Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 29 June 1946
Aircraft Type: Douglas Dakota IV (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: KJ918
Location: within Cameron Highlands –
ÿ Malaysia
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Aircraft missing, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 18
Component Affected: The Dakota transport plane’s navigation and flight control systems.The Dakota transport plane’s navigation and flight control systems.
Category: Accident
A Dakota transport plane experienced a sudden and unexpected return to Butterworth following a reported position error in Thailand. Subsequent radio communications indicated a severe storm over the Cameron Highlands, leading to the plane’s disappearance.A Dakota transport plane experienced a sudden and unexpected return to Butterworth following a reported position error in Thailand. Subsequent radio communications indicated a severe storm over the Cameron Highlands, leading to the plane’s disappearance.
Description
The Dakota transport plane departed Singapore on a flight to Butterworth, Yangon, and Calcutta. Shortly after leaving Butterworth, the pilot reported his position as being on the northeast coast of Thailand. Due to extremely bad weather conditions the crew decided to return to Butterworth. Thirty-three minutes later, another radio call was heard from the pilot who reported being in a terrible storm somewhere over the Cameron Highlands. Nothing more was heard from the flight and an extensive search failed to locate the plane.
Primary Cause
Severe weather conditions, specifically a rapidly deteriorating storm, caused the pilot to deviate from his planned route and return to Butterworth.Severe weather conditions, specifically a rapidly deteriorating storm, caused the pilot to deviate from his planned route and return to Butterworth.Share on:
