Narrative:
Three C-47 aircraft took off from Lawson Field. They were heading to Willow Grove to pick up CG-4A gliders and tow them to Maxton AAF.
In the vicinity of Washington, DC the aircraft entered a large front and lost contact with each other.
The pilot of the ill-fated C-47 decided to divert to Barnsville Auxiliary Airfield. Due to weather circumstances the pilot failed to find the airfield. They circled the area and flew into a mountainous area. The airplane struck the top of Locust Mountain and broke up.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
» Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Vol. 2: July 1943-July 1944 / Anthony J. Mireles
| Status: | |
| Date: | Sunday 21 November 1943 |
| Time: | 21:10 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-DL (DC-3) |
| Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 42-32929 |
| MSN: | 9155 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 5 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 9 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 1,2 km (0.8 mls) W of Tamaqua, PA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Fort Benning-Lawson AAF, GA (LSF/KLSF), United States of America |
| Willow Grove NAS, PA (NXX/KNXX), United States of America |
Three C-47 aircraft took off from Lawson Field. They were heading to Willow Grove to pick up CG-4A gliders and tow them to Maxton AAF.
In the vicinity of Washington, DC the aircraft entered a large front and lost contact with each other.
The pilot of the ill-fated C-47 decided to divert to Barnsville Auxiliary Airfield. Due to weather circumstances the pilot failed to find the airfield. They circled the area and flew into a mountainous area. The airplane struck the top of Locust Mountain and broke up.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)» Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Vol. 2: July 1943-July 1944 / Anthony J. Mireles
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Fort Benning-Lawson AAF, GA to Willow Grove NAS, PA as the crow flies is 1233 km (770 miles).
Distance from Fort Benning-Lawson AAF, GA to Willow Grove NAS, PA as the crow flies is 1233 km (770 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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