List of accidents and incidents involving the DC-3 in 1971

This is a list of accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-3^A that have taken place in 1971, including aircraft based on the DC-3 airframe such as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Lisunov Li-2. Military accidents are included; and hijackings and incidents of terrorism are covered, although acts of war involving military aircraft are outside the scope of this list.

January

• On 4 January, Douglas C-47A N7 of the Federal Aviation Administration crashed on approach to La Guardia Airport, New York. The aircraft was on a flight from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The cause of the accident was windshear.^[1]
• On 22 January, a Douglas DC-3 of Ethiopian Airlines was hijacked on a flight from Bahar Dar Airport to Gondar Airport by four Eritrean hijackers. The aircraft was forced to land at Benghazi Airport.^[2]

February

• On 14 February, Douglas C-47 N14273 of Patterson McCarthy Leasing crashed on approach to Shawnee Municipal Airport, Shawnee, Oklahoma following the failure of the port engine. All 29 people on board survived. The aircraft was on a local sightseeing flight.^[3]
• On 19 February, Douglas C-47B N99H was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident at an airport in Houston, Texas. The cause was a maintenance error which cause the starboard brakes to bind.^[4]
• On 25 February, Douglas DC-3 LV-JTC of the Automobil Club Argentino was damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at Tucumán Airport.^[5]

March

• On 2 March, Douglas C-47 HC-ALC of Transportes Aéreos Orientales was damaged beyond economic repair.^[6]
• On 24 March, Douglas C-47B N49319 of Vanderpool Flying Service was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Red Devil Airport, Alaska. The aircraft was on an executive flight from Bethel Airport.^[7]
• On 26 March, Douglas C-47A VT-ATT of Jamair crashed into a hill near Hashimara whilst on a flight from Guwahati Airport to Bagdogra Airport. All 15 people on board were killed.^[8]

April

• On 5 April, Douglas C-47A N57372 of Vinair was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Beef Island Airport. The aircraft was operating an international cargo flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[9]
• On 6 April, Douglas R4D-6 5Y-DCA of the Kenya Department of Civil Aviation was damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at an airport in Nairobi.^[10]
• On 15 April, Douglas C-47A 293246 of the Philippine Air Force crashed shortly after take-off from Floridablanca Airfield following the failure of the starboard engine. All 40 people on board were killed. The aircraft was operating a military flight to Manila Airport. The accident was the 2nd worst involving the DC-3 at the time, and is the 3rd worst as of 2010.^[11]

May

• On 4 May, Douglas C-47 TAM-22 of TAM - Transporte Aéreo Militar crashed shortly after take-off from El Alto Airport, La Paz on a cargo flight to El Jovi Airport.^[12]

June

• On 3 June, Douglas DC-3 PH-MOA of Moormanair crashed on landing at Southend Airport. The aircraft was operating an international non-scheduled passenger flight to the Netherlands carrying supporters of Ajax Football Club when an oil leak was discovered shortly after take-off and it was decided to return to Southend. The aircraft overran the runway on landing and landed up alongside the railway line beyond the airport boundary.^[13][14]
• On 15 June, Douglas C-47A EP-ADG of the Air Taxi Co was damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at Shiraz Airport.^[15]
• On 28 June, Douglas C-47 N90627 of Lake Riverside Estates crashed on take-off from Shelter Cove Airport, California on a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight to San Jose International Airport. Seventeen of the 24 people on board were killed. The cause of the accident was that flight was attempted with the rudder and elevator gust locks in place. Inadequate pre-flight inspection was a contributory factor.^[16]
• On 30 June, Douglas C-47B XW-TDI of Lao Airlines was written off in an accident at Ban Huoeisay Airport.^[17][18]

July

• On 16 July, Douglas C-47B N74844 of New England Propellor Service crashed on approach to Bradley International Airport, Connecticut. The aircraft was on a ferry flight to Beverly Municipal Airport, Massachusetts when an engine lost power shortly after take-off due to water in the fuel. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was attempting to return to Bradley Airport.^[19]
• On 24 July, Douglas C-47A 6V-AAP of Air Ivoire crashed into a hill shortly after take-off from Bamako Airport. The aircraft was operating a scheduled passenger flight. All six people on board were killed.^[20]

August

• On 21 or 27 August, Douglas C-47 BJ923 of the Indian Air Force was reported to have been written off in an accident.^[21]
• On 22 August, Douglas DC-3A B-304 of Air Vietnam was reported to have been written off at Kampot Airport.^[22]

September

A Royal Australian Air Force C-47

• On 6 September, Douglas C-47B A65-73 of the Royal Australian Air Force was damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at Townsville Airport.^[23] As of 2010, the aircraft is on static display as part of the Beck Collection, Mareeba, Queensland.^[24]
• On 9 September, Douglas R4D-6 8P-AAC of Carib West Airways crashed into a mountain in Guadeloupe.^[25]
• On 12 September, Douglas C-47A HC-AUX of TAME Ecuador crashed at Cerro de Hojas.^[26]
• On 16 September, Douglas C-47A 4W-ABI of Yemen Airlines crashed at Preševo. The aircraft was operating a non-scheduled passenger flight which had departed from Beograd Airport. All five people on board were killed.^[27]
• On 28 September, Douglas DC-3A PP-CBV of Cruizero do Sul crashed on approach to Sena Madureira Airport killing all 32 people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight to President Médici Airport when an engine failed shortly after take-off from Sena Madureira.^[28]

October

• On 2 October, Douglas DC-3A N1981W of Island Gem Enterprises ditched 20 miles (32 km) off Sint Maarten. The aircraft was operating a ferry flight from Alexander Hamilton International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport when it ran out of fuel. All three people on board survived.^[29]
• On 17 October, Douglas C-47A HK-595 of Aerolíneas TAO crashed on take-off from Eduardo Falla Solano Airport, San Vicente del Caguán, killing all 19 people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight although it was only certified to carry freight and three crew. It was also overloaded by 311 kilograms (686 lb).^[30]

November

C-47 in USAF colours

• On 3 November, Douglas C-47B HC-ANJ of Compagnia Aéreo Amazonas crashed into a hill at Nevado Santo Isabel, killing all three people on board. The aircraft was being ferried to El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá. The wreckage was not discovered until 6 January 1972.^[31]
• On 10 November Douglas EC-47Q 43-48009 of the United States Air Force was substantially damaged in a take-off accident at Kamphaeng Saen Air Base, Nakhon Pathom. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.^[32]

December

• On 15 December, Douglas C-47A BJ622 of the Indian Air Force was reported to have been written off at an unknown location.^[33]
• On 17 December, Douglas C-47A BJ662 of the Indian Air Force was reported to have been written off in an accident at Machuka, killing all five people on board.^[34]
• On 17 December, Douglas C-47 HJ244 of the Indian Air Force was reported to have been damaged beyond economic repair in an accident at Machuka.^[35]
• On 21 December, Douglas DC-3 XW-TFC of Lao Airlines crashed at Ban Boum. Both crew were killed, but the single passenger survived.^[36]

See also

• List of accidents and incidents involving the DC-3 in the 1970s

References

Notes

^Note A Military versions of the DC-3 were known as C-47 Skytrain, C-48, C-49, C-50, C-51, C-52, C-53 Skytrooper, C-68, C-84, C-117 Super Dakota and YC-129 by the United States Army Air Forces and as the R4D by the United States Navy. In Royal Air Force (and other British Commonwealth air forces') service, these aircraft were known as Dakotas.