Prestwick – Atcham
Flight / Schedule
Prestwick – Atcham
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
41-7803
MSN
4308
Year of Manufacture
1942
Date
August 23, 1942 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mt Moel y Gaer Denbighshire
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
53.1463°, -3.2740°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On August 23, 1942 at 12:00 AM, Prestwick – Atcham experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Mt Moel y Gaer Denbighshire.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
13 people were known to be on board, 12 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 92.3%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 9, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was performing a personnel transport from Prestwick to RAF Atcham on behalf of the 64th Transport Group. While flying northeast of Denbigh, the pilot encountered cloudy conditions and the visibility was poor. While flying too low, the aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Moel y Gaer located near Bodfari and was destroyed upon impact. A passenger was seriously injured while all 12 other occupants were killed. Crew (64th TG): 1st Lt Charles Edward Williams, pilot, 1st Lt Richard Pazder, navigator, 2nd Lt Theodore F. Furness Jr., 2nd Lt Morris B. Penner. Passengers: Pvt Harry R. Adams, T/Sgt Jonathan B. Akers, T/Sgt Robert E. Anderson, T/Sgt Isreal Gross, T/Sgt Herman A. Hermes, T/Sgt Raymond S. Nash, T/Sgt Jesse L. Patterson, T/Sgt George A. Lesikar.
Aircraft reference details include registration 41-7803, MSN 4308, year of manufacture 1942.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 53.1463°, -3.2740°.
Fatalities
Total
12
Crew
4
Passengers
8
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was performing a personnel transport from Prestwick to RAF Atcham on behalf of the 64th Transport Group. While flying northeast of Denbigh, the pilot encountered cloudy conditions and the visibility was poor. While flying too low, the aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Moel y Gaer located near Bodfari and was destroyed upon impact. A passenger was seriously injured while all 12 other occupants were killed. Crew (64th TG): 1st Lt Charles Edward Williams, pilot, 1st Lt Richard Pazder, navigator, 2nd Lt Theodore F. Furness Jr., 2nd Lt Morris B. Penner. Passengers: Pvt Harry R. Adams, T/Sgt Jonathan B. Akers, T/Sgt Robert E. Anderson, T/Sgt Isreal Gross, T/Sgt Herman A. Hermes, T/Sgt Raymond S. Nash, T/Sgt Jesse L. Patterson, T/Sgt George A. Lesikar.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
9
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
92.3%
Known people on board: 13
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Prestwick – Atcham
Flight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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