Topham - Topham

On December 17, 1943 at 12:00 AM, Topham - Topham experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Topham, Canton Island All Kiribati.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

9 people were known to be on board, 9 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was performing a local trip around Canton Island following maintenance. While flying along the shore at a too low altitude (about 30 feet), the aircraft hit a tree with its right wing that was partially sheared off. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed in flames some 400 metres further on. All nine occupants were killed. Crew: S/Sgt Walter W. Gebhardt, 2nd Lt George W. Gee, 2nd Lt John A. Harcharik Jr., Cpl Charles H. Lohman, 2nd Lt William A. Prater, T/Sgt Leslie A. Roberts Jr., Pfc Joseph F. Scogna, 2nd Lt Morris M. Steinberg 1.

Aircraft reference details include registration 43-30739, MSN 13890, year of manufacture 1943.