Narrative:
The C-47 crashed into a corn field one hour after departure. The accident killed all on board, including 11 members of the United States Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, a flight crew of two, and a crew chief.
Cause of the crash was determined to be overloaded - due to the fact a heavy metal plating floor had been added in Vietnam but not entered in the log book. The aircraft was also flying in poor weather conditions.
» 281st Assault Helicopter Company Remembrance page
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 8 March 1973 |
| Time: | 09:10 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47J (DC-3) |
| Operator: | United States Army |
| Registration: | 0-50781 |
| MSN: | 26398/14953 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 14 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Silk Hope, NC ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Fort Bragg-Simmons AAF, NC (FBG/KFBG), United States of America |
| Fort Bragg-Simmons AAF, NC (FBG/KFBG), United States of America |
The C-47 crashed into a corn field one hour after departure. The accident killed all on board, including 11 members of the United States Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, a flight crew of two, and a crew chief.
Cause of the crash was determined to be overloaded - due to the fact a heavy metal plating floor had been added in Vietnam but not entered in the log book. The aircraft was also flying in poor weather conditions.
Sources:
» In Remembrance "Friends and Teammates Lost in the C-47"» 281st Assault Helicopter Company Remembrance page
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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
- 4127th loss
- 1636th fatal accident
- 356th worst accident (at the time)
- 383rd worst accident (currently)
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