Narrative:
A Douglas DC-3C, PH-TCR, operated a KLM passenger service from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Stockholm, Sweden with an en route stop at Copenhagen, Denmark. The first leg of the flight was uneventful.
The aircraft took off from Copenhagen and was seen to enter a steep climb, pitching up to 45°. The aircraft then stalled at a height of about 100 m and fell off to the left. It impacted the ground and burst into flames. All 22 occupants were killed.
Among the passengers were the Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf, American singer and actress Grace Moore, and Danish film actress Gerda Neumann.
An investigation revealed that a 19-year old airport employee had been engaged in preparing the aircraft for departure. He had started his job on January 7 and did not have any prior experience. He had received incomplete instructions. He did remove the rudder lock, but failed to remove the elevator locking pins.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure to remove the elevator locking pins."
Loss of control
» 26.01.1947 PH-TCR Douglas C-47A (by H. Dekker)
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 26 January 1947 |
| Time: | 15:35 GMT |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3C |
| Operator: | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines |
| Registration: | PH-TCR |
| MSN: | 25479/14034 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1686 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 22 / Occupants: 22 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | København-Kastrup Airport (CPH) ( Denmark)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | København-Kastrup Airport (CPH/EKCH), Denmark |
| Stockholm-Bromma Airport (BMA/ESSB), Sweden |
A Douglas DC-3C, PH-TCR, operated a KLM passenger service from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Stockholm, Sweden with an en route stop at Copenhagen, Denmark. The first leg of the flight was uneventful.
The aircraft took off from Copenhagen and was seen to enter a steep climb, pitching up to 45°. The aircraft then stalled at a height of about 100 m and fell off to the left. It impacted the ground and burst into flames. All 22 occupants were killed.
Among the passengers were the Swedish Prince Gustaf Adolf, American singer and actress Grace Moore, and Danish film actress Gerda Neumann.
An investigation revealed that a 19-year old airport employee had been engaged in preparing the aircraft for departure. He had started his job on January 7 and did not have any prior experience. He had received incomplete instructions. He did remove the rudder lock, but failed to remove the elevator locking pins.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure to remove the elevator locking pins."
Classification:
Locked rudders/ailerons/gustlock Loss of control
Sources:
» Dakota : DC-3/C47's onder Nederlandse vlag» 26.01.1947 PH-TCR Douglas C-47A (by H. Dekker)
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 København-Kastrup Airport to Stockholm-Bromma Airport as the crow flies is 518 km (324 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from København-Kastrup Airport to Stockholm-Bromma Airport as the crow flies is 518 km (324 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.
languages: 
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 2461st loss
- 783rd fatal accident
- 52nd worst accident (at the time)
- 177th worst accident (currently)
Denmark- The worst accident (at the time)
- 4th worst accident (currently)
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