1945 — Nov 13, ANA C-49 with USAAC passengers, crashes off Tacloban AP Philippines–16
Compiled 12-30-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–16 Aviation Safety Network. Australian National Airways crash 2km off Tacloban AP, Phil.
–16 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a…C-49A-DO…off Tacloban:16 Killed.”
–16 Powell, Marg. “Warrant Officer Lloyd George Jones (RAAF).” State Library of Queensland
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 127:
“Date: Tuesday 13 November 1945
“Time: 20:20
“Type: Douglas C-49A (DC-3)
“Operator: Australian National Airways – ANA
“On behalf of: United States Army Air Corps – USAAC[1]
“Registration: VH-CDC
“MSN: 3282
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
“Passengers: Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 14
“Total: Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 17
“Aircraft damage: Destroyed…written off…
“Location: ca 2 km NE off Tacloban Airport (TAC) (Philippines
“Phase: Takeoff (TOF) [Description below notes missed approach crash.]
“Nature: Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
“Departure airport: Manila-Nielson Field, Philippines
“Destination airport: Tacloban Airport (TAC/RPVA), Philippines
“Narrative:
“The Douglas C-49A transport plane was operated by Australian National Airways on behalf of the United States Army Air Corps, 322 Troop Carrier Wing. The aircraft departed Manila, Philippines, bound for Brisbane, Australia with an en route stop at Tacloban. After a normal approach to Tacloban Airport, while at 100 feet on final approach, a storm hit the airport with heavy rain and strong winds [at 20:20 at night]. The aircraft touched down but the pilot pulled up and circled the control tower at 200 feet, heading over the bay. Nothing more was heard from the flight. The aircraft had impacted the water. One survivor was rescued from the water after five and a half hours.
“Probable Cause:
The case of the accident is considered to be due to an unfortunate error of judgement on the part of the pilot in attempting to land under very unfavourable weather conditions, especially when he had at least 1 1/2 hours petrol in reserve for checking up conditions at the alternative landing field at Samar and also on Leyte itself or returning to Manilla when more than half way if weather conditions proved unfavourable. There is no evidence that the pilot was embarrassed by engine failure at any time and from Lt. McCabe’s statement that he was conversing with and sharing fruit with the pilot five minutes before the attempted landing, it would indicate that the pilot was perfectly happy with the sequence of events up to that time although they had been flying through storm areas with lightning and bumpy conditions. It was indeed unfortunate that McCabe was unable to inflate one of the dinghies due to the CO2 bottle becoming detached and so save other lives. The question of the serviceability of such equipment is the responsibility of the pilot, and although the question of serviceability of safety equipment has not been discussed with our Archerfield Staff due to pressure of time, it is understood that this matter has received attention and there is no reason to believe such equipment was not in a satisfactory condition prior to the crash. [Cites Department of Civil Aviation Accident Report.]
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives:
“Date & Time: Nov 13, 1945 at 2015 LT [Local Time]
“Type of aircraft: Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
“Operator: ANA
….
“Flight Phase: Landing (descent or approach)
….
“Total fatalities: 16
“Circumstances: The approach to Tacloban was performed in poor weather conditions. The
aircraft landed hard and after touchdown, the captain decided to go around, increased power on both engines, pull up the control column and attempted a go around. The aircraft climbed to a height of 200 feet, passed few meters from the control tower, continued over the sea and eventually crashed into the sea about a mile offshore….
“Probable cause: At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Tacloban were considered
as poor with heavy rain falls, strong winds and low visibility due to night. Fuel reserve were sufficient to divert to another airport and the crew underestimated the situation and continued the approach despite the low visibility and poor weather. Following this tragedy, night operations will be prohibited on Philippines airports for USAAF.”
Powell. “Warrant Officer Lloyd George Jones (RAAF).” State Library of Queensland:
“On 5 November 1945 Warrant Officer, Radio Operator, George Jones wrote a delightfully cheery letter to his sister-in-law Maureen and niece Edith, in Scotland as he prepared for a return flight from Archerfield Base to the Philippines….
“George was aboard the USSAF Douglas C-49A VH-CDC that departed Manila bound for Brisbane, on 13 November 1945, and which crashed during bad weather while attempting to land at Tacloban Airport on the Island of Leyte.
“During its final approach at approximately 8:15pm local time, heavy rain and strong winds forced the pilot to pull up, circle the tower and head over the bay, eventually crashing into the sea about a mile offshore. US Naval rescue teams arrived five hours later, locating one survivor, and retrieving 16 casualties.
“The aircraft was one of the fleet of Douglas aircraft operated by the Australian National Airways (ANA) on behalf of the USAAF and the Government of Australia and was carrying troops from the American forces (USAAC)….”
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 127. Australian National Airways crash 2 km off Tacloban Airport, Philippines, 11-13-1945. Accessed 12-29-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19451113-0
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Douglas C-49A-DO off Tacloban:16 Killed.” Accessed 12-30-2023 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-douglas-c-49a-do-tacloban-16-killed
Powell, Marg. “Warrant Officer Lloyd George Jones (RAAF).” State Library of Queensland, 12-2-2021. Accessed 12-30-2023: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/warrant-officer-lloyd-george-jones-raaf
[1] Not sure why USAAC is used instead of USAAF. The United States Army Air Corps existed between 1926 and 1941 (Wikipedia), when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) came into being. Perhaps these men were members of the training and logistics elements of the USAAC. The USAAC was one of the combat arms of the Army by the reorganization provision s of the National Security Act of 1947.