Narrative:
The C-47 transport plane departed Rendani Airport (MKW) on a flight to Sorong (SOQ). En route the crew encountered thunderstorms and it appeared that the weather at Sorong had also deteriorated. A cloud base of 500 feet was reported. A few other aircraft had landed ahead of X-3.
The crew were not able to locate the airport and fuel shortage forced them to ditch the plane off shore.
Fuel exhaustion
Ditching
| Status: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
| Date: | Saturday 31 March 1962 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-25-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Koninklijke Luchtmacht - Klu (Royal Netherl. Air Force) |
| Registration: | X-3 |
| MSN: | 32632/15884 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | E off Sorong-Jefman Airport (SOQ) ( Indonesia)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Manokwari-Rendani Airport (MKW/WASR), Indonesia |
| Sorong-Jefman Airport (SOQ/WASS), Indonesia |
The C-47 transport plane departed Rendani Airport (MKW) on a flight to Sorong (SOQ). En route the crew encountered thunderstorms and it appeared that the weather at Sorong had also deteriorated. A cloud base of 500 feet was reported. A few other aircraft had landed ahead of X-3.
The crew were not able to locate the airport and fuel shortage forced them to ditch the plane off shore.
Classification:
Fuel exhaustion
Ditching
Sources:
» De Vliegende Hollander / nr. 6, juni 1962Photos
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 Manokwari-Rendani Airport to Sorong-Jefman Airport as the crow flies is 324 km (203 miles).
Distance from Manokwari-Rendani Airport to Sorong-Jefman Airport as the crow flies is 324 km (203 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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