Narrative:
A Douglas C-47 transport plane sustained substantial damage in a forced landing near Pennville, IN. Six on board were killed in the accident. The airplane was en route between Wright Field and Minneapolis on autopilot when the crew noticed a drop in manifold pressure to 20". The crew was not able to determine the cause of the pressure drop. Flying at 1500 feet the pilot selected a field for a forced landing. The C-47 came in high and fast, causing the plane to balloon on touchdown. The pilot attempted to pull the plane back up to clear groups of trees. The airplane became airborne again but struck the last group of trees and crash-landed.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Saturday 27 October 1945 |
| Time: | 08:55 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-25-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 44-76230 |
| MSN: | 32562/15814 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 5 km (3.1 mls) NW of Pennville, IN ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Dayton-Wright Patterson AAF, OH (FFO/KFFO), United States of America |
| Minneapolis-Wold-Chamberlain Field, MN (MSP/KMSP), United States of America |
A Douglas C-47 transport plane sustained substantial damage in a forced landing near Pennville, IN. Six on board were killed in the accident. The airplane was en route between Wright Field and Minneapolis on autopilot when the crew noticed a drop in manifold pressure to 20". The crew was not able to determine the cause of the pressure drop. Flying at 1500 feet the pilot selected a field for a forced landing. The C-47 came in high and fast, causing the plane to balloon on touchdown. The pilot attempted to pull the plane back up to clear groups of trees. The airplane became airborne again but struck the last group of trees and crash-landed.
Classification:
Forced landing outside airport
Sources:
» Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Vol. 3: August 1944-December 1945 / Anthony J. MirelesPhotos
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 Dayton-Wright Patterson AAF, OH to Minneapolis-Wold-Chamberlain Field, MN as the crow flies is 933 km (583 miles).
Distance from Dayton-Wright Patterson AAF, OH to Minneapolis-Wold-Chamberlain Field, MN as the crow flies is 933 km (583 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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