Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 27 January 1948
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47B-25-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 44-76443
Location: Montagne du Cheval-Blanc (Alpes-De-Haute-Provence) –
ÿ France
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: C-47 aircraftC-47 aircraft
Category: Accident
A USAF C-47 aircraft, en route from Istres-Le Tub to Udin, France, was lost due to severe snowstorm conditions. The pilot, unable to establish a safe route, deviated significantly, resulting in a collision with a mountain side. All occupants perished.A USAF C-47 aircraft, en route from Istres-Le Tub to Udin, France, was lost due to severe snowstorm conditions. The pilot, unable to establish a safe route, deviated significantly, resulting in a collision with a mountain side. All occupants perished.
Description
The USAF C-47 aircraft departed Istres-Le Tub Air Base, France at 12:37 LT for a flight to Udine via Pisa, Italy. The pilot couldn’t find his route because of a heavy snowstorm. He decided to return to Istres but the wind caused the aircraft to deviate significantly off course. The airplane flew into the side of a mountain 15:30 LT killing all occupants. The passengers were women and children of soldiers stationed at Udine. On 30th January, 1948 a B-17 Flying Fortress, searching for survivors, crashed at the same location. Nine occupants were killed and one survived.
Primary Cause
Severe snowstorm conditions and pilot navigational error.Severe snowstorm conditions and pilot navigational error.Share on:
