Miami – Willemstad – Paramaribo
Flight / Schedule
Miami – Willemstad – Paramaribo
Aircraft
Douglas DC-6Registration
N3493F
MSN
44630/567
Year of Manufacture
1955
Date
May 5, 1978 at 06:59 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Paramaribo-Zanderij Para
Region
South America • Suriname
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On May 5, 1978 at 06:59 AM, Miami – Willemstad – Paramaribo experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-6, operated by SLM Surinam Airways - Surinaamse Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Paramaribo-Zanderij Para.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in a visibility reduced to 200 meters, the four engine airplane struck trees and crashed 1,800 meters short of runway 10 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.
Aircraft reference details include registration N3493F, MSN 44630/567, year of manufacture 1955.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
On final approach to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in a visibility reduced to 200 meters, the four engine airplane struck trees and crashed 1,800 meters short of runway 10 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
3
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Miami – Willemstad – Paramaribo
Flight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
South America • Suriname
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
The four-engine aircraft was performing a flight from the US to Casablanca via South America (probably Natal), on behalf of the Air Transport Command. The on board delegation was flying to Morocco to take part to a conference. Rumors of a bomb on board caused the crew to divert to Port of Spain. A screwdriver was found in the hatch containing the IFF device but no trace of a bomb. While flying over Suriname, the aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and crashed in an isolated area located 30 miles northeast of Paramaribo. All 35 occupants were killed, among them Eric Mowbray Night, author and creator of the fictional collie 'Lassie'. He was Major by the US Army Special Services as well. Two identical C-54 planes traveling just 1/2 hour before and after this plane noticed anti-aircraft fire coming from what appeared to be an enemy submarine. Crew (TWA): Benjamin Hart Dally Jr., pilot, Theodore M. Wagner, copilot, Samuel S. Dorrance, flight surgeon, Everett Lee Bacon, copilot, Jason E. Voss, navigator, James M. Kane, navigator, Clyde E. Quisenberry, flight engineer, Leonard La Frank, radio operator, Leo J. Moriarty, radio operator, Eugene A. Dempf, flight purser. Passengers: Maj Eric Mowbray Knight, Cpt Albert L. Seeman, Cpt Basil D. Gallagher, 1st Lt Charles W. Campbell, 1st Lt Peter D. Barnhart, 1st Lt Donald C. Martin, 2nd Lt Carl A. Matteo, 2nd Lt Robert B. Walker, 2nd Lt John T. Girling, 2nd Lt Thomas L. Gallagher, 2nd Lt Max Solomon, F/O Charles S. Shively, S/Sgt Russell A. Baughman, S/Sgt Ellis H. Roberts Jr., S/Sgt Heyward O. Wylie, S/Sgt Roger M. Stoflet, Sgt Oscar Spahr Jr., Sgt Charles S. Roberts Jr., Percy E. Foxworth, Harold D. Haberfeld, William Hodson, James W. Seeger, Charles Howell Brown, Osmon E. Henryson, Morris Lewis. Source: http://www.lassiecomehome.info/id8.html
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crashed in a field 96 km from Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport. The occupant fate remains unknown.
United States Navy - USN
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Crashed on take off, killing all six crewmen.
United Airlines
Douglas DC-6
Flight 608 departed Los Angeles, California, at 1023 with its destination Chicago, Illinois, to cruise at 19,000 feet according to visual flight rules. Routine position reports were made over Fontana, Daggett and Silver Lake, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Saint George, Utah. During the latter report, the flight indicated that it estimated passing over Bryce Canyon, Utah, at 1222. At 1221 Flight 608 reported that a fire had been detected in the baggage compartment which the crew was unable to extinguish. The report added that the cabin was filled with smoke and that the flight was attempting to make an emergency-landing at Bryce Canyon Airport. Shortly thereafter the flight again reported that the “tail is going out--we may get down and we may not.” At 1226 another transmission was received from the flight indicating that it was going into the “best place” available. One minute later the flight reported “we may make it--approaching a strip.” No further contact was had from the flight. Witnesses who observed the aircraft as it was approaching Bryce Canyon from approximately 20 miles southwest first observed what appeared to be white smoke streaming from the aircraft, followed later by dense black smoke. The first witnesses who observed fire in the bottom of the aircraft at approximately the center-section were located approximately 15 miles south of Bryce Canyon. Until shortly before the moment of impact, the aircraft appeared to be under normal control; however, no witnesses were located who observed the crash.
American Airlines
Douglas DC-6
Enroute from San Francisco to Chicago, the crew informed ATC that a fire erupted in the rear compartment of the aircraft and decided to divert to Gallup Airport for an emergency landing. The aircraft was difficult to maneuver and landed in flames. After it came to a halt, all 25 occupants were quickly disembarked and helped by local rescuers before the aircraft being totally destroyed by fire.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij
Douglas DC-6
The crew was engaged in a local training flight on this brand new aircraft that was delivered to KLM last April 22. After several touch and goes completed without any issues, the instructor decided to perform a takeoff with the engine number one voluntarily inoperative. Ready for departure on runway 23, the crew increased power on all four engines and started the takeoff procedure. At a speed of 137 km/h, the captain started the rotation and the nose wheel left the ground. At a speed of 169 km/h, the instructor decided to reduce the power on the engine number one and pull the power lever to the back. At this moment, the aircraft was still on the ground and slightly deviated from the runway center line to the left. The captain tried to counteract this with the tail when the right main gear left the ground. Due to the presence of obstacles ahead, the instructor decided to increase power on the engine number one that oversped. The left wing dropped and hit a rocky wall, causing the aircraft to stall and crash into a ditch. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
