63
Flight / Schedule
63
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
63
MSN
6034
Year of Manufacture
1942
Date
November 19, 1943 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Kunming Yunnan
Region
Asia • China
Coordinates
25.0899°, 102.9152°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 19, 1943 at 12:00 AM, 63 experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC, with the event recorded near Kunming Yunnan.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was completing a cargo flight to Kunming-Wujiaba Airport. On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to localize the airport due to heavy rain falls. In addition to a high workload in the cockpit due to the preceding factors, crew encountered technical problems with the landing gear that could not be deployed properly. The captain decided to abort the landing procedure, increased the engine power and completed a low pass over the airport before attempting a second approach. In a certain confusion, he followed the wrong heading and continued bound to the west. Few minutes later, the aircraft hit a mountain slope near the airport and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration 63, MSN 6034, year of manufacture 1942.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 25.0899°, 102.9152°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
3
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was completing a cargo flight to Kunming-Wujiaba Airport. On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to localize the airport due to heavy rain falls. In addition to a high workload in the cockpit due to the preceding factors, crew encountered technical problems with the landing gear that could not be deployed properly. The captain decided to abort the landing procedure, increased the engine power and completed a low pass over the airport before attempting a second approach. In a certain confusion, he followed the wrong heading and continued bound to the west. Few minutes later, the aircraft hit a mountain slope near the airport and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Flight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Asia • China
