Incident Overview
Date: Friday 21 July 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-70-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-100712
Location: ca 40 km SE off Cape Fear, NC, USA –
ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Aircraft missing, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: The C-47 aircraft.The C-47 aircraft.
Category: Accident
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft experienced a significant loss of contact during a storm. The squadron leader ordered a 180-degree turn and reassembly over the coastline, despite a three-day search yielding no trace of the missing aircraft.A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft experienced a significant loss of contact during a storm. The squadron leader ordered a 180-degree turn and reassembly over the coastline, despite a three-day search yielding no trace of the missing aircraft.
Description
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found. Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.
Source of Information
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asphttp://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.aspPrimary Cause
Controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.Controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.Share on:
