La Ceiba – Tegucigalpa
MSN:
1133
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near Yoro. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Manila

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PI-C92
Flight Phase:
MSN:
12672
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Alexandria

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1946 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC88729
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – Tampa – Atlanta – Washington DC – Newark
MSN:
18396
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
EA564
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11065
Captain / Total hours on type:
1227.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3032
Copilot / Total hours on type:
79
Aircraft flight hours:
2045
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Atlanta Airport at 2027LT bound for Newark with an intermediate stop in Washington-National Airport. While flying on airway Green 6 at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew was informed by ATC that a landing in Washington was not possible due to poor weather conditions and that he should proceed direct to Newark. Two hours later, the crew received new instructions from ATC: as weather conditions improved in Washington, a landing was therefore possible. The crew modified his route and started the descent to the National Airport. Due to low visibility, the first attempt to land was abandoned and the crew completed a go around. On the second approach, while at a height of 200 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of a small hill, bounced, snatched two telephone poles and crashed in flames near Alexandria, about 6 miles southwest of the airport. Quickly on the scene, the rescue teams were able to evacuate all 26 occupants, some of them injured, while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain flight at or above the minimum safe altitude for an instrument approach to Washington-National Airport.