Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 26 March 1947
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-25-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Marine Luchtvaart Dienst – MLD
Registration Number: W-12
Location: near Gimbat Station, NT –
ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Aircraft electrical systems (specifically, the pilot’s radio and navigation equipment).Aircraft electrical systems (specifically, the pilot’s radio and navigation equipment).
Category: Accident
A C-47 aircraft, en route from Sydney to Jakarta, experienced a severe electrical failure during flight over Katherine Gorge. The failure resulted in loss of radio and navigation equipment, necessitating an emergency landing near Gimbat Station. The aircraft was subsequently towed to Katherine, navigated through a river bed and jungle, and finally transferred by ship to Sydney for use as an engine test bed by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.A C-47 aircraft, en route from Sydney to Jakarta, experienced a severe electrical failure during flight over Katherine Gorge. The failure resulted in loss of radio and navigation equipment, necessitating an emergency landing near Gimbat Station. The aircraft was subsequently towed to Katherine, navigated through a river bed and jungle, and finally transferred by ship to Sydney for use as an engine test bed by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Description
During a flight from Sydney to Jakarta, this C-47 was struck by lightning en route over Katherine Gorge. The electric systems failed and radio and navigation equipment were no longer available. The pilot decided to carry out an emergency landing near Gimbat Station. W-12 was towed to the town of Katherine, and then on towards Darwin through a river bed and jungle. It was finally transferred by ship from Darwin to Sydney to be used by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as an engine test bed.
Primary Cause
Electrical system failure leading to loss of critical navigation and communication equipment.Electrical system failure leading to loss of critical navigation and communication equipment.Share on:
