Manila – Hong Kong
Flight / Schedule
Manila – Hong Kong
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
VR-HDG
MSN
20576
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
Cathay Pacific AirwaysDate
February 24, 1949 at 11:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Hong Kong-Kai Tak Hong Kong
Region
Asia • China
Coordinates
22.3316°, 114.2031°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On February 24, 1949 at 11:00 AM, Manila – Hong Kong experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Cathay Pacific Airways, with the event recorded near Hong Kong-Kai Tak Hong Kong.
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.
23 people were known to be on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 19, passenger fatalities: 19, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. While approaching Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport from the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was very limited. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the Braemar Reservoir located 3 km southwest of the runway 31 threshold. All 23 occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration VR-HDG, MSN 20576, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 22.3316°, 114.2031°.
Fatalities
Total
23
Crew
4
Passengers
19
Other
0
Crash Summary
While approaching Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport from the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was very limited. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the Braemar Reservoir located 3 km southwest of the runway 31 threshold. All 23 occupants were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
19
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 23
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Manila – Hong Kong
Operator
Cathay Pacific AirwaysFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Asia • China
Aircraft Details
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