Narrative:
The USAF C-47 aircraft departed Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France at 12:37 LT for a flight to Udine via Pisa, Italy. The pilot couldn't find his route because of a heavy snowstorm. He decided to return to Istres but the wind caused the aircraft to deviate significantly off course. The airplane flew into the side of a mountain 15:30 LT killing all occupants. The passengers were women and children of soldiers stationed at Udine. On 30th January, 1948 a B-17 Flying Fortress, searching for survivors, crashed at the same location. Nine occupants were killed and one survived.
» Saskatoon Star-Phoenix 7 February 1948, p6 (photo)
| Status: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
| Date: | Tuesday 27 January 1948 |
| Time: | 15:30 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-25-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 44-76443 |
| MSN: | 32775/16027 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Montagne du Cheval-Blanc (Alpes-De-Haute-Provence) ( France)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (LFMI), France |
| Pisa-San Giusto Airport (PSA/LIRP), Italy |
The USAF C-47 aircraft departed Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France at 12:37 LT for a flight to Udine via Pisa, Italy. The pilot couldn't find his route because of a heavy snowstorm. He decided to return to Istres but the wind caused the aircraft to deviate significantly off course. The airplane flew into the side of a mountain 15:30 LT killing all occupants. The passengers were women and children of soldiers stationed at Udine. On 30th January, 1948 a B-17 Flying Fortress, searching for survivors, crashed at the same location. Nine occupants were killed and one survived.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Chroniques de Haute-Provence n° 354 (2005, 125e année), p 83-167.» Saskatoon Star-Phoenix 7 February 1948, p6 (photo)
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 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base to Pisa-San Giusto Airport as the crow flies is 438 km (273 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Istres-Le Tubé Air Base to Pisa-San Giusto Airport as the crow flies is 438 km (273 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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