Rio de Janeiro – Paramaribo – Memphis

The crew started the descent to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in poor weather conditions when the four engine airplane struck a hill (1,716 feet high) located 68 km southeast of its destination. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude.

Flight / Schedule

Rio de Janeiro – Paramaribo – Memphis

Registration

52-1055

MSN

43964

Year of Manufacture

1952

Date

May 3, 1972 at 06:00 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Paramaribo Paramaribo City District

Region

South America • Suriname

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On May 3, 1972 at 06:00 PM, Rio de Janeiro – Paramaribo – Memphis experienced a crash involving Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Paramaribo Paramaribo City District.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 11, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew started the descent to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in poor weather conditions when the four engine airplane struck a hill (1,716 feet high) located 68 km southeast of its destination. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude.

Aircraft reference details include registration 52-1055, MSN 43964, year of manufacture 1952.

Fatalities

Total

11

Crew

11

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew started the descent to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in poor weather conditions when the four engine airplane struck a hill (1,716 feet high) located 68 km southeast of its destination. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

11

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 11

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Rio de Janeiro – Paramaribo – Memphis

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

South America • Suriname

Aircraft Details

Registration

52-1055

MSN

43964

Year of Manufacture

1952

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