Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Jet One Express

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, the crew completed the landing normally at San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marin Airport. While taxiing to the ramp, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Brooks Fuel

The flight crew was delivering a cargo of fuel in the four-engine airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 125, when the airplane lost power in the number 2 engine. The captain elected to shut the engine down and return to the airport. He said during the shutdown procedure, the engine caught fire, and that the fire extinguishing system was activated. The crew thought the fire was out, but it erupted again, and the captain elected to land the airplane gear-up on the snow covered tundra. Once on the ground, the left wing was consumed by fire. An inspection by company maintenance personnel revealed that an overhauled engine cylinder had failed at its base, resulting in a fire. The airplane was not examined by the NTSB due to its remote location.

Buffalo Airways

The Buffalo Airways Limited Douglas C-54G-DC (DC-4), registration C-GXKN, serial number 36090, departed from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, at 1749 mountain standard time for a visual flight rules flight to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, with a crew of four and 2000 pounds of cargo. While climbing through an altitude of approximately 3500 feet above sea level, the crew experienced a failure of the number 2 engine and a nacelle fire. The crew carried out the Engine Fire Checklist, which included discharging the fire bottles and feathering the number 2 propeller. The fire continued unabated. During this period, an uncommanded feathering of the number 1 propeller and an uncommanded extension of the main landing gear occurred. The crew planned for an emergency off-field landing, but during the descent to the landing area, the fuel selector was turned off as part of the Engine Securing Checklist, and the fire self-extinguished. A decision was made to return to the Norman Wells Airport where a successful two-engine landing was completed at 1804 mountain standard time. The aircraft sustained substantial fire damage, but there were no injuries to the four crew members on board.

Brooks Fuel

The crew of the 4 engine airplane started its engines for a positioning flight from a remote mining airstrip. Following the startup of the engines, an explosion occurred in the left wing area aft of the number 1 engine firewall and number 1 auxiliary fuel tank. The airplane was parked next to the mine's fuel storage tank, and the pilot added power on the remaining engines to move away from the storage tank. Within seconds of beginning to move, the number 1 engine fell off the burning wing, followed by separation and aft folding of the outboard end of the left wing. The outboard end of the wing, however, was still attached via control cables. The pilot taxied the airplane about 200 feet, dragging the partially burning left wing segment to a pond of water and shut down the remaining engines. The crew evacuated with no injuries. Water was applied to the airplane until the fire was extinguished, about 3 1/2 hours later. NTSB and FAA personnel did not travel to the scene, and the airplane was not recovered from the mining strip. The airplane's left wing powerplant and fuel system consists of the number 1 and 2 engines. Each engine is separated from the wing by a firewall. Within the wing, from outboard to inboard, the fuel tank system consists of the number 1 fuel tank, the left wing auxiliary fuel tank, and the number 2 fuel tank. Each wet-wing type fuel tank contains a submerged electrical boost pump, sump drain valves and fuel quantity transmitters. The fuel system has selector valves, crossfeed valves, and shut-off valves for each tank. An FAA inspector examined portions of the airplane that the operator supplied. The inspector examined a portion of the upper wing surface that had been blown away from the airplane during the initial explosion. He noted that the inside of the upper wing surface, normally positioned over the auxiliary tank, was not charred or sooted. A separated portion of the lower wing surface, near the auxiliary boost pump, was sooted and charred. The aft side of the number 1 engine firewall was not charred. A portion of the number 1 engine nacelle was oily, but not sooted or charred. The operator located the auxiliary in-tank boost pump and sent it to the FAA. The boost pump impeller, encased in a small wire cage, was not melted and could be turned by hand. The body of the pump was sooted but not thermally damaged. Its wire connectors and one fuel line were melted. A smaller line, what appeared to be a return line, was not melted.

Buffalo Airways

The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight to Ulu, carrying four crew members and a load consisting of 45 oil drums. On final approach, the crew realized his speed was too high so he reduced engine power and selected full flaps. The aircraft lost height so power was added. But the aircraft continued to descent and struck the ground short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off. The aircraft slid on its belly, lost its both wings and came to rest few hundred feet further. All four crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Buffalo Airways

On final approach to Diavik Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low. This caused the undercarriage to struck the ground about one metre short of runway 10 threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on the runway for almost 300 metres then lost its right wing and rotated to the right before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.

Brooks Fuel

After landing at Bronson Creek Airport, one of the main landing gear struck a snow wall. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Air North - Canada

The DC-4 aircraft (serial number 10389) was on a visual flight rules flight from Bronson Creek, British Columbia, to Wrangell, Alaska, with a crew of three and about 16,600 pounds of cargo on board. The departure from the remote mining strip was uneventful until the aircraft approached 1,500 feet above sea level, when the crew heard a whining noise in their headsets. Believing that the whining was caused by an inverter problem, they switched inverters, but the problem persisted. Electrical instrument indications in the cockpit then became erratic, and the number 2 engine, on the left wing, began to misfire; its fire warning light in the cockpit illuminated briefly, but without the accompanying bell. The captain confirmed visually that the number 2 engine was on fire and the crew carried out the engine fire drill; however, the fire did not extinguish. The captain commenced a right-hand turn to return to the Bronson Creek airstrip, and announced to the crew that the number 2 engine had separated from the wing. The captain applied maximum power to the three remaining engines; however, the aircraft began to lose altitude. Both pilots held the rudder and aileron controls at full right deflection in an attempt to prevent the aircraft from yawing or rolling to the left. The aircraft was shaking violently at that time, and the crew members were unable to read any of the engine or flight instruments. At about 50 feet above ground level, just short of the Iskut River, the pilots closed the throttles. The aircraft descended rapidly, and the burning left wing struck a tree just as the fuselage contacted the surface of the river. The three occupants escaped the burning aircraft, and the first officer and load master swam to safety. The captain is missing and is presumed to have drowned. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aero Union

A Douglas C-54G & Beech 58P were on a fire suppression mission with the USDA Forest Service. The C-54 (Tanker 19) was being used as an aerial tanker, while the Beech 58 (Lead 56) was on a lead operation. Lead 56 departed the fire area about 5 minutes before Tanker 19. Both airplanes proceeded to an uncontrolled airport at Ramona, CA, for landing on runway 27 with a 360° overhead approach. Tanker 19 was on the initial approach about 1 mile east of the airport, when the two planes collided. Investigation revealed that Lead 56 struck the vertical stabilizer of Tanker 19, while descending. The empennages of both airplanes separated, and both crashed in uncontrolled descents. Before the accident, a Grumman S2 pilot was following Tanker 19. While in a shallow descent to the airport, he saw Tanker 19 slightly below the horizon and heard Tanker 19 make two calls (at 8 and 2 miles on initial approach). He also heard a transmission from Lead 56 moments before the collision, but did not see Lead 56, nor was he watching Tanker 19 when the collision occurred. Investigators were unable to determine Lead 56's activities after departing the fire area. Transmissions were heard from Lead 56 on the forest service tactical (operations) frequency when the plane was within 10 miles of the airport. Moments before the collision, Lead 56 was heard on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (ctaf). Forest service procedures required that all pilots transmit their position on the ctaf within 10 miles of the airport. The forest service had not made arrangements with the airport manager to perform overhead approaches, nor were parameters published for initial approach altitude or airspeed.

Brooks Fuel

The four engine transport category airplane was carrying a load of fuel oil for distribution to the village of kivalina. The pilot reported he flew over the 3,000 feet long by 60 feet wide strip prior to landing, and noted in the center of the runway some gravel was visible through a layer of surrounding snow. He said he could not see any snow banks or deeper snow in the landing area, and available notices to airmen did not mention any snow banks or snow berms on the runway. The pilot said the airplane landed near the threshold and on the centerline, but, the left main landing gear soon encountered a snow berm and the airplane was pulled to the left. The airplane subsequently impacted other snow berms on the left side of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed. The U.S. Government's supplement for Alaska airports, for the Kivalina Airport, states, in part: unattended. Caution: runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using.

Brooks Fuel

The captain stated there were no runway condition reports and a local contact stated the runway was in good condition. They landed and the braking action was nil. The captain maneuvered the airplane to a dry patch of dirt on the left side of the runway. When the main gear rolled onto the dry patch the airplane veered sharply to the left and departed the runway. Both crewmembers stated a go around was not possible. According to landing performance charts, the minimum landing runway length was 4,500 feet on a dry hard surface runway. The actual runway length was 3,500 feet.

West Indies Air Transport

The pilot, sole on board, was transferring the aircraft from a parking space to another one at Aguadilla Airport. While on a taxiway, the aircraft suffered hydraulic problems. The pilot lost control of the airplane that collided with a parked Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation operated by Aerolineas Mundo (AMSA) and registered HI-542CT. The C-54 continued and eventually came to rest in a ditch. The pilot was uninjured while both aircraft were damaged beyond repair.

GLM Aviation

Suffered an accident at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport following an engine failure. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1991.

Aero Union

The crew was completing a local training flight at Chico Airport. After touchdown, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose for few dozen yards before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Frigorifico Reyes

Just after liftoff, the crew raised the landing gear when technical problems occurred on the engine. The captain decided to land back but the airplane landed on its belly and came to rest. All three occupants were uninjured.

Kinair Cargo

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members evacuates safely.

West Coast Air Cargo

The pilot reported that he ditched his DC-4 in the Pacific Ocean on the evening of december 23 after experiencing an uncontrollable n°3 engine fire at the conclusion of a training flight. The ditching occurred in dark night conditions with minimal 10 foot swells having a period of approximately 10 seconds and the aircraft was reported to have remained afloat approximately 10 minutes after the ditching. Although the flight penetrated the Pacific coastal adiz on at least 2 occasions no radar evidence corroborated the penetrations nor was there any receipt of the pilots mayday on 121.5 mhz. No wreckage has been observed along the Washington shoreline since the event. Weather conditions at 1750 hrs pst within 20 miles of the ditching were reported as measured 900 foot overcast with 1.5 miles visibilit in light rain and fog. Surface winds prevailed from the southeast yet the two pilots reportedly drifted northeast covering a distance of at least 14 nautical miles via raft in 16 hours. The board's findings surrounding this event remain undetermined.

Aeronorte Colombia - Aerovias del Norte

On final approach to La Macarena Airport, the four engine aircraft lost height and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.

Frigorifico Reyes

After takeoff from Rurrenabaque Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area. All five occupants were killed.

North East Bolivian Airways - NEBA

After takeoff from Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport, while climbing, the engine n°2 failed. The crew was cleared to return for an emergency landing but the aircraft was unstable on final. Upon touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a drainage ditch. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Pacific Air Express - USA

During arrival, a descent was begun from 8,000 to 7,000 feet msl at 0151 hst. At 0155 hst, the aircrew was cleared for a visual approach from 7,000 feet msl and a rapid descent was started with 20° of flaps and approximately 25 inches ap (manifold pressure). The aircraft was maneuvered to intercept the ILS localizer and glide slope as a reference. After intercepting the glide slope at about 3,000 feet, the pilot-in-command (pic) called for 2,250 rpm and gear extension. While descending thru approximately 2,000 feet, he noticed the aircraft slowing down and descending below the glide slope, so he called for a power increase to 27 inches map. At about that time, the aircrew noted that the engines were not responding and had lost power. Subsequently, a forced landing was made in a sugar cane field with the gear in a transient position. The fuel selectors were found positioned to fuel tanks containing fuel, but the positioning during the descent was not verified. The temperature and dew point were 72° 65° F. This would have been barely within the envelope for carburetor ice on icing probability charts. All three occupants were uninjured.

Frigorifico Reyes

En route from La Paz to Palmira, the crew was informed by ATC that Palmira Airport was closed to traffic due to poor weather conditions and was diverted to Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz Airport. On descent, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames on the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

French Navy

The crew was completing a local training flight at Nouméa-La Tontouta consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. After takeoff, while climbing by night, the crew initiated a turn when the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Kokoreta at an altitude of 1,002 meters and located 10 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed. Crew: LdV Guy Celton, pilot, MP Marcel Crusson, copilot, MP Monroe Podlesnik, mechanic, 1st M Bernard Lefuraut, mechanic, 1st M Claude Wullaert, navigator, 1st M Jean Decoudu, electronics, M Paul Gavard-Pivet, mechanic.

Aero Union

After takeoff from Kenai Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 2,000 feet, the engine n°1 caught fire and exploded. The crew declared an emergency and elected to return to Kenai when a part of the left wing detached. Out of control, the airplane crashed in a pasture and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All three occupants were killed.

Caribbean Air Cargo

After takeoff from Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, while climbing on a cargo flight to Miami, the crew declared an emergency after the engine n°3 caught fire. The crew was cleared to return for an emergency landing, was able to extinguish the fire and to feather the propeller. Then the crew encountered controllability problems and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft few km offshore. Two crew members were rescued while the copilot drowned. The aircraft sank about 45 minutes later.

Zaire Air Force - Force Aérienne Zaïroise

Damaged beyond repair following a heavy landing at Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport. There were no injuries.

Waig Aircraft

Airtankers "T1" (N96449, msn 10750) and "T2" (N406WA, msn 35955) both Douglas DC-4's, departed the Hemet-Ryan Field, CA (HMT) about 13:22. Both airtankers had been recently released by the Forest Service from southern California fire assignments and were headed for their home base in Tucson, Arizona. While enroute, the crew of T1 engaged in taking in-flight photographs of T2 at an altitude of approximately 9,500 feet. T1 was flying in formation with T2 at his four to five o'clock position. The pilot of T1 stated over the radio that they were going to cross over to the other side of T2 to take more photographs. T2 gave permission and said that he would hold steady. The repositioning path T1 flew was a 45 degree overtaking angle from the four to five o'clock position toward the 10 to 11 o'clock position of T2. The vertical separation between the two airtankers was insufficient and a mid-air collision occurred. The vertical fin of T1 struck the right wing flap of T2. T1's fin and rudder were sheared off by that impact. The retardant tanks of T2 compressed the top aft end of the fuselage of T1. The number two propeller of T2 severed the fuselage of T1 approximately 10 feet in front of its horizontal stabilizer. T1's tail section was separated from the rest of the airtanker at that time, rendering it out of control. The pilot of T2 radioed Palm Springs Approach Control at 13:50, declared an emergency, and apprised them of the collision. T2 landed safely at the Palm Springs Airport at 13:56. After T1 experienced the tail separation, they lost altitude rapidly. T1 dropped debris for about a mile and a half until it cut through two power lines and then struck the earth nose first. There was a post-mishap fire. The captain and copilot were fatally injured. The tail section of T1 was found approximately two and a half miles from the main wreckage site. T2's damage consisted of damage to the right wing flap, scrapes and punctures to the retardant tank, damage to the right wheel compartment, badly "chewed up" propeller blades on the number two engine, a hole in the left wing, a dented left horizontal stabilizer on the tail, and various other damage. Source: ASN

Transportes Aéreos Kantuta - Trak Airways

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed near the Beni River and came to rest. All five occupants escaped uninjured.

SATENA - Servicio de Aeronavegacion a Territorios Nacionales

The four engine airplane was descending to Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport in limited visibility when, at an altitude of 3,400 meters, it struck the slope of Mt Toledo located about 35 km south from Cúcuta. The airplane was destroyed and all 21 occupants were killed, among them civilians.

Tiburon Aircraft

By night, the crew was flying at low altitude in the region of McCormick to find a suitable area to land while completing an illegal smuggling flight. In limited visibility due to fog, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a prairie. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. The aircraft was carrying a load of 15,000 lbs of marijuana.

Aero Trades

After takeoff from Thompson Airport, the engine n°1 caught fire. The crew initiated a turn and was able to complete a safe landing. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was partially destroyed by fire. It was reported that the fire extinguisher system failed, causing the fire to spread to the entire left wing.

Biegert Aviation

During the takeoff roll at Mesa-Falcon Field Airport, the crew started the rotation but the aircraft did not liftoff. It overran, struck a 10 feet high dirt bank, crossed a road where it hit a truck and eventually came to rest in flames in an orange grove. Both pilots, en route to Chandler-Stellar Airpark on a test flight, were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Transportes Aéreos Kantuta - Trak Airways

Few minutes after takeoff from San Borja-Capitan Germán Quiroga Guardia Airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances about 48 km northeast of San Borja and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

African Lux

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Harare to Zaïre. While overflying the Tete Province, the airplane was shot down by Mozambican Forces and crashed. All three crew members were killed.

United States Army

The crew was engaged in a short positioning flight from Roi-Namur Airport (north part of the Kwajalein atoll) to the main airport of Kwajalein located on the south part of the same atoll. During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. The left wing was broken in two and the aircraft was later removed from water but declared as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the 16 occupants. Special thanks to US Army Louis D. Sutton, PIC on the following US Army C-54 that should takeoff immediately after the accident one, for his testimony.

Interamerica Air Lease

The four engine aircraft departed Ponce on a flight to Miami. The crew attempted to land on an unsuitable terrain located north of Monroe Station, while completing an illegal smuggling flight. Upon landing on muddy ground, at least one landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of 1,700 kilos of marijuana was found on board.

Frigorifico Reyes

During the takeoff roll, one of the left engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the left and then collided with a parked DC-3. Both aircraft were destroyed and all seven occupants were injured.

Faucett

After takeoff from runway 02 at Trujillo-Capitán Carlos Martinez de Pinillos Airport, while climbing, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Pintado located 25 km north of the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later in a rocky area and all 24 occupants were killed.

Spanish Air Force - Ejército del Aire

The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Getafe Airbase in Madrid and Las Palmas-Gando Airport, carrying officers of the Spanish Army and family members. En route, an engine caught fire and the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Vejer de la Frontera. 12 occupants were killed while 20 others were injured.

Taxi Aéreo El Venado

While flying in clouds, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain (3,540 metres high) located about 30 km east of Chipaque, in an area located in the west part of Meta. The wreckage was 800 metres below the point of impact, in a canyon. All 13 occupants were killed.

Air Vietnam

While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet en route from Vientiane to Saigon, the crew informed ATC about his position over PE5 on the G67 airway when contact was lost. The airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located about 25 km southwest of Pleiku. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants have been killed, among them a Swiss citizen in charge of the medical missions of the Red Cross in Vietnam.

Transvall Corporation

After takeoff from Davis Monthan AFB, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Honduran Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Hondureña

En route from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport to Howard AFB in Panama City, while cruising in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt de la Muerte located about 54 km southeast of San José, Costa Rica. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located on 16 May 1975 in an isolated and mountainous area.

Air Cambodge

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Phnom Penh to Hong Kong, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near An L<U+1ED9>c. All five occupants were killed.

Zaire Air Force - Force Aérienne Zaïroise

The airplane was damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Kisangani Airport. There were no injuries.

China Airlines

Suffered an accident at Battambang Airport. There were no injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Air Vietnam

Shortly after takeoff from Qui Nhon Airport for Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng, a hijacker ordered the crew to divert to Ð<U+1ED3>ng H<U+1EDB>i. The captain stated that a fuel stop was necessary at Ðông Hà Airport but he flew directly to Huê. When the hijacker realized he was tricked, he detonated explosives in the front part of the cabin. Three passengers were killed while several other occupants were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

TAM Bolivia - Transporte Aéreo Militar Boliviano

While in cruising altitude between Santa Rosa and La Paz in poor weather conditions, the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress call. SAR operations were initiated but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 24 occupants was found. It is believed the aircraft crashed in an isolated mountainous area following a possible navigation error due to poor weather conditions.

Air Vietnam

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Saigon to Ðà N<U+1EB5>ng, the four engine aircraft disappeared from radar screens. The crew was unable to send any distress message. The wreckage was found few hours later about 24 km south of Buôn Ma Thu<U+1ED9>t and all 62 occupants have been killed.