Amsterdam – Leeuwarden – Groningen

On December 27, 1947 at 12:40 PM, Amsterdam – Leeuwarden – Groningen experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Leeuwarden Friesland.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

15 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 15 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. While approaching Leeuwarden, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and a cloud base at 100 meters. Unable to locate the airport, the captain decided to make a go around and increased engine power. Shortly later, while flying over the city of Leeuwarden, the aircraft hit with its left wing the church of Saint Bonifatius which is 70 meters high. Three meters of the left wing were sheared off. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in a field. The aircraft skidded for several yards and hit three successive ditches before coming to rest with both propellers sheared off. All 15 occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration PH-TCV, MSN 12309, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 53.1999°, 5.7971°.