Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 17 July 1943
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-6464
Location: 16 km N of Grenada AAF, MS –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: C-47 and C-53 aircraft.C-47 and C-53 aircraft.
Category: Accident
A formation training mission involving six transport aircraft resulted in a catastrophic crash. A squadron leader signalled an echelon to the right, prompting a C-47 to drop back while flying a cross-over. The C-47 collided with the leader of the second element, descending and impacting a C-53. The C-53 was pushed down, resulting in a crash of both aircraft.A formation training mission involving six transport aircraft resulted in a catastrophic crash. A squadron leader signalled an echelon to the right, prompting a C-47 to drop back while flying a cross-over. The C-47 collided with the leader of the second element, descending and impacting a C-53. The C-53 was pushed down, resulting in a crash of both aircraft.
Description
Six transport aircraft departed Grenada AAF for a formation training mission. After completing a climb in squadron formation to 1200 feet, the squadron leader signalled for an echelon to the right. The C-47 flying in the third position in the leading element (41-38730) dropped back while flying a cross-over. The C-47 crossed over the leader of the second element and descended upon a C-53 (42-6464), flying in second position. The left wing of the C-47 contacted the fuselage of the other aircraft, just forward of the tail. The C-53 was pushed down. Both planes locked together went up and over on their backs and consequently crashed.
Primary Cause
Collision between a C-47 and a C-53 during a formation training mission.Collision between a C-47 and a C-53 during a formation training mission.Share on:
