1951 — Dec 30, USAF C-47 transport flies into mountain near Roosevelt, AZ –all 28

— 28 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011 revision.
— 28 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999. 53.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Douglas C-47B-25-DK Skytrain….76266 (c/n 15850/32598) converted to VC-47D. Crashed 35 mi N of Globe, AZ Dec 30, 1951 while on flight from Hamilton AFB to Goodfellow AFB. 4 crew and 24 passengers killed.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011 rev.)

Gero:
“Date: 30 December 1951 (c.15:40)
“Location: Near Roosevelt, Arizona, US
“Operator: US Air Force
“Aircraft type: Douglas C-47S (47-76266)

“The transport crashed and burned on a mountain 70 miles…north-east of Phoenix and all 28 American military personnel aboard were killed, including four crew members. Most of the passengers were army cadets returning to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.

“The aircraft was to have landed at Williams Sir Force base, located about 25 miles…south-east of Phoenix, while en route from California to Texas, one segment of the transcontinental flight. Cleared down to 6,000 ft…during the instrument let-down, the crew had last reported leaving 7,000 ft…which was the approximate elevation of the crash site…Military authorities did not disclose any information as to the possible cause of the accident.” (Gero 1999, 53)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). Nov 6, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-29-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_5.html

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.