Narrative:
A Douglas C-47B was destroyed when it crashed in poor weather while on approach to Billings Municipal Airport, MT (BIL). The airplane was being operated by Northwest Airlines on an Army charter flight from Fargo, ND carrying war veterans. Weather at Billings was poor with snowfall and it was night. The airplane manoeuvred around the field for an approach and landing when it lost altitude. The C-47 struck trees, crashed and burned.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Saturday 8 December 1945 |
| Time: | 02:13 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-45-DK (DC-3) |
| Operating for: | Northwest Airlines |
| Leased from: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 45-922 |
| MSN: | 34183/16925 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 21 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 23 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 0,4 km (0.3 mls) S of Billings Municipal Airport, MT (BIL) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Fargo-Hector Field, ND (FAR/KFAR), United States of America |
| Billings Municipal Airport, MT (BIL/KBIL), United States of America |
A Douglas C-47B was destroyed when it crashed in poor weather while on approach to Billings Municipal Airport, MT (BIL). The airplane was being operated by Northwest Airlines on an Army charter flight from Fargo, ND carrying war veterans. Weather at Billings was poor with snowfall and it was night. The airplane manoeuvred around the field for an approach and landing when it lost altitude. The C-47 struck trees, crashed and burned.
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 Fargo-Hector Field, ND to Billings Municipal Airport, MT as the crow flies is 901 km (563 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Fargo-Hector Field, ND to Billings Municipal Airport, MT as the crow flies is 901 km (563 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 2199th loss
- 686th fatal accident
- 73rd worst accident (at the time)
- 256th worst accident (currently)
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