Douglas DC-3

Aliansa Colombia - Aerolíneas Andinas

The twin engine aircraft departed Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport in the early morning on a local training mission. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located in the region of Restrepo. All three crew members were killed.

Atlantic Air Cargo

On the 18th October 2019, at approximately 4:30 PM local time, a Douglas DC-3C aircraft, registration N437GB crashed in the ocean; at coordinates 25°05.55N 077°30.29W, approximately 2.87miles from Runway 14 at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN) Nassau, Bahamas. There were 2 souls on board. The pilot reported that the left engine failed approximately 25-30 nautical miles from MYNN. The pilot further stated that during single engine operation, the aircraft performance was not optimal so the decision was made to land the aircraft in the ocean. The Air Traffic Control tower was notified by the crew of N437GB, that they will be performing a control water landing. The Royal Bahamas Defense Force was notified. Rescue efforts were then put into place. No injuries were received by the occupants of the aircraft. Aircraft could not be located for physical analysis to be carried out. The weather at the time of the accident was visual meteorological conditions and not a factor in this accident. A limited scope investigation was conducted, no safety message or recommendations were issued.

Laser Aéreo

The twin engine airplane departed San José del Guaviare on a charter flight to Villavicencio, carrying 11 passengers and three crew members. While cruising at an altitude of 8,500 feet in good weather conditions, the left engine failed due to an important fuel leak. The crew elected to secure the engine but was unable to feather the propeller. The airplane lost speed and height, and while attempting an emergency landing, the crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a palm plantation, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 14 occupants were killed.

Priority Air Charter

The two pilots departed in a turbine powered DC-3C at maximum gross weight for a repositioning flight. The airplane was part of a test program for new, higher horsepower engine installation. Soon after liftoff and about 3 seconds after decision speed (V1), the left engine lost total power. The propeller began to auto-feather but stopped feathering about 3 seconds after the power loss. The airplane yawed and banked to the left, descended, and impacted terrain. Recorded engine data indicated the power loss was due to an engine flameout; however, examination of the engine did not determine a reason for the flameout or the auto-feather system interruption. While it is plausible that an air pocket developed in the fuel system during the refueling just before the flight, this scenario was not able to be tested or confirmed. It is possible that the auto-feather system interruption would have occurred if the left power lever was manually retarded during the auto-feather sequence. The power loss and auto-feather system interruption occurred during a critical, time-sensitive phase of flight since the airplane was at low altitude and below minimum controllable airspeed (Vmc). The acutely transitional phase of flight would have challenged the pilots' ability to manually feather the propeller quickly and accurately. The time available for the crew to respond to the unexpected event was likely less than needed to recognize the problem and take this necessary action – even as an immediate action checklist/memory item.

Air Colombia

The aircraft departed Inírida on a humanitarian flight to San Felipe, carrying nine passengers, three crew members and various goods and equipment dedicated to the victims of the recent floods. Following an uneventful flight, the crew landed on runway 18. After touchdown, the aircraft deviated to the left. It pivoted to the left, lost its left main gear and the left propeller and came to a halt on the runway edge. All 12 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Arall Colombia - Aerolineas Llaneras

Shortly after takeoff from Puerto Gaitán Airport Runway 04, while on a cargo flight to Villavicencio, the left engine exploded and caught fire. As the aircraft was losing speed and height, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located 2,6 km southwest from the airport, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Aliansa Colombia - Aerolíneas Andinas

The aircraft departed Villavicencio on a cargo flight to Florencia, carrying three passengers, two pilots and a load consisting of 2,540 kg of various goods. While cruising under VFR mode at an altitude of 6,500 feet, weather conditions worsened and the crew attempted to modify his route when the aircraft impacted ground and crashed in a wooded and mountainous area located some 45 km north of San Vincente del Caguán, near Uribe. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all five occupants were killed.

Buffalo Airways

On 19 August 2013, a Buffalo Airways Ltd. Douglas DC-3C (registration C-GWIR, serial number 9371) was operating as a scheduled passenger flight from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to Hay River, Northwest Territories. After lift-off from Runway 16 at 1708 Mountain Daylight Time, there was a fire in the right engine. The crew performed an emergency engine shutdown and made a low-altitude right turn towards Runway 10. The aircraft struck a stand of trees southwest of the threshold of Runway 10 and touched down south of the runway with the landing gear retracted. An aircraft evacuation was accomplished and there were no injuries to the 3 crew members or the 21 passengers. There was no post-impact fire and the 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter did not activate.

Air Service Berlin

The aircraft departed Berlin-Schönefeld Airport on a local 35-minute sightseeing flight over Berlin with 25 passengers and three crew members on board. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the pilots encountered technical problems with the right engine and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft struck the airport boundary fence then crash landed on its belly with its right wing partially torn off. All 28 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Victoria Air - Philippines

On October 17, 2009at about 12:04 pm, RP-C550 a DC-3type of aircraft took off from Manila Domestic airport bound for Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Approximately 5 mins after airborne, the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) informed Manila Tower that they were turning back due to technical problem. The PIC was asked by the air controller whether he was declaring an “emergency” and the response was negative. The PIC was directed to proceed South Mall and wait for further instruction (a standard procedures for VFR arrivals for runway 13). At South Mall, RP-C550 was cleared to cross the end of runway 06, still without declaring an emergency. The tower controller sensed that something was wrong with the aircraft due to its very low altitude, immediately granted clearance to land runway 06. However, the aircraft was not able to make it to runway 06. At about 12:14, RP-C550 crashed at an abandoned warehouse in Villa Fidela Subd., Brgy. Elias Aldana Las Piñas City about 4 kms. from the threshold of runway 06. As a result, the aircraft was totally destroyed and all aboard suffered fatal injuries due to impact and post crash fire.