Accident description
Last updated: 25 May 2013
Status:
Date:20 OCT 1945
Type:Douglas C-47B-30-DK
Operator:Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF
Registration: A65-83
C/n / msn: 16127/32875
First flight: 1945
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C
Crew:Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Passengers:Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 21
Total:Fatalities: 25 / Occupants: 25
Airplane damage: Missing
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Timor Sea (Atlantic Ocean)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Ambon-Pattimura Airport (AMQ/WAPP), Indonesia
Destination airport:Darwin Airport, NT (DRW/YPDN), Australia
Narrative:
The RAAF air ambulance flight departed Morotai for Darwin, via Ambon. The C-47 arrived at Ambon at 08:50. The captain decided to await the arrival of another aircraft which arrived from Darwin to find out more about the weather conditions en route. Weather was poor but the plane departed from Ambon at 10:40. Approximately one hour into the flight Darwin Aeradio, recevied a message from the flight stating that they wished to place a message. No response was ever heard from the aircraft.

Sources:
» VH-CIZ Missing Dakota website
» Australian Military Aircraft Serials and Aircraft History web site

Photos
No Photo Available

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 Ambon-Pattimura Airport to Darwin Airport, NT as the crow flies is 1011 km (632 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.
languages: English Français Nederlands Deutsch Espanol

Share
Share

Douglas DC-3

  • 1112th loss
  • ca 13.000 built
  • 6th worst accident (at the time)
  • 98th worst accident (currently)
safety profile

 Atlantic Ocean
  • 2nd worst accident (at the time)
  • 21st worst accident (currently)
»safety profile